Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple and Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

 10th January 2016.

While sorting out the Pancha Bootha sthalangal  ( for the index of my web blog ) of Thondai Nadu ie in and around Chennai found that the two Temples, Sri Arunachaleswarar and  Sri Kalahastheeswarar are missing. Sri Kalahastheeswarar temple is missing from the Google map but managed find out that the temple is at Pavalakara Street. Forgotten the scheduled agendas  on 10^th January 2016, Sunday morning, visited both the temples ( Missed the Mylapore festival  by Mr Venkatesh  - A pond, A tank  Via canal,  Mylapore’s lesser known tales). All the Pancha Bootha sthalangal are on the north part of Chennai.

Both the temples are under balalayam and renovation is on full swing.  Kumbhabhishekam is scheduled  on 20^th January 2016 for Sri Arunachaleswarar.

SRI KALAHASTHEESWARAR TEMPLE
Since the temple is under renovation I could not take good photos. The place was in a mesh due to construction activities. This temple is squeezed between concrete buildings.

Moolavar : Sri Kalahastheeswarar
Consort   : Sri Prasunannambigai.

Some of the important details are as follows....
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Nandhi in a mandapam are in front of the sannadhi. Stucco dwarapalakas are in front of sannidhi and Navagrahas are on the left side of inner mandapam. Sannadhi for Vinayagar and Subramaniyar behind sanctum.

In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu ( in place of Lingothbavar), Brahma and Durgai. Sub sannadhis and mandapam are under construction.

Happened to see an inscription dated 21-1-1926 by Naga Siva Chidambaram Chettiar's son of Subraya Chettiar about the donation given for conducting the  functions from the income of a house and go down after deducting the tax to be paid to Govt.  and maintenance charges.

HOW TO REACH :
The temple is on  155/ 50 – Pavalakara Street ( Coral merchant Street), Chennai -1  Mannady area.  North end of the street.

On town bus routes  Ibrahim Sahib Road Get down at Thambu Chetty  Street and Pavalakara street is very near. ( 6D, 8B, 11 a, 38 A,G ,H,S, 44, 56B, 57D etc,. ).

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE  

SRI ARUNACHALESWARAR TEMPLE

This temple is on the Palliappan street in mint area. This temple is also under renovation and Kumbhabhishekam is scheduled on 20^th  January 2016.

Moolavar    : Sri Arunachaleswarar

Consort      : Sri Abithakusambigai

Some of Important details of this temple are .

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Anubhoothi mandapam is after entering the rajagopuram and the main sanctum os on the left. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Nandhi mandapam are at the entrance. In Koshtam  Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu ( in place of Lingothbavar ), Brahma and Durgai.

In the outer prakaram, Sannadhi for Vishnu, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar. A mandapam is at front and reliefs on the stone pillars are worth to see.

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Navagrahas, Chandran, Suryan, Naalvar, Shiva and Ambal, Saba mandapam, Palliyarai, Chandikeswarar,  Vinayagar and Subramaniyar.  Ambal is in a separate sannadhi.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is on 24- Palliappan Street, Chennai 79 Park Town area,  near Mint street.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA : ---

PANCHA BHOOTHA STALANGAL - THONDAI NADU ( IN AND AROUND CHENNAI )

SL NO	GOD AND GODESS	SPECIAL	PLACE
1	Sri Ekambareswarar	Earth ( Boomi )	Mint Street- Broadway, Aminjikarai and Nanmangalam
2	Sri Jambukeswarar,  Sri Gangadeeswarar	Water ( Jalam)	Purasavakkam, Sembakkam & Korattur
3	Sri Aunachaleswarar	Fire ( Agni)	No 24, Palliappan Street - George Town,
4	Sri Kalahastheeswarar	Air ( Vayu )	155/50 Pavalakara Street, Chennai 1 ( near Mallikeswarar Temple – Parrys, Mannady )
5	Sri Chidambareswarar	Sky ( Akasa )	Avathana Papaiah street, Choolai

It is believed that those who cannot go to the actual Pancha Bhootha Sthalangal can get the same blessings  by worshiping Lord Shiva of these above temples.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

NAVAGRAHA STHALANGAL THONDAI NADU ( IN AND AROUND CHENNAI )

SL NO	GOD AND GODESS	SPECIAL	PLACE
1a 1b	Sri Anandhavalli Samedha Sri Agastheeswarar Sri Swarnambigai samedha Sri Pushparatheswarar	Suryan SURYAN	Kolappakkam Gnayiru
2	Sri Kamtchi samedha Sri Somanaatheeswarar	Chandran	Somangalam
3	Sri Sivakamasundari samedha Sri Ramanatheeswarar	GURU	Porur
4	Sri Kamatchi Samedha Sri Thirunageswarar	RAGHU,  RAGHU	Kundrathur
5	Sri Soundrambigai Samedha Sri Sundareswarar	PUDHAN	Kovur
6	Sri Kamatchiamman & Sri Velleeswarar	SUKRAN	Mangadu
7	Sri Adhi Kamtchi Samedha Sri Neelakandeswarar	KETHU	Gerugambakkam
8	Sri Anadhavalli Samedha Sri Agastheeswarar	SANI	Pozhichalur
9	Sri Thayyalnayagi Samedha Sri Vaidheeswarar	CHEVVAI	Poonamallee

Pada Yatra from Chennai Shiva Vishnu Temple to Tirupati, 2016

 07, January 2016.

34^th Year Patha Yathra to Tirupati from Shiva Vishnu Temple, T Nagar, Chennai. This Yathra was organized by SPIC employees every year.  The group comprises of  SPIC employees, retired  employees of SPIC and their relatives.  The age group  varies from 15 to 82. Mr Rajagopal, a retired employee aged 82 years young walks all the way with a steady speed. The total distance  covered during pada yatra was 154 KM. The Patha yatra route was T Nagar- Periyapalayam-Uthukkottai-Suruttappalli-Nagalapuram-Pichathoor-Narayanavanam-Puthur-Vadamalapet- Tiruchanur- Alipiri- Tirumala. 

Normally the Yathra used to begin around 02.30 Hrs with bhajans and songs on Vinayagar, Murugan, Shiva and Perumal.  After  few KM the group used disintegrate, depends on the speed of walking.  An average of 40 to 45 KM will be covered in each day. The group used to stop for tea and biscuit on various tea stalls on the en-route. After  lunch we used to take rest for about 2 to 3 hours and continue to walk up to 19.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.  Mostly breakfast, lunch and dinner will be hosted by the donors. The night halts are at Periyapalayam, Pichatur and Vadamalapet.  We used to walk along the national highways.

SHIVALINGA KONA FALLS.

This year there was not much water in the falls. Enjoyed taking bath in the falls. The water falls is about 2 KM off main road before Narayanavanam.

Shiva in the natural cave 

Kamatchi

Ant hill on the side of steps 

NARAYANAVANAM SRI SRI SRI SORAKKAI SWAMIGAL JEEVA SAMADHI.

We used to have the darshan of Sri Sri Sri Sorakkai swamigal first at Narayanavanam and then Sri Kalyana Venkateswara. This year we are very fortunate to participate in the morning abhishekam. Archakar asked us to participate by pouring the milk on Suraikai Swamikal moola moortham. It was a pleasant moment for us and the archakar also allowed us to take photographs.

Entrance to Sorakkai Swamigal Jeeva samadhi 

Abhishekam to Sorakkai Swamigal murti  

Sorakkai Swamigal disciple jeeva samadhi 

NARAYANAVANAM SRI KALYANA VENKATESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE.

It was believed that Sri Padmavathi thayar married Sri Venkatesa Perumal at this place and people showed the stone used for grinding the turmeric. Had our darshan, Prasad ( hot curd rice) and breakfast. We continued our walk Via Puthur.

Garudalwar sannadhi opposite to  Kalyana Venkatesa Perumal temple 

16 pillar mandapam with Rajagopuram 

Entrance arch from Puttur to Narayanavanam 

It was a long path without many villages with beautiful mountains on the side. Hope the hills will disappear soon due to quarrying.  Thaduku was our tea point on this route.

A small murugan temple between Puthur and Vadamalpet 

VADAMALAPET ANJANEYAR TEMPLE

This shrine is little lower than the main road and is at the entrance of the place. Had the darshan of Sri Anjaneyar and took rest in a Kalyana mandapam- Arya Vysya Dharma Parirakshana Mandapam.

TIRUCHANOOR SRI PADMAVATHI THAYAR TEMPLE.

We are about 1 hour late than the scheduled time and had the Darshan of Sri Padmavathi Thayar  around 09.00 Hrs.

Padmavathi Thayar Temple entrance arch on the south side 

Padmavathi Thayar Temple 7 tier Rajagopuram before sun rise  

Padmavathi Thayar Temple Rajagopuram After sun rise  

Padmavathi Thayar Temple chariot  

Padmavathi Thayar Temple chariot  

Padmavathi Thayar Temple tank east side  

Padmavathi Thayar Temple tank  

Patha Yathra group 

  

TIRUMALA FOOT PATH.

We continued our climb from Alipiri.  We two people - slow climbers- started earlier. I took almost 4 hours  to reach the last step of 3555. Climbed 1000 steps with out taking rest  in between. Hope this is a test for my health condition of my heart. Lunch ( Perumal’s favorite tamarind rice ) was served by the Devasthanam at Galigopuram.

   

                                                  First Gopuram 

Vijayanagara dynasty emblem  

                                    Vijayanagara dynasty emblem  

                                         Vijayanagara dynasty emblem  

Perumal in macha Avatar  

Perumal Koorma Avatar 

Kotta Gopuram – 2nd from Alipiri was built by Matla Kumara Anantaraja in 16th century. The stone steps from Alipiri was also formed by him. His father and his mother relief along with Lord Srinivasa can be seen inside the Rajagopuram and their names are inscribed in telugu and Tamil. The path way was further developed by TTD during 1985. 2.4 KM from Tirumala

 

Matla Kumararaja's father and his mother relief along with Lord Srinivasa can be seen inside the Rajagopuram and their names are inscribed in telugu and Tamil. .

Tamil inscriptions 

Perumal in Vamana Avathar  

 Gali Gopuram at 2083rd step 7.4 KM from Tirumala, where foot path darshan tokens are issued. 

Gali Gopuram 

Perumal in Krishna Avatar  

Perumal in varaha Avatar 

Lakshmi Narasimhar Sannidhi 

Mokalimitta Gopuram  at 2910th  step – ie start point of mulangal mudichu steps. 

Thirupannalwar 

The Last step 3550. 

Periyazhwar

Godadevi – Andal 

Nammalwar

Mandapam Renovated during 19999 ?- ( one 9 is added )

  

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per Kudavayil Balasubramaniyam, the 1542 CE inscription, in this temple records that special naivedyam of Athirasam to be offered to Lord on Deepavali Day. 

Details will be added latter...

Joined the yathra from Ramagiri after Nagalapuram, skipping 1½ day  walk, due to official work.  I was comfortable  even after the leg injury and angle dislocation, which happened two years before.  I could feel that my speed had dropped, compared to the previous yatras.   I extend my sincere thanks to SPIC’s team and coordinator to allow me for this year’s padayatra.

---OM NAMO NARAYANAYA ---

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---