Sri Agastheeswarar Temple / Kamakshi Samedha Agastheeswarar Temple / Ancient Lord Shiva Temple / காமாக்ஷி உடனுறை அகத்தீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Orathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

This Agastheeswarar Temple at Orathur is on the way to Padappai from Siruvanjur, in the Chengalpattu District. This place was called Oorathur during the Pallava and Chozha periods and later got corrupted to the present name of Orathur.

It is believed that this is one of the 108 Shiva Lingas installed and worshipped by the  Sage Agasthiyar in Thondai Nadu. This is also one of the “Thevara Vaippu Sthalam”, sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal. Thirunavukkarau Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of Agatheechuram, along with Nandhikechuram, Mahalaechuram, Nagechuram, Kodeechuram, Kondeechuram, Kukkudechuram, Akkeechuram, Adakechuram, Ayaneechuram, Aththeechuram, Siddheechuram, and Ramechuram. 

நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா காளேச்

        சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக ளேச்சுராநன் கான

கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச் சுரந்திண் டீச் சுரங்

        குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரங்கூ றுங்கால்

ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய னீச்சுர

        மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்கர மந்தண் கானல்

ஈடுதிரை யிராமேச்சுர மென்றென் றேத்தி

        யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு மியம்பு வோமே

…. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் ( 6-71-8 )

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Kamakshi

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east, with an entrance arch. The temple tank is on the right side of the Temple. Balipeedam and Rishabam/Idabam (Not facing Moolava) are after the entrance arch. Moolavar in the sanctum is a little tall. In koshtam, Narthana Ganapathi, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the praharam Manakula Vinayagar, Sri Murugan with Valli Devasena, Bhairavar (This murti may not be the original one and may be installed at a later date. A damaged Bhairavar was found in an Amman temple, on the opposite side of the temple tank. This may belong to this temple), Navagrahas, Chandikeswarar, Old Rishabam / Idabam, Nagars, and Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi. Bas reliefs of Dhiyana Lingam, Agasthiyar, and Pambatti Siddhar are on the mukha mandapam pillars. 

Ambal is in a separate temple, facing east like Moolavar on the right side of the main sannidhi. There is a Tunnel in the temple. It is believed that the tunnel leads to Vallakottai Murugan Temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The Gajaprushta sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. Brahma kantha pillasters are on the bhitti. The pilasters are with malaikattu, kalasam, thadi, kalasam, kumbha, palakai, veerakandam, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus, and viyalavari. The vimana from adhistanam to ¼ of the bhitti was built with stone, and above that portion was built with bricks. An eka tala Gajabirushta vimanam is on the bhumidesam. 

The Compound wall (Northwest had fallen down during this cyclone) was built with brick and mud/clay used in between the bricks. The top portion was built with brick and lime mortar.

    

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple belongs to the Pallava period, and the same was reconstructed during the Chozha period and further extended during the Vijayanagara Period. Chozha period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam. As per the inscription, this place was called Jayangonda Chozha Mandalathu, Senkattu Kottathu Oorathur, and Lord Shiva was called Tiruvagatheeswaramudaya Thambiran.

The Vijayanagara King Achchutha Devaraya’s (1529 CE  - ARE 256 of 1910) period inscription records the gift of a Village to this temple.

The 19th-century Telugu Inscription (ARE 257 of 1910) records the reconstruction of this temple and Koshta images by Avanigaddala Pattabhiramudu.

Ref:

Annual report on South Indian Epigraphy, Year 1910.

Traces of Chozha inscriptions

Telugu inscriptions

LEGENDS

As per the legend, during the celestial wedding of  Lord Shiva with Parvati, all the Gods, Devas, Maharishis, and Sages gathered at Mount Kailash. Due to this, the north side of the Earth lowered, and the south side went up. To balance the earth, Lord Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go south. From Mount Kailash towards Podhigai Hill, Agasthiyar established many Shiva Lingas and worshipped. It is believed that this temple is also one of them.

Rishabam / Idabam is not facing Lord Shiva but facing the entrance. It is believed that Rishabam is facing the entrance to monitor and prevent the asuras from disturbing Agasthiyar’s penance/prayer.

It is believed that Agasthiyar and Pambatti Siddhar worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple. Since the Ambal temple is on the right side of the Moolavar shrine, it is believed that the temple is for removing obstacles in marriage. Hence, Devotees worship Lord Shiva and Parvati for the marriage boon.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi, Pradosham days, and Maha Shivaratri

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Sri Subramanya Sivachariyar may be contacted on his mobile number +91 95978 94705 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This temple at Orathur is 4 km from Padappai, 7 km from Guduvancheri, 17.3 km from Tambaram, 20 km from Chengalpattu, and 44 km from Kanchipuram and  Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Guduvancheri, and the Junctions are Tambaram and Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

This Bhairavar is in the Gangai Amman Temple on the opposite side of the temple tank and may belong to this temple.

The Pallava period original Rishabam / Idabam

Agasthiyar

The collapsed wall during the recent rain

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Kalanthai Nayagi Sametha Nakkarieswarar Sivan Temple ஶ்ரீ கலந்தை நாயகி சமேத நக்கரீஸ்வரர் சிவன் கோயில் ( Chozha Inscriptions ) Kilambakkam near Urapakkam, Chennai District ( Chengalpattu District ), Tamil Nadu

The Google map sometimes helps in bringing out some Gold mines of our old History. This is one of the temples with the treasure of Rajaraja Chozha’s 3 inscriptions on granite stone slabs. Fortunate to visit this place after the cyclone on the 12^th of November, wading through rain and sewage waters. It was a beautiful and pleasant day to see the inscriptions with the great Chozha King Rajaraja-I's name.

 

The visit to this Nakkarieswarar Shiva temple at Kilambakkam near Urapakkam Railway station was a part of the Shiva and Vishnu temple on the east and west side of Grand Southern Trunk Road (GST Road) from Old Perungalathur to Chettipuyam on 14^th November 2021. This is a lesser-known Pallava / Chozha period temple. 

Moolavar  : Sri Nakkarieswarar

Consort    : Sri Kalanthai Nayagi.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east, with only the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is of Swayambhu on a square avudayar. Balipeedam and Rishabam / Idabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. The Vinayagar, Murugan, and Chandikeswarar shrines are without images. Ambal is in a separate shrine facing South.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The present shrines/structures seem to have been built in recent years. But Moolavar is original and may belong to the Pallava period. There are two stone slabs with inscriptions containing Rajaraja Chozha-I’s period found near the shrine. The presence of these inscribed stone slabs indicates that a Pallava-period brick Shiva temple might have existed on this same spot. The inscriptions are inscribed on a separate stone since the original temple may have been made of brick during the Chozha period. During the Chozha period, this place was called Kalanthai in NedungunRa Nadu, a sub-division of Puliyur Kottam, and Lord Shiva was called Kalanthai Nakkar or Nakkar. The place and Lord Shiva retain their name even after 1000 years. 

இவ்வூரில் மொத்தம் மூன்று கல்வெட்டுகள் கண்டறியப்பட்டுள்ளன. இம்மூன்றும் பலகைக்கற்களில் பொறிக்கப்பட்டு அவ்வூர் செல்லியம்மன் கோயில் அருகே கிடக்கின்றன.

Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 19^th reign year inscription starts with his meikeerthi .. ஸ்வத்திஸ்ரீ திருமகள் போலப் பெருநிலச் செல்வியும்…  The inscription records the endowment of burning a Perpetual lamp by Puliyur Kottathu Nedungundra Nattu Kilampakkam Mandradi Ponkalanthai Mandradi. The same 45 goats/sheep/ewes as Saava moova peradu were gifted to this temple to supply one Azhakku Ghee.

புலியூர்க் கோட்டத்து. நெடுங்குன்ற நாட்டுக் கிளாம்பாக்கத்திலுள்ள மஹாதேவர் நக்கர் கோயிலுக்கு நுந்தா விளக்கு ஒன்று எரிப்பதற்கு அவ்வூரைச் சேர்ந்த பொன்களந்தை மன்றாடி என்பவர் தினமும் ஆழாக்கு நெய்யளிப்பதற்குத் தேவையான 45 ஆடுகளைத் தானமளித்த செய்தி கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Rajararaja Chozha-I’s 23^rd reign year inscription also starts with his meikeerthi as…  ஸ்வத்திஸ்ரீ திருமகள் போலப் பெருநிலச் செல்வியும்…. The inscription records the endowment of a burning half ( ½ ) perpetual lamp by Puliyur Kottathu Nedungundra Nattu Kilampakkam Vallangizhan Nambi Azhagan. For the same, 45 Sheep/Goats/ewes were received by Attunen Nambi Azhagan, who agreed to supply a measure of Uzhakku ghee equivalent to Marakkal. This was inscribed by Kalthachchan Ambalathaadi Peruman.

புலியூர்க் கோட்டத்து நெடுங்குன்ற நாட்டு கிளாம்பாக்கத்து மஹாதேவர் களந்தை நக்கர் கோயிலுக்கு அரை விளக்கு எரிப்பதற்கு ஒருவர் (பெயர் சிதைந்துள்ளது) அளித்த நாற்பத்தைந்து ஆடுகளை அதே ஊரைச் சேர்ந்த வல்லங்கிழான் நம்பி அழகன் என்பவர் பெற்றுக் கொண்டு தினமும் ஆழாக்கு நெய்யால் விளக்கெரிக்கச் சம்மதித்த செய்தி கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. இச்செய்தியைக் கல்தச்சன் அம்பலத்தாடி பெருமான் கல்லில் வெட்டிய செய்தியும் குறிப்பிடப் பட்டுள்ளது.

Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 24^th reign inscription also starts with his meikeerthi as… ஸ்வத்திஸ்ரீ திருமகள் போலப் பெருநிலச் செல்வியும்… The Inscription records the endowment of burning half (½) a perpetual lamp with 1 Uzhakku ghee / daily by two persons, Mandradi Ponnanan Sendri alias Kalanthai Mandradi and another person (As per ARE, the brother of the 1^st person). For the same 45, Saava Moova Peradu  (Sheep/Goat/ewes) were gifted to this temple.  The inscription is incomplete and damaged in some portions. 

ஜயங் கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து புலியூர்க் கோட்டத்து நெடுங்குன்ற நாட்டுக் கிளாம்பாக்கத்திலுள்ள மஹாதேவர் களந்தை நக்கர் கோயிலுக்கு அவ்வூர் மன்றாடி பொன்னன் சென்றியான களந்தை மன்றாடியும் மற்றொருவரும் இணைந்து அரை நுந்தாவிளக்கு எரிப்பதற்கு நாற்பத்தைந்து ஆடுகள் அளித்து அதன் மூலம் நிசதம் ஆழாக்கு நெய்யளிக்கவும் ஒப்புக்கொண்ட செய்தி கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. 

 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Oru Kala pooja is conducted, and the time is unpredictable.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mobile number +9195518 59763 (I tried many times and could not reach this mobile number)

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on the west side of the Railway track and about 500 Meters from Urapakkam Railway Station.

The temple is about 14 km from Tambaram and 40 km from Chennai Central.

The nearest Suburban Railway station is Urapakkam, and the bigger Railway Station is Tambaram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Agastheeswarar Temple / அகத்தீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Old Perungalathur / Old Perungulattur, Chennai, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

This Sri Agastheeswarar Temple is at Old Perungalathur in the Kanchipuram District.  During the Pallava and Chozha periods, this place was called PerunGulathur பெருங்குளத்தூர் (Kulam–Eri, Tank, etc.), which has become corrupted to the present name of Perungalathur. It is believed that this is one of the 108 Shiva Lingas installed and worshiped by the Sage Agathiyar in Thondai Nadu. 

It is also believed that this is one of the “Thevara Vaippu Sthalam”, sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal.  Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of Agatheechuram, along with Nandhikechuram, Mahalaechuram, Nagechuram, Kodeechuram, Kondeechuram, Kukkudechuram,  Akkeechuram, Adakechuram, Ayaneechuram Aththeechuram, Siddheechuram, and Ramechuram. 

நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா காளேச்

        சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக ளேச்சுராநன் கான

கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச் சுரந்திண் டீச் சுரங்

        குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரங்கூ றுங்கால்

ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய னீச்சுர

        மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்கர மந்தண் கானல்

ஈடுதிரை யிராமேச்சுர மென்றென் றேத்தி

        யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு மியம்பு வோமே

…. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் ( 6-71-8 )

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Akilandeswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east without any entrance arch or Rajagopuram. Rishabam and balipeedam are in the mukha mandapam. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

Vinayagar as Raja ganapathi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar as Muthukumaraswamy, Chandikeswarar, Swarna akarshana Bhairavar with his consort sitting on his lap, are in the praharam. Ambal Akilandeswari is in a separate sannidhi in ardha mandapam facing south. A stucco image of Ambal worshiping Lord Shiva is on the top of the south side entrance.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum was built with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The adhistanam is a simple padabandha adhisthana with three patta kumuda. The Bhitti starts with Vedikai. The Brahmakantha pilasters are shown on the bhitti. The Pilasters are with Kalasam, Thadi kumbha/kudam, mandi (Lotus petals), Palagai, Veerakandam, and Vettu Pothyal.

The prastaram is with valabi, kapotam (with Nasi kudus), and viyyalavari in Bhoomi desam. A two tier stucco Nagara Vimanam is on the prastaram. The stucco images of Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, and Brahma are on the 1^st tier and greeva koshtam.

Bas reliefs of Lord Shiva, Parvati, Murugan, Dancing Girls, Solar and Lunar eclipse, and various animals are found on the ceiling of the mandapam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This place was called Perungulathur (Big Tank / Eri – a big water body) and is now called Perungalathur - பெருங்களத்தூர். This temple belongs to the Chozha period. Rajarajan-III period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam. This temple received contributions from the Chozhas, Vijayanagaras, and Nayakas.

As per the inscription this place was called as Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Puliyur Kottathu Nedungundra Nattu Perunkulathur.  Lord Shiva Thiruvakatheechuramudaya Nayanar (திருவகத்தீச்சுவரமுடைய நாயனார்)

Rajaraja-III’s period inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi Lamp at this temple.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, during the celestial wedding of Lord Shiva with Parvati, all the Gods, Devas, Maharishis, and Sages gathered at Mount Kailash. Due to this, the north side of the earth lowered, and the south side went up. To balance the earth, Lord Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go south. From Mount Kailash towards Podhigai Hill, Agasthiyar established many Shiva Lingas and worshipped. It is believed that this temple is also one of them.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Karthigai Deepam, Panguni Uthiram, and on all important function days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 05.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

This temple at Old Perungalathur is 4.5 km from Tambaram and 32 km from Chennai Central.

The nearest Railway station is Tambaram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Swarna Akarshana Bhairavar with his consort

Dakshinamurthy -Gurupeyarchi alangaram

Saptakannis with Lord Shiva, Maha Vishnu, Brahma & Krishna

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---