Shri Vaitheeswaran Koil / ஸ்ரீ வைதீஸ்வரன் கோயில், பிள்ளைபாக்கம் / Pillaipakkam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Vaitheeswaran Temple at Pillaipakkam was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples visit” – on 30^th April 2023. This Village is on the Sriperumbudur to Mudichur road which passes through many industries. Can be reached through the Road before Sri Eswari Auto Components Private Ltd.

Moolavar  : Sri Vaitheeswaran

Consort    : Sri Thayyal Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a large white ambal flowers temple tank. An entrance Rajagopuram base is on the south side. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudayar, looks little big.  In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.  Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas  and Bairavar are in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum antarala and ardha mandapam.  The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhsithanam with three patta kumudam.  The bhitti starts with pattigai. The sanctum sanctorum itself is of Gajaprishta style. The Pilasters are of brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam Palakai and Tharanga pothyal. An ekatala Gajaprishta Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are on the greeva koshtam. The mandapam pillars are virutha type with vettu pothyal.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Ref: தொல்லியல் நோக்கின் காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டம், ச. கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி.

பல்லவர் கால நிருபதுங்கனின் கல்வெட்டு ( 861 CE ), மூலவரை மூலஸ்தானத்து மகாதேவர் என்றும் முதலாம் குலோத்துங்கன் காலத்தில் அகத்தீஸ்வரர் என்றும் அழைக்கப்படதை பதிவு செய்கின்றது.

Nrupathunga Pallava period 861 CE, inscription records the  moolavar’s name as Moolasthanathu Mahadevaar.  Kulothunga Chozha-I period inscription records Shiva’s name as Agastheeswarar.

பராந்தக சோழனின் 940 CE, கோயிலில் விளக்கெரிக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டதை பதிவு செய்கின்றது.

Parantaka Chozha’s 940 CE inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp and the arrangements done for burning the lamps.

பார்த்திவேந்திரவர்மனின் 971 CE, தேவதானமாக நிலங்கள் கொடுக்கப்பட்டதைப் பதிவு செய்கின்றது.

Parthivendra’s 971 CE, inscription records that the lands gifted to this temple as thevadhanam.

ராதிராஜன் –I, 1045 CE, கல்வெட்டு கோயில் எல்லைகளை வரையறை செய்து, நிலம் தானமாக அளிக்கப்பட்டதைப் பதிவு செய்கின்றது.

Rajathirajan-I’s 1045 CE inscription records the periphery limits of the temple and the lands gifted to this temple.

முதலாம் குலோத்துங்கனின் 1074 CE, கல்வெட்டு இறைவனின் பெயர் அகஸ்தீஸ்வரர் எனக்குறிப்பிட்டு விளக்கெரிக்க தானம் அளித்துள்ளதையும், 1118 CE, ல் நிலம் தேவதானமாக அளிக்கப்பட்டதையும் பதிவு செய்கின்றது.

Kulothunga Chozha-I’s 1074 CE inscription records the moolavar’s name as Agastheeswarar, and an endowment of burning a lamp and donation of land given. Further 1118 CE inscription records the gift of land as thevadhanam to this temple.

The Koshta images are installed after temple construction, since the inscriptions are found on back side of the koshta images.

As per the inscription tablet at the temple, the temple was destroyed during Golkonda nawab invasion. In the year 1977, Pillaipakkam Singaravel Chettiar’s son Sri Namasivaya Chettiar obtained a patta in the name of the temple for the dilapidated temple land. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was performed on 14^th June 1981. Again Maha Kumbhabhishekams are performed on 4^th April 2004 and 17^th April 2017.

 Kulothunga Chozha's inscription on the back side of Maha Vishnu

 19-20th Century inscription 

LEGENDS

The Shiva was called as Agastheeswarar during Chozha period and the same was changed as Sri Vaitheeswaran. Why and when the name was changed is not known.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

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

HOW TO REACH

The temple is 4.5 KM from Sriperumbudur, 18 KM from Kundrathur, 25 KM from Poonamallee, 39 KM from Koyambedu,  45 KM from Kanchipuram and 45 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Koyambedu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Balamurugan Temple / Porur Murugan Temple, போரூர் பாலமுருகன் கோயில், Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Balamurugan Temple at Porur was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples visit” – on 30^th April 2023. After the darshan of Sri Ramanatheeswarar, one of the Navagraha sthalam ( Buthan sthalam ) of Chennai. When I asked the route to Kundrathur, the priest advised me to Visit this Murugan Temple also. The temple is situated on Sri Ramanatheeswarar Temple land, about 100 meters from Shiva Temple. 

 

Moolavar : Sri Balamurugan.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram measuring 63 feet tall. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and peacock Vahana are in front of the mukha mandapam. In Sanctum Sanctorum Murugan is sitting on Peacok vahana.

In praharam Valampuri Swarna Vinayagar, Swarna akarshna  Bairavar and Navagrahas.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The total temple was constructed with bricks and cement concrete. The sanctum sanctorum is of square in shape. An eka tala Dravida Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The present temple may be 100 to 200 years old and no old inscriptions found to prove its antiquity.

The 5 tier Rajagopuram was constructed ( foundation stone was laid on 4^th April 1984 aand work was started on 30^th August 1990 ) and kumbhabhishekam was performed on 3^rd, September 1992, through Uthira Pal kavadi Vel Pooja Sabha.

Again Maha Kumbhabhishekam was performed on 28^th August 2006.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Tuesdays, Fridays, Kiruthigai Nakshatra days,  Panguni Uthiram, Thaipoosam, Kandar sashti,  Karthigai Deepam, 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

The mobile number +91 98414 58035 may be contacted for further details.  

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 1 KM from Porur Junction, 10 KM from Guindy railway Station and Koyambedu and 21 KM from Chennai central.

Nearest Railway station is Guindy. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Agastheeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ அகஸ்தீஸ்வரர் கோயில், முகலிவாக்கம் / Mugalivakkam, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar temple at Mugalivakkam was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples visit” – on 30^th April 2023. After the darshan of Sri Mugalieswarar, the priest told about this ancient 1000 and odd years old Sri Agastheeswarar Temple, which is  about 200 meters from Mugalieswarar Temple.

  

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Parvathambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati are on the top of the mukha mandapam. The balipeedam and a rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam..

Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Ambal Parvathambigai, Bairavar Chandikeswarar and Navagrahas are in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple is under renovation during my Visit.  An eka tala Gajaprishta Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the Greeva koshtam. The entrance to the sanctum sanctorum is very small. Viewing from inside, the temple was built with stone may be up to the ceiling level.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the temple belongs to Pallava period. Before renovation the temple was below the ground level. The total sanctum sanctorum was lifted to the present level using Hydraulic jack. It is proposed to perform Maha Kumbhabhishekam on 5, 6 & 7^th June 2023.

The temple space is encroached by the people and the Government too. An over head tank was constructed on the north west corner of the temple.

LEGENDS

During the celestial wedding of Shiva and Parvati, all the Devas, Rishis and Munis assembled at Mount Kailash to witness the marriage. Due to this the earth, South side raised and North side went to down. Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go to South to balance it. On the way to Podhigai, Agasthiyar installed and worshipped Shiva Lingas at many places. It is believed that the moolavar of this temple was also installed and worshiped by Agasthyar. hence Moolavar is called as Agastheeswarar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha shivaratri, Amavasya, Pournami, Sankadahara Chaturthi, Kiruthigai days, etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 2.9 KM from Porur Junction, 9 KM from Guindy railway Station and Koyambedu and 22 KM from Chennai central.

Nearest Railway station is Guindy. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---