Sri Vana Durgai / Korravai and Pallava period Ruined Shiva Temple, Velliambakkam, Tiruvannamalai District/ Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Vana Durga and ruined Shiva Temple at Velliambakkam was part of “Durga/ Korravai, Shiva and Maha Vishnu Temples around Vavdavasi” on 12^th September 2026. I sincerely thank Mrs. Uma Jairam and Ramkumar Chandrasekaran for taking me to these places.

SHIVA TEMPLE

Moolavar  : Sri Shiva

Consort    : Sri Parvati

Some of the special features of this temple are….

The temple faces west and is in a dilapidated condition with a Thirukulam. The Shiva Lingam and the koshta and Parivara deities’ images are kept around the Shiva Lingam. The Rishabam is in front of Shiva. Ambal was made of green stone.

VANA DURGAI / KORRAVAI (Ashtabhuja Durga)

This Korravai is worshipped as Vanadurga. This small sanndhi is about 50 meters from the Shiva temple. The Korravai is also worshipped. The Korravai is depicted with 8 hands, holding various weapons like a sword, shield, bow, arrow, shankha, Chakra, etc.  Her vahana deer is shown on her back. Korravai has karanda makuda and elongated earlobes. She wears a dress below her waist, and the frills are shown beautifully. A Navakanda bas-relief is on the right side of her leg, and an adiyar worshipping posture is on her left side.

ARCHITECTURE OF SHIVA TEMPLE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum was built with double-walled stone, and the ardha mandapam and maha mandapam are built with bricks and are in a later state. No vimana was found, and the sanctum sanctorum was open to the sky. Since the temple was in dilapidated condition, the Moolavar was outside. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is said that the original temple belongs to the 8^th to 9^th century Pallava period, and there is no inscriptional evidence found in this temple. But as per the iconography of the Chandikeswarar, the experts believe that the Chandikeswarar may belong to the 8th- 9th century CE.

It is also said that there are 8 small Shiva temples around this temple, and one such place is now called Lingathu Kuttai, about a km from this place. Only a Shiva Lingam exists there.

A Pallava-period Chandikeswara

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

No regular poojas are conducted, and special ones like Maha Shivaratri are conducted.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The Shiva Lingam is open to the sky and is open for darshan at any time.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

This place, Velliambakkam, is about 5.2 km from the Cheyur – Vandavasi - Polur Road, 8.8 km from Marudhadu, 16.4 km from Vandavasi, 17 km from Melmaruvathur, and 81 km from Tambaram.

The nearest Railway Station is Tambaram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Maha Vishnu and Korravai, Tiruvannamalai District/ Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to the  ..... ....... ........ ........ ........ ........ ........  ......... ......... ......... ....... ...... .... .... ..... ..... ... ....on 12th September 2026. I sincerely thank Mrs. Uma Jairam and Ramkumar Chandrasekaran for taking me to these places. Thanks to Dr. Ramachandran Sir and Pon Karthi for deciphering the inscription Details.

 

MAHA VISHNU

Maha Vishnu is in a standing sama bangha posture of a lotus flower. Maha Vishnu wears a greeda makuda, ornaments over the neck, and yagnopaveetham. Holds shankha and a prayoga chakra in the upper hands; the lower right hand is in Abhaya hastam, and the left hand is in kadi hastam. The dress with frills is shown below his waist. 

KORRAVAI

Korravai is standing on a Mahishan’s/ bufello’s head, in a samabhanga posture. Korravai is with karanda makuda, wears ornaments around the neck, and has elongated earlobes. Holds various articles and weapons like shankha and prayoga chakra, sword, shield, bow, arrow, etc. The lower right hand is in abhaya hastam, and the left hand is in kadi hastam. The dress with frills is shown below his waist and marbhu kachu. Her vahana, a buck deer with branched horns, is shown on her back. A navakanda bas-relief is on the right side of her leg.

Buck Deer with branched horn

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Two inscriptions are found on either side of the images. The first inscription is 3 lines on the left side of the images. The second inscription is in the form of two words on the right side of the Korravai, near the buffalo’s head.

The inscription No: 1

ஸ்ரீ இத்திருவடிகளை திருத்து வித்தார்

பெரும்பிடுகு கொங்கரையர் மகனார்

கொங்கரையர்

The Inscription No 2.

ஸ்ரீ வலியாழி

DETAILS

The first inscription refers to the images/ bas reliefs of Maha Vishnu and the Korravai. These images were done by Perumbidugu’s son, Kongaraiyar.

The second inscription “ஸ்ரீ வலியாழி – ஆழி=சக்கரம், who hold Chakra, Kotravai.

Based on the style of inscription and these images, it might have been sculpted during the 9^th century, Pallava King Nrpatungavarman’s period. 

Nrpatungavarman’s 12^th year of reign, 881 CE inscription,  on a stone slab near the tank of Marudhadu village records that Kongaraiyar Ninraperumān² caused the construction of a weir (kalingu) and the renovation of the sluice/ weir (தூம்பு) to the tank at Marudādu. Hence, it is presumed that this Kongaraiyar may be a philanthropist who may have done the above Maha Vishnu and Kotravai images also.

Reference

1. Inscriptions of the Pallavas

2. South Indian Inscriptions Volume - XII

LOCATION OF THE MAHA VISHNU AND KOTRAVAI: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Agora Veerabhadran Swamy Temple, with Durga and Korravai, Anaicut, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Agora Veerabhadran Swamy Temple at Anaicut was part of the “Shiva Temples and Korravai/ Durgai Temples Visit” in Chengalpattu District on 3^rd May 2026. Thanks to Mr Subramanian Viswanathan, a retired official from MAPS, DAE, and Mr Subramanian of DAE, Kalpakkam, for taking me to these temples.

This Sri Agora Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, where Sri Veerabhadra Swamy, Durgai, Korravai, Murugan, and an enthra stone are installed open to the sky. Experts believe that the Korravai and Durgai may belong to the 8^th - 9^th century, Pallava period. Murugan and Veerabhadra Swamy belong to the 19th to 20th centuries. 

DURGAI

The Durga is in the form of a bas-relief on a flat stone. Durga is in a standing posture on the Mahishasura’s head. Durga is with 4 hands, while the upper hands hold the shankha and chakra; the lower right hand is abhaya hastam, and the left hand is kadi hastam. Two images are shown near her feet: an adiyar is in a worshipping posture, and another man offers navakandam (Cutting his head and offering it to Durgai).

KORRAVAI

The Kotravai is in the form of a bas-relief on a flat stone. Korravai is in a standing posture on the Mahisan’s head with 8 hands/ ashta bhujam. Korravai holds various articles/ weapons, such as Shankha and Chakra, Sword, Arrow, Bow, Shield, Plough, and a bell. Her vahana, a buck deer, is shown on her back.  

Two men's images are shown near her feet: an adiyar is in a worshipping posture, and another man offers navakandam (Cutting his head and offering it to Durgai).

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Enthirakal

Murugan

Veerabhadra

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Vinayagar Temple , Saptamatrikas, Idakini and Korravai, Marangiyur, Viluppuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to the Vinayagar Temple, Saptamatrikas Temple, Idagini, and Korravai at Marangiyur, in Viluppuram District, was part of the 105^th Ahimsa walk organized by the Tamil Samanars on 06^th April 2025. Marangiyur is one of the villages on the island formed by the Then Pennai River. Ancient remains are found in this village, which include a Jain Tirthankara, a Vinayagar temple, Saptamatrikas, Idakini, Korravai, etc.

VINAYAGAR TEMPLE WITH CHOZHA PERIOD DWARAPALAKAS, MARANGIYUR.

This Vinayagar temple is on the banks of the Thenpennai River. The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum and an open mukha mandapam. The Chola-period Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. The Dwarapalakas wear ornaments, padra kundala in the earlobes, Yagnaopaveetha, uthara bandham, and a half dress below the hip. They are with two hands, keeping one hand on the thandam and the other hand on the tarjini/ vismaya mudra.

LOCATION OF THE VINAYAGAR TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

IDAKINI, MARANGIYUR (Pallava period).

This Pallava-period Idakini sculpture in the form of a bas-relief on a flat stone is on the right side of the Saptamatrikas temple. Idakini, also called Idakini Ghost, lives in the cemetery and eats the dead bodies. She is in a standing posture, holding a dead Child in her left hand and a knife in her right hand. Idakini has a ferocious look, with protruding teeth, fluttering hair in the form of viri sadai, and hanging breasts. She wears ornaments around her neck, a pathra kundala in her earlobes, and a half dress below her waist.

As per the Sangam Literature Silapathikaram, a woman called Malathi gave Cow’s milk to the child of her Husband’s other wife when they were away. The child died due to a hiccup. Malathi was afraid of her husband and his other wife and the Child to all the temples of the village, praying to all the gods to give back the life of the Child. The temples included Murugan Temple, Amman Temple, Suryan Temple, Chandran Temple, Jain Temple, etc. Finally came the Pasanda Sathan Temple at the burial ground. On hearing Malathi’s prayer and cry, the Idakini Ghost came in the form of a beautiful young woman and said, You innocent woman, no Gods will help you, since you had not done any good thing in your previous birth, and took the dead child from Malathi’s hand, went into the dark to eat the child. The Pasanda Sathan took the child from Idakini and gave life to the Child. This was narrated in Silapathikaram, which is given below.  

ஓர் பாசண்டச் சாத்தற்குப் பாடுகிடந்தாளுக்கு,
ஏசும் படி ஓர் இளங்கொடி ஆய், ‘ஆசு இலாய்!
செய் தவம் இல்லோர்க்குத் தேவர் வரம் கொடார்;
பொய் உரையே அன்று; பொருள் உரையே; 

கையில் படு பிணம் தா’ 

என்று, பறித்து, அவள் கைக் கொண்டு,

சுடுகாட்டுக் கோட்டத்து, தூங்கு இருளில் சென்றாங்கு 
இடு பிணந் திண்ணும் இடாகினிப்பேய் வாங்கி,
மடியகத்து இட்டாள், மகவை...

……… சிலப்பதிகாரம்

LOCATION OF THE IDAKINI: CLICK HERE

SAPTAMATRIKAS.

This Pallava-period Saptamatrikas temple faces north with a balipeedam and a simha vahana. The Idakini sculpture is on the right side of this temple. The Saptamatrikas panels belong to the Pallava period. Each Matrika is carved in the form of bas-reliefs on individual flat stones. On both sides are Shiva as Yogeswar and Vinayagar.

LOCATION OF THE SAPTAMATRIKAS TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

KORRAVAI, MARANGIYUR

This Pallava-period Kotravai is just opposite the Marangiyur Public Library. Korravai faces north, buried up to the knee. This Kotravai is in the form of a bas-relief on a flat stone. Kotravai is with ashta bhuja, ie, 8 hands holding various weapons. She wears ornaments around her neck and pathra kundala in her elongated earlobes. Her vahanas, buck deer and Simha, are shown on both sides of her leg.

LOCATION OF THE KOTRAVAI: CLICK HERE

HOW TO REACH

Marangiyur is a part of a naturally formed island on the Then Pennai River.

Marangiyur is about 8 km from Thiruvennai Nallur, one of the Thevaram Paadal Petra Sthalam, and 18 km from Villupuram Railway Station.

The nearest Railway Station is Villupuram.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---