Pidari Amman Temple/ Saptamatrikas Temple/ Hero Stones/ வீரக்கற்கள்/ நடுகற்கள், Mamandur, Mamandur/ Mamandur Thenpathi Village, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Pidari Temple, a Grama Devathai Temple, at Mamandur - Thenpathi, was part of the "Gajaprishta Vimana temple's Visit" on 10th October 2026. This temple is on the north side of Sri Picheeswarar Temple, a Gajaprishta Vimana Temple. This temple is also in the midst of the paddy fields, like the Shiva Temple.

Moolavar: Sri Pidari Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces west with a trishul and a balipeedam. In the sanctum, Pidari is at the centre with jwala makuda, and on both sides are the Saptamatrikas. (Saptamatrikas – Brahmi, Maheswari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi). Usually, Vinayagar and Yogeswarar/ Shiva will be on both sides of the Saptamatrikas group.

There are 4 Hero Stones installed under a neem tree facing east.

 Pidari

 Varahi

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was built with bricks without vimanam. The construction does not follow any temple architectural style. No koshtas are provided.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Based on the iconography, the Saptamatrikas group may belong to the Pallava period. 

HERO STONES/ MEMORIAL STONES

TITLE              : Hero Stones  

PLACE             : Mamandur - Thenpathi

LOCATION       : In the midst of the paddy field.

PERIOD           :16th to 17th Century.

DETAILS         :

The Hero stones are in the form of bas-reliefs. This group consists of 4 hero stones. All Heros hold a sword in the right hand and a shield in the left hand. One Hero is shown riding on a horse with a raised sword.

As per the experts, these Hero Stones are erected in memory of the Heroes who were killed in a war.  

HOW TO REACH

The Mamandur Thenpathi is on the GST Road, just after Chengalpattu Palar Bridge, and the temple is 1 km from the GST Road. 

The temple is 11 km from Chengalpattu, 25 km from Madurantakam, and 40 km from Tambaram and Melmaruvathur.

The nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sculptures

1. Thavvai / Jyeshta Devi

2. Korravai, Mahishasuramardini / Durga

3. Ayyanar

4. Saptamatrikas / Saptha Kannis

Saptamatrika and Saptha Kannis Sculptures

PLACE	DESCRIPTION
Chengalpattu District
Mamandur - Thenpathi	Sri Pidari Amman Temple
Sogandi	Saptamatrikas
Chennai District
Ayanampakkam Kil	Ponniamman Temple
Kanisapakkam	Saptamatrikas and Sapthakannis
Korattur	Padalathri Sri Seeyathamman Temple
Velacherry, Dhandeeswaram	Sri Pidari Chelliamman Temple
Erode District
Thingalur	Saptamatrikas and Thavvai at Shiva Temple
Vijayamangalam	Saptamatrikas at Nageswarar Temple
Kanchipuram District
Angambakkam	Saptamatrikas Saravathamman Temple
Orathur	Saptha Kannis Temple
Sembulam	Saptamatrikas - Ponniamman Temple
Siruvanjur	Saptamatrikas Temple
Thenneri	Saptamatrikas
Vayalakkavoor	Saptha Kanniyars & Enthirakal
Mayiladuthurai District
Sirkazhi	Sri Kazhumalaiamman Temple
Ranipet District
Thirumalaicherry	Saptamatrikas
Thiruvannamalai District
Kappalur	Saptamatrikas Temple
Sirupakkam	Saptamatrikas and the inscription stone
Ukkamperumbakkam	Shiva Temple & Saptamatrikas
Tiruchirappalli District
Thudaiyur	A Saptamatrika Temple
Tiruvallur District
Pakasalai	Saptamatrikas Temple
Panabakkam	Chamundi
Vellavedu	Pallava period Saptamatrikas
Villupuram District
Chemmaneri	Saptamatrikas & Saptha kannis
Perani	Saptamatrikas  at Eshwaran Temple
Munnur	Saptamatrikas

Korravai / Durga at Ozhalur, Saptamatrikas at Sokandi and Cairn Circles at Anoor, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th August 2017

KORRAVAI/ DURGAI AT OZHALUR

After our visit to Anoor Sri Asthra Pureeswarar Temple, Mrs. Radha Kumar took us to Ozhalur. Since we missed the route, we went up to Chengalpattu and reached Ozhalur. The panel is dumped in front of a Vishnu temple, and the locals do not know its value.  It was said that the panel is Kotravai. But it seemed to be of Durgai, and the posture is similar to the Durgai available at the Vallam Pallava Period rock-cut Cave temple. Hence, this panel may belong to the end of the Pallava or early Chozha period. The Local people believe that if the panel is installed, some bad things will happen in the village. In addition, there is a stone slab containing the inscriptions of the Chozha period. The inscription is not legible to read.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE 

Saptamatrikas at Sokandi

As per Kanchipuram Mavatta Tholliyial Kaiyedu, during the Sundara Pandyan Period, this place was called Sovandi. This place was named "Sundara Pandyan Chaturvedi Mangalam" and was gifted to Agaram Periya Nadavar of this Village. This was inscribed on the Tank side stone, which is missing now.

 

இன்று சோகண்டியில் திருகழுக்குன்றம் அருகே... குளத்தையும் அது சம்பந்தமான பாண்டியர் கல்வெட்டையும் தேடி அலைந்த போது கிடைத்த சப்த மாந்தர்கள்... அன்னமார் சாமி என்று கூறுகின்றனர்.

CAIRN CIRCLES AT ANOOR.

After attending the Kumbabishekam of the Sri Munkudumeeswarar temple at P.V. Kalathur, we headed towards Anoor to see a Pallava Period Shiva temple, which is under renovation.  Before Anoor, on the left, we happened to see more than 20 Cairn circles, which belong to the prehistoric/megalithic period. After seeing the cairn circles, when we referred to the ASI website, the same was already there. In that, we happened to notice one circle which measures approximately 28 to 30 feet in diameter with big boulders. Must belong to a big person or a leader of that group.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE (The site is before the Temple)

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---