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

 10th January 2016.

While sorting out the Pancha Bootha phalangeal (for the index of my web blog) of Thondai Nadu, ie, in and around Chennai, I found that the two Temples, Sri Arunachaleswarar and Sri Kalahastheeswarar, are missing. The Sri Kalahastheeswarar temple is not listed on Google Maps, but I managed to locate it at Pavalakara Street. I forgot 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 a canal,  Mylapore’s lesser known tales). All the Pancha Bootha sthalangal are in the northern part of Chennai.

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

SRI KALAHASTHEESWARAR TEMPLE
Since the temple is undergoing renovation, I was unable to take good photos. The place was in a mess 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 faces east, with an entrance arch. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Nandhi in a mandapam are in front of the sannadhi. Stucco Dwarapalakas are in front of the sannidhi, and Navagrahas are on the left side of the inner mandapam. Sannadhi for Vinayagar and Subramaniyar behind the sanctum.

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

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

HOW TO REACH :
The temple is at 155/ 50 Pavalakara Street (Coral Merchant Street), Chennai -1  Mannady area.  The north end of the street.

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

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE  

SRI ARUNACHALESWARAR TEMPLE

This temple is on Palliappan Street in the 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 the salient features of this temple are.

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Anubhoothi Mandapam is after entering the Rajagopuram, and the main sanctum is on the left. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Nandhi mandapam are at the entrance. In Koshtam  Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the outer praharam, Sannadhi for Vishnu, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar. A mandapam is at the front, and the basreliefs on the stone pillars are worth seeing.

In the inner praharam 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 Temples, around Chennai of Thondai Mandalam

SL NO	GOD AND GODESS	GRAHA	PLANET	PLACE
1a   1b	Sri Anandhavalli Samedha Sri Agastheeswarar Sri Swarnambigai Samedha Sri Pushparatheswarar	Suryan   Suryan	Sun   Sun	Kolappakkam   Gnayiru
2	Sri Kamtchi Samedha Sri Somanaatheeswarar	Chandran	Moon	Somangalam
3	Sri Thayyalnayagi Samedha Sri Vaidheeswarar	Chevvai	Mars	Poonamallee
4	Sri Soundrambigai Samedha Sri Sundareswarar	Budhan	Mercury	Kovur
5	Sri Sivakamasundari Samedha Sri Ramanatheeswarar	Guru	Jupitor	Porur
6	Sri Kamatchiamman & Sri Velleeswarar	Sukran	Venus	Mangadu
7	Sri Anadhavalli Samedha Sri Agastheeswarar	Sani	Satrun	Pozhichalur
8	Sri Kamatchi Samedha Sri Thirunageswarar	Rahu,  Rahu	North Lunar Node	Kundrathur
9	Sri Adhi Kamtchi Samedha Sri Neelakandeswarar	Ketu	South Lunar Node	Gerugambakkam

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Pada Yatra from Chennai Shiva Vishnu Temple to Tirupati, 2016

 07 January 2016.

34^th Year Patha Yatra to Tirupati from Shiva Vishnu Temple, T Nagar, Chennai. This Yatra was organized by SPIC employees every year.  The group comprises 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, walks all the way with a steady speed. The total distance covered during the 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 Yatra used to begin around 02.30 Hrs with bhajans and songs on Vinayagar, Murugan, Shiva, and Perumal.  After a few kilometers, the group would disintegrate, depending on the speed of walking.  An average of 40 to 45 km will be covered each day. The group used to stop for tea and biscuits at various tea stalls en route. After lunch, we rested for about 2 to 3 hours and continued to walk up to 19.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.  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 a bath in the falls. The waterfalls are about 2 KM off the main road before Narayanavanam.

Shiva in the natural cave 

Kamatchi

Ant hilAnthillside 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 is 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 

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

TIRUCHANOOR SRI PADMAVATHI THAYAR TEMPLE.

We were about 1 hour later 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 sunrise  

Padmavathi Thayar Temple Rajagopuram after sunrise  

Padmavathi Thayar Temple chariot  

Padmavathi Thayar Temple chariot  

Padmavathi Thayar Temple tank east side  

Padmavathi Thayar Temple tank  

Pada Yatra group 

  

TIRUMALA FOOT PATH.

We continued our climb from Alipiri.  We two people - slow climbers- started earlier. It took me 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 the 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 the 16th century. The stone steps from Alipiri were also formed by him. His father and his mother's relief, along with Lord Srinivasa, can be seen inside the Rajagopuram, and their names are inscribed in Telugu and Tamil. The pathway was further developed by TTD in 1985. 2.4 km from Tirumala.

 

Matla Kumararaja's father and his mother's bas-reliefs, 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 footpath 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 is 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 the special naivedyam of Athirasam is to be offered to the Lord on Deepavali Day. 

Details will be added later...

Joined the yatra from Ramagiri after Nagalapuram, skipping the 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 ---