Sri Agneshwarar sametha Oushadambikai Koil–Vanagaram Chennai

I travel very frequently on the Tambaram Maduravoyal bypass and  I was always keen to visit the temple seen from the bypass.Today morning I was given the opportunity do so.The one word to describe the visit was PEACE

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is open to the elements and can be seen west of the bypass. The service road which exists between PH road (Near Jesus calls ) and Chettiyar agraharam near the toll booth gives us access to the road leading to the temple, There is no proper road  up to the temple but the ground is motor able. You can also enter the temple from inside Chettiyar agraharam on the west

LEGENDS AND INTERESTING THINGS:

There was a huge Shivalingam which was more than a 1000 years old apparently lying in the open.It is thought to be the Jiva Samadhi of a sage. It was moved into the present garbhagraha  in 1960

The Original place where this lingam was found is still in worship but pilgrims are allowed only on the pradosha days  and on Sivarathri days all are allowed to worship the lord with our own hands offering Maha vilvam(9-12-15 leaved Vilvam leaves)

Originally daily these vilvam leaves would be brought from the Kovoor temple but now a days there are two trees in the temple itself

There was also a 3 faced rudraksha tree which unfortunately dried up this summer

The temple in itself is a very peaceful small structure with small enclosures for the Agnishwarar, Oushadambikai, Ganesha and murugan.The Mahishasura mardhini is exquisite

The Shivan sannidhi is in front and the Ambal sannidhi is on the right in the pic below

The Koshta vigrahas

Vinayaka below

Mahishasura mardhini above

Navagraha sannidhi below

The legend of Parvathy saving the lord from the hala hala poison  hence she is called Oushadambikai

A short visit which was very pleasant

Sri Kanakadurga temple Vijayawada

I had the opportunity to visit this temple this Sunday as per the wishes of the Kanchi acharyas who are camping here for their chaturmasa vratam. The Krishna river will have the pushkar festival from Aug 12  to 24 this year hence hectic construction  activity is taking place. I had previously visited this temple  in 1983 and remember climbing up the Indra keeladri hill but today there is a magnificent 7 floored multistory building engulfing the hill which is the modern queue complex. There is a lift available for the physically challenged also.
How to Reach:
The temple is on a hillock where the NH 5 enters the city from the south at the Krishna river barrage. It is very close to the station and you just can't miss it.There is a road up the ghat road and vehicles were allowed up previously. For the pushkar it has been stopped.
Legends
Indra Keela a sage obtained a boon that  Ma Durga would stay Atop his head and protect the people from asuras in the previous Yuga .True to her word After killing mahishasura, Durga came to rest on the Indrakeeladri hill protecting the people of Bezwada. The 10 day Dasara festival is grandly celebrated here with daily adornments and alankara of Durga Devi.Since she shines in a holden hue she is called Kanaka Durga. Kanaka is gold in Telugu and Sanskrit.
There is another story that Durga playfully removed the nose ring from Krishnaa and ran up the hill.Krishna has promised that at the end of the Yuga she will rise up to the hill and redeem her nose ring

In the Mahabharata Arjuna has a fight  with Shiva as a hunter in claiming  a wild boar killed by his arrow,Shiva tests him and this is where he gives Arjuna the pasupata astra.
The Chola king Vijaya adithya conquered this land and built  the Vijayeshwara temple below the hill to commemorate Arjuna's receiving the astra.

The river Krishna was stopped by the hills here . Answering the peoples prayers Shiva created caverns and tunnels in these hills to allow free flow of the river to irrigate the land and make it fertile. Locally these tunnels are called Bejjalu hence the name Bejjalu wada or Bezwada for this city. To commemorate this the Mallikarjuna shiva temple is built on another hill adjoining the Durga temple.
Adishankara visited this place and has codified Pooja here and has done a Srichakra yanthra sthapana in this temple

When you visit the temple please leave the cell phones in designated lockers and you can move up 7 floors in dedicated queues for Rs.5/20/100 and free darshan. Tickets will be issued in the queue itself with laddu  .
You will be allowed in front of the sanctum for a brief period to pray.
The temple has a dedicated website for all special Poojas and sevas .
Everything is peaceful inspute of the crowd above at the temple .please do visit and enjoy the benefits of Ma Durga