A Pallava Period Dhara Lingam as Siddhar Lingam / Sri Adhipureeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ ஆதிபுரீஸ்வரர் கோவில் / Adipureeswarar Temple, Sonallur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Adipureeswarar Temple at Sonallur was a part of “Shiva & Vishnu Temples, Hero Stones and Heritage Sites Visit”, from Ponmar to Karunilam, near Guduvanchery, in Chengalpattu District on 24^th October 2023.

 

This Shiva temple little away from the human habitation and on the banks of Sonallur tank, a drinking water source created under the Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam at an estimated cost of Rs 10.79 lakhs.

Moolavar  : Sri Adhipureeswarar / Adipureeswarar 

Consort    : Sri Kamakshi

Some of the salient features of this temple are,....

The temple is facing  east with balipeedam and a Rishabam. Vinayagar  and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar Sri Adhipureeswarar is of swayambhu on a round avudayar. A Dhara Lingam ( sodasa lingam with 16 fluted surfaces ), written as Siddhar Lingam and Ambal is in the sanctum itself.

Chandikeswarar, Bairavar and Nagar are around the sanctum sanctorum.

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple is under a asbestos shed. An asbestos shed with two pipe supports are erected in front of the temple.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Considering Siddhar Lingam, a Dhara lingam ( sodasa lingam with 16 fluted surfaces ), this Shiva Temple may be a Siddhar Peedam or a Samadhi temple. Dhara Lingas are usually worshiped during the Pallava period. Hence this Dhara Linga as Siddhar Peedam may be existed since 07^th to 08^th Century.

An 18^th to 19^th Century inscription stone is erected on the left side of Vinayagar. Since oil was applied for a long period the letters are very difficult to read. May be a donation stone to this temple.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 500 meters before the Village Sonallur and Sonallur is about 1 KM from Sonallur Junction on Kelambakkam to Vandalur Road.

The temple is about 3 KM from Mambakkam, 6 KM from Ottiyambakkam, 8 KM from Kelambakkam, 15.8 KM from Vandalur and 40 KM from Chennai Central Station.

Nearest Railway Station is Vandalur.

LOCATION O THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Gangai Amman Temple - just before Shiva Temple

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Sri Somanatheechurar Temple / சோமநாதீச்சுரர் ஆலயம் / Sekkadu Sivan Temple / Sekkadu Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi, Sekkadu, Avadi, Chennai Metropolitan area, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to This Sri Somanatheechurar Temple at Sekkadu was a part of Shiva, Maha Vishnu, Amman and Hero Stones Visit in and around Avadi, in Tiruvallur District on 17^th September 2023. This is one of the Shiva temples constructed on the banks of Holy River Cooum. The is also one of the Siddhar peedams of Chennai. As per Telugu Chozha period Inscription art Serathamman Temple,  The place Seru_Kadu means the mud mixed with abundant water, a fertile land. This place Seru Kadu, has got corrupted to the present name of Sekkadu.

Moolavar  : Sri Somanatheechurar

Consort    : Sri Vedanayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The Shiva Temple with the Sekkadu Siddhar Peedam are facing east with an entrance from west side. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the Temple. Again a balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of sanctum sanctorum. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on an elevated level. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In the inner praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar, Chandikeswarar, Agasthiyar, Suryan, Chandran, Nalvar with Sekkizhar, Swarna Akarshna bairavar and Natarajar Sabha.

Ambal sannidhi is in the maha mandapam facing south. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. A Mahameru is in front of Ambal.

Sekkadu Siddhar….

Sekkadu Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi is on the right side of Balipeedam and Rishabam in front of Sanctum Sanctorum. Sekkadu Siddhar is in sitting posture. It was told that, no details like, name, where about, are available about this Siddhar. Hence he was called as Sekkadu Siddhar.

  

ARCHITECTURE

The total Temple from adhistanam to sigaram was built with bricks and cement concrete. From Adhistanam to Sigaram the temple was built with Gajaprishta style adopting the Pallava / Chozha architecture. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapaam. The Sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam. An ekatala Gajaprishta Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctum sanctorum. Shiva with Parvati, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the greeva koshtam. 3 Kalasas are installed on the sigaram.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was told that the Shiva Lingam belongs to Chozha period and the same was installed on the Jeeva Samadhi of Sri Sekkadu Siddhar. In 2016, the Shiva Lingam was removed and installed in a separate temple. An idol of sekkadu siddhar was installed on the Jeeva Samadhi. The idols Iconography was as per the siddhar’s indications.  The 7 Years completion of Maha kumbabhishekam was celebrated on 26^th June 2023, in a grand manner with Thirukalyana Utsavam and Thirukalyana feast.

The temple authorities proposed to construct a rajagopuram. The trustees mobile numbers +91 9840043569 and +91 9841935012 may be contacted for more details and contributions.  

LEGENDS

It is believed that this is a siddhar peedam and do not know the age, etc. Many miracles happened in many devotees life after worshipping Sri Sekkadu siddhar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from 4 Kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Pournami / Full moon day, Siddhar Pooja, Sankadahara chathurti, Theipirai ashtami, Kiruthigai, Thiruvathirai, Natarajar abhishekam, Manickavasagar guru Pooja, Thirugnanasambandar Guru pooja, Thirukalyanam, Vinayagar Chathurti, Sekkizhar Guru Pooja, Chitra Pournami, maha Shivaratri, etc. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Bala alias Balasubramanian, Sekkadu, may be contacted for further details on his mobile number +919841935012

HOW TO REACH

This Sri Somanatheechurar Temple is about 2.2 KM from Hindu College Railway Station, 4 KM from Avadi railway Station and 31 KM from Chennai Central railway Station.

Nearest Railway station is Hindu college.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Navahrahas 

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Venkatarama Swamy Samadhi Temple / ஸ்ரீ வெங்கட்ராம சுவாமிகள் சமாதி கோயில், Paranjothi Baba temple, Melaiyur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Venkatarama Swamigal Samadhi temple at Melaiyur was a part of Shiva & Vishnu Temples and a Shiva Temple with Gajaprishta Vimana, at the same village Melaiyur also called as Melur in Chengalpattu District on 3^rd September 2023.

Venkara Swamigal Samadhi temple is on the left and Sri Nagabaraneswarar Temple rajagopuram is on the right 

Sri Vekatarama Swamigal

Sri Vekatarama Swamigal Samadhi Temple is in front of Sri Nagabaraneswarar temple at Malaiyur in Chengalpattu District.

Sri Venkatra Swamigal was a Siddhar, who knows the three kalas and a disciple of Sri Paranjothi Baba. It is believed that Sri Venkatarama Swamigal was the incarnation of the great siddhar Kalanginathar and Paranjothi Baba was the incarnation of Thirumoolar.

Both Sri Venkatarama Swamigal and Paranjothi Baba are lived in Chennai Vadapalani area. After Sri Venkatarama Swamigal attained Samadhi, he was brought to this Melaiyur and laid down in this Samadhi Temple. 

Sri Paranjothi Baba.

HOW TO REACH

This place Melaiyur is 13 KM from Thiruporur, 28.3 KM from Tambaram, 19 KM from Chengalpattu and 59 KM from Chennai Central station.

Nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE JEEVA SAMADHI TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Sri Paranjothi Baba

Sri Paranjothi Baba Temple .

Sri Paranjothi Baba Temple 

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Ponnambaleshwarar Temple / பொன்னம்பலேஸ்வரர் ஆலயம், Sembakkam, Vembedu, Kattur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Ponnambaleshwarar and his disciples Jeeva Samadhi Temples at Sembakkam was a part of Shiva & Vishnu Temples and a Shiva Temple with Gajaprishta Vimanam, believed to be built during Pallava period at Melaiyur also called as Melur in Chengalpattu District on 3^rd September 2023.

This Jeeva Samadhi temple is dedicated to Sri Ponnambala Swamigal, Chinna Ponnambala Swamigal and his disciple Palaniswamy Swamigal. Ponnambala Swamigal is in the sanctum sanctorum and a Shiva Lingam is installed. His disciple Chinna Ponnambala Swamigal‘s samadhi is in the mandapam and a Rishabam is installed over the Samadhi. The disciple Pazhani Swamigal’s Samadhi is on the south side of the mukha mandapam. A tablet with images of Shiva Lingam and Rishabam is installed on the Samadhi.  Chinna Ponnambalam Swamigal attained Samadhi a day after Ponnambala Swamigal. 

Annapoorana and Dhandayuthapani are in the praharam.  

Pazhani Swamigal Samadhi 

Dhandayuthapani

Sri Ponnambala Swamigal and Sri Thirumeni linga Swamigal also called as Chinna Ponnambala Swamigal are called as Twin siddhars, since both are found together always. They used to meet Sri Periya Chidambaram Swamigal of Velachery at Mylapore Chitrakulam, through one of the ashta siddhis. Hence the tank was called as “Siddhar Koodam kulam”, which has got corrupted to the  present name of Chitrakulam.

Brief  history of Ponnamabala Swamigal…

About 200 years before, Sri Ponnambalam Swamigal was born to ChiRRambalam Mudaliar and Chokkammal. His birth was a miracle one. ChiRRambalam Mudaliar and Chellammal are with out child for many years after the marriage. They used to pray Jambukeswarar  for a child boon. One day a Sanyasi was found meditating in the temple. On seeing this Sanyasi, ChiRRambalam mudaliar wished to feed him. The sanyasi, denied to accept, but he said that he will prepare his own food. ChiRRambalam gave rice and vessels to the Sanyasi for preparing the Food. The Sanyasi prepared the food and gave the balance food to Chellammal and said that “you are a pure gold and I am offering this ponnambalam-  “நீ சொக்கத் தங்கம், உனக்கு பொன்னம்பலம் தருகிறேன் பெற்றுக்கொள்” and blessed her. After that Chellammal gave birth a male Child and named him as Ponnambalam. Ponnambalam was initiated by his father itself. His father took him to many spiritual places, which includes Sri Muthaia Swamigal, of Mylapore. His atma gnana was increased and his interest grew towards Siddhars.  On seeing this Chellammal was worried over his son that he may become a Sanyasi. Hurriedly  Chellammal arranged a marriage to Ponnambalam. Initially Ponnambalam was reluctant towards family life and Sri Muthaia Swamigal  persuaded him to accept for the marriage. He married Amirthammal of Saidapet and they were blessed with a male child called Shivalingam. After some years of family life, Ponnambalam observed the sanyasa life, continuing in the family life.

When he was in family life, earned minimum wages from weaving clothes. When he was constructing a house, his father in-law also gave some money. He used to spend some time in doing meditation. One day his father in-law, scolded him, whether he will get food with vada payasam, by doing the meditation. Immediately, Ponnambalam went inside a room and started meditation. After some time he came out and asked his father in-law and his relatives, to go inside the room to see what is there. In side the room his father in-law and his relatives, found that the food was served with vada payasam on a big banana leaf.

He had done many miracles in his life time. He cured many people’s deceases with vibhuti. He had shown Tiruvannamalai Deepam to his disciple Thirumeni, without physically going there. He did siddhus, like showing his physical presence at many places, entering some body’s body etc. Ponnambalam Swamikal attained Samadhi on 1834 CE, Masi month, Uthradam nakshatra day.

CONTACT DETAILS

C Vivekanandan +919094498845 and C. Ponnambalam +91 9840224400 may be contacted for Nidhya Poojas and Archakar N. Kulandaivel Aiyar +91 9710124577 may be contacted for poojas & darshan.   

HOW TO REACH

This place Sembakkam is  9 KM from Thiruporur, 32 KM from Tambaram,  20 KM from Chengalpattu and 56 KM from Chennai Central station.

Nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE JEEVA SAMADHI TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Annapoorani Amman Sannidhi

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