Sri Kari Krishna perumal Temple at Ayarpadi- Ponneri

This is a very ancient Krishna temple a rarity in Tamil nadu as krioshna temples are few compared to Shiva temples. . It was supposedly built by Karikala Chola I hence the lord is called Kari krishna  and the Goddess is called  Soundaravalli nayaki which is Karikala Chola’s mother’s name apparently. Sages Bharadwaja and Agashtiya have  done penance here and the same is depicted in the outer mandapam.
How to reach:
Ponneri is about 35 kms from Chennai you will come to the karanodai bridge and toll .proceed straight after crossing road to peripalayam at  Thacchur koot road There is an overbridge here so take the service road and take the under pass to the right to enter ponneri look for the board indicating ponneri.Proceed for 3 kms to reach  the bazaar and proceed straight under the railway bridge and before the River bridge take a left turn the temple is on the main road on the right
Legends Of the temple and Uniqueness:
There was an old Ant hill for which the cows of the village used to offer milk. When the villagers were wondering what was happening they heard a divine voice instructing them to wash the ant hill with cows milk and Sri Krishna will emerge. Accordingly they were doing it. Since they were  over anxious , some one tried to dig below and  the lord told them to stop and thus  he is found in the present state with feet buried inside the ground and tilted to the right. He does not have a pedestal here !! he is a common man like you and me!!.standingon the same mother earth.
The ruler, Karikala Chozha built a temple for the Lord  and hence the name Kari Krishna. The Lord is in the form of the shepherd, holding the whip in His right hand and the left hand rests on His thigh. There is a knot  on His head.
The place is famous for begetting progeny. Many couples come here with Banana, milk etc and pray.
There are two Dwaja sthambams one in front of the ramar sannidhi and one in front of the Krishna sannidhi.
The Thayar sannidhi is placed to the left of the Krishna like in a shiva temple unlike other Vishnu temples
The Mandapam in front of the Temple is also splayed out and leaning just like the perumal inside who is also leaning to one side. It is not a defective construction it is a marvel which has stood solidly for  a few thousand years all the outer pillars are leaning outwards like the bloomingpetals of a flower (see below)

The main entrance has a rajagopuram with a newly built cement mandapam in front!!

As you enter you can see the Krishna sannidhi in front with the garudalwar in front and the Dwajasthambam

The thayar sannidhi is seen on the right of the picture above and below is the view of the thayar sannidhi from front

The main praharm

There are a lot of Mandapams inside the temple with various vaishnava saints. There is also a big ant hill



Andal sannithi behind the main temple
Ramar sannidhi  Rama and Sita are present here  with the Hanumarin front  and the Kodimaram behind  
A truly heavenly experience
This temple is believed to be a prarthana Sthalam for child birth. On Rohini star every month, if childless couples visit the Kari Krishna temple with two plantains, ½ litre milk, 100gms butter and oil (Gingely lamp oil) and perform an archanai, the Lord is said to immediately bless the couple with progeny.
Temple Time : 730am-1030am and 530pm-830pm
Archakar:
Mohan Rama/ Srinath Bhattar @ 044- 27972290/ 94447 20636
Sampath Kumar/ Krishna Kumar/ Sai Krishna Bhattar@ 044- 27974934 /
99941 82494

Sree Lalithambigai Temple -Thirumeeyachur

On the Mayavaram Tiruvarur road after about 20 kms from

Mayavaram you will come to peralam in Nannilam from here the temple is about 1 km Take the branch in front of the Peralam railway station . I visited this place in 2005 and this kindled my interest of the temples

The temple is surrounded by verdant greenery( The temple is behind the greenery on the right)
The temple was re built by Rajendra chola and Sembian mahadevi .The temple is built with the gajaprishti vimanam (elephant back style).

The legend of the temple is that Surya was cursed to be come dark and he prayed here to lord Meganatha for relief. It is also associated with Kartaru and Vinuthai the wifes of sage Kashyapa (who were the mothers of Garuda and the Nagas )who had an argument about the colour of Indra's horse Uchisravas .
The presiding lord here is Shiva and he is called Meghanatha Swamy and the goddess is Lalithambikai also called Santhanayaki. The Ambal Idol is five feet tall and installed over a Srichakra. As soon as you enter the first prahara you will see the Lalithambikai sannidhi on the right. the temple has a five tiered rajagopuram for the ambal There is a scene where Shiva is seen placating his consort this is known as  shiva gangadhara concept. please see the link below for further info http://poetryinstone.in/lang/en/2008/08/31/please-dont-go-my-dearest-says-shiva.html. (Anger)

(Coyness)
The Sun worships the Lord with his rays falling on the Lord from 21st to 27th of chiththirai.even now  is it not a marvelous Civil engineering feat!
As directed  by Hayagriva sage agasthiyar came to this temple and worshiped the God  as done by the sun and saluted “Lalithambikai”. Yama also worshiped the Lord here.
Sage Agastya is believed to have composed  Lalita Navaratnamala in praise of the Goddess here. He has also composed a hymn named Rahasyanamasahasram.this is also the place where hayagriva tells Agasthya about the greatness of  Lalitha sahasranama
Saivite saints Thirugnana Sambandar and Thirunavukkarasar have sung in praise of this temple
it is considered auspicious to sing Lalithasahasranamam here in the lalithambikai sannidhi

The  ratham what a marvel!!

I happened to re visit on 26/12/13. The temple is undergoing maintainence. The Kurukkal spent a lot of time explaining the many legends of the temple . It was the birthplace of Garuda and Aruna, Vaali and Sugriva, Shani and Yama. Surya regained his lustre and wives here.

A few more snaps from Jan 2016 visit