Sri Agneeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ அக்னீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Neithavayal // Neidavoyal, Thinaipakkam, Minjur, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Agneeswarar Temple at Neithavayal / Neidavoyal near Minjur was a part of Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Temple of Thondai Mandalam Visit, on 31st March 2024. This Gajaprishta Vimana temple is between Ponneri and Karungali Gajaprishta Vimana temples on the North Part of Thondai mandalam, the present Tiruvallur District.

   

நெய்தல் வாயில் மேவும்

        அக்னீஸ் வரரை நிதமும்

நெஞ்சத்திலே நினைத்து

        நமச்சிவாய வென்று

மெய்யாக போற்றுவோர்

        மேன்மை நலம்பெறுவர்

உய்யும் மார்க்கம் இதுவென

        உண்மையாய் துதி மனமே

சிறந்தோங்கி நெய்தல் வாயலில்

சிறப்புடன் திகழ்பவளாம்

        வரந் தர வல்லவளாம்.

ஸ்ரீதிரிபுர சுந்தரியை

        மனத்தினில் தினந்தோறும்

மகிழ்வுடன் துதிப் பவர்க்கு

        நினைத்தது கை கூடும்

நித்ய சுக வாழ்வளிப்பாள்.

Moolavar   : Sri Agneeswarar

Consort     : Sri Tripura Sundari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing with an entrance on the  east side. Balipeedam, Rishabam are after the entrance.  Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati are on the top of the mukha mandapam. Moolavar is white in colour Swetha Lingam on a square avudayar. There are no murtis in the deva koshtams.

In paraharam Nagars, Vinayagar, Bala Subramaniar, Bairavar without Dog, Navagrahas, Suriyan.

 

Ambal Tripura Sundari is in a separate sannidhi facing south. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. Sri chakra is in front of Ambal.

Chandikeswara

Chandikeswara

Bairavar

Suriyan

Suriyan

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple was built with bricks and cement. The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of Gajabrushta Style / Gajaprishta style. The Temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a open mukha mandapam.  There is no super structure above the prastaram.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the iconography of Chandikeswarar, Suriyan and Bairavar, the original temple may belongs to Chozha period ie 12^th to 13^th Century.

LEGENDS

When harati is shown on the back side of the moolavar, the Shiva Lingam will be come red in colour, hence Shiva of the temple is called as Agneeswarar.

Devotees prays Shiva with Curd, Milk and coconut water to get rid of obstacles in the marriages and Child boon.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, maha Shivaratri days etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs. to 11.00 hrs. and 17.00 hrs. to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Kannan Gurukkal’s mobile number +9163817 42120, may be contacted for further details.

 

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 4 KM from Minjur Railway Station, on Minjur  to Pulicat.

The temple is 14.6 KM from Ponneri Railway Station, 21 KM from Pulicat, 33 KM from Chennai Central Railway Station and 34 KM from Gummudipoondi.

Nearest railway station is Minjur. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE   : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA --- 

Thirumanangeeswarar Temple / Thiruvudai Amman Temple/ திருவுடையம்மன் சமேத திருமணங்கீஸ்வர் கோயில், Melur, Minjur, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Thirumanangeeswarar temple at Melur near Minjur was a part of Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Temple of Thondai Nadu at Neithavayal near Minjur, on 31^st March 2024. 

Moolavar   : Sri Thirumanangeeswarar

Consort     : Sri Thiruvudai Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a mottai Gopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and rishabam are in front of open mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of ardha mandapam. Moolavar is little swayambhu, small in size on a square avudaiyar.  Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, maha Vishnu, Brahma ( Brahma is with beard ). and Durgai are in the koshtam.

In the inner praharam Vinayagar, Nagars, Shiva Lingas with Ambals, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Bairavar, Chandran, Suriyan, Veerabhadra, Adiars, Nalvar and Chandikeswara.

Navagrahas are in the Mukha mandapam and another chandikeswarar is in the outer praharam.

Ambal is in a separate temple with balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Simha vahana. Dwarapalakis are at the entrance of antarala. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. It is believed that the Ambal idols of this temple, Thiruvotriyur Thiruvudai Amman and Thirumullaivoyal Kodiyidai Amman are of same size and stone sculpted by a single sculptor.

Veerabhadra

Dakshinamurthy

Brahma with beard

Brahma with beard

ARCHITECTURE

The temple from adhistanam to prastaram was built with stone consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam and open mukha mandapam. The Sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam and pattika. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base and naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai and poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi ( without bhuta ganas) and kapotam with nasi kudus. The super structure above the prastaram is constructed with bricks. The Vimanam is of two talas, greevam and Dravida sigaram. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy,  Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

Kumhha panjaram

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The main temple belongs to 12th 13th Century Chozha period and mukha mandapam was expanded during Vijayanagara / Nayakas period.  Telugu Chozha’s and Vijayanagara inscriptions are found on the adhistanam and wall.

The Vijaya Ganda Gopala ( 1280 CE ) inscription records the gift of money for an image to Thirupalaivanam Udaiya Nayanar Temple.

Another Vijaya Ganda Gopalas’ period ( 1253 CE ) inscription records the gift of lamp to this temple.

Pandya period inscriptions also found in this temple which are found damaged.

Ref:

An Article by M/s Chitra Madhavan.

Vijaya Ganda Gopalan's inscription

LEGENDS

It is believed that this place was once called as sugunda ( fragrant smell ) vanam with threes. Shiva was found in the form of Swayambhu and a cow worshipped Shiva mulching on the Shiva Lingam. Hence Shiva was called as Sugundavaneswarar, in Tamil as Thirumanangeeswarar.

It is believed that it will be auspicious to worship all the three sakthi temple on a Full moon day / pournami day in sequence to get Iccha, Gnana and Kriya sakthi’s blessings. It is also believed that it will be equivalent to worshipping Kasi and Rameswaram. The sequence and the sakthi temple are, This temple’s Ambal as Iccha sakthi, Thiruvudai Amman, Melur near  Minjur, in the Morning, Ambal as Gnana sakthi, Sri Vadivudaiamman at Thiruvotriyur, in the Afternoon and as Kriya sakthi, Kodiyidai Amman at Thirumullaivoyal in the Evening.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs. to 11.00 hrs. and 17.090 hrs. to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The HR& CE officials M Krishnamurthy +919976849791 and Ezhumalai +918248739713 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 3.2 KM before Minjur Railway Station, on Manali to Minjur.

The temple is 8.5 KM from Manali New town, 14.0 KM from Ponneri Railway Station, 27.3 KM from Chennai Central Railway Station and 37 KM from Gummudipoondi.

Nearest railway station is Minjur. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE   : CLICK HERE

Chandikeswarar in the outer praharam

Maha Vishnu

Durga

Murugan 

Bairavar 

Sundarar - Thirugnanasambandar - Appar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---