Sri Kaaraneeshwarar Temple–Saidapet Chennai

Today I took an unplanned trip on a whim to visit this temple.I have always been hearing of Saidapet temple though I could not get much info about this temple I know it is a very ancient one. The sudden rain pouring down was very heavy and added to the thrill of the visit today

How to reach: 

Saidapet is a sprawling area between the Adayar river , Mount Road and T.Nagar.Proceeding from Anna flyover side I took a turn on the right side at East Jones road junction on mount road after the South Usman road junction and proceeded straight on this road .You will go under the railway tracks near the station and immediately after take the left turn .On the right is the temple pond                                              Tank supposedly built by Indra it is named “Gopathi Saras “ and on taking a left here I reached the front of the Majestic Temple

new pic from a friend who visited on 23/09/24(many thanks Dr.S)

legend of this temple:

Lord Indra had sent his cow with sage vashishta.He was saddened to know that owing to some reason Kamadhenu had incurred the rishis wrath and was under a curse.Indra was advised to build a temple between Mylapore and Adyar river and pray to lord Shiva to retrieve Kamadhenu. He first asked Lord varuna to pour rain and make this area fertile and then built the temple here. Lord Shiva was happy and conferred the title “Gopathy” lord of the Cows to Indra here and released Kamadhenu back

As you enter the Rajagopuram we see the wide praharam.Right in front is the Ambal Swarnambikai Sannidhi

There is a Vinayaka sannidhi at the entrance facing east.

The outer praharam has multiple sannidhis for murugan, Various replica of lords of different temples and Navagraha sannidhi with Shani bhagavan and Surya bhagavan ,Bhairava  seen below

The back of the temple with images of various lords of famous temples

Murugan Sannidhi

Navagraha sannidhi

The Kodi maram and in the foreground a sannidhi for Kasi Viswanathan and Tripurasundari

Kasi Viswanatha Sannidhi

Tripurasundari Ambal

There are also sannidhis for Shani and Bhairava

View from the Nandi in front of the Kodimaram facing the Main Kaaraneeshwarar Sannidhi

Ambal Sri Swarnambikai sannidhi as seen from the South side entrance

Having circumambulated the outer praharam we enter the main sannidhi where there is an  east facing Shiva Lingam and a South facing sannidhi for Ambal

The inner praharam has the Koshta vigrahas and vigrahas for the nayanmars. The statue for Karaikal ammaiyar  and a small  Shiva Lingam and Nandi was eye catching

Sri Tripurasundari sametha Panchanadheshwarar koil-A padal petra sthalam at Thiruandar koil near Pondicherry

Thiruvandar Koil is a sleepy hamlet between Pondy and Villupuram. This a an ancient temple of about 800 AD under the control of the ASI which has many exquisite sculptures, I found some rare ones too.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on the state highway 332 about 17 kms from Pondy and 20 kms from Villupuram . there is a small board indicating this small but peaceful temple.

A few dilapidated  structures at the entrance

LEGENDS OF THE TEMPLE:

There was an asura called Vandasuran who was vanquished by Shiva as Bhairava form and the place came to be called as Thiruvandar koil.

It is also the place that brahma’s fifth head was removed by Shiva Shiva became Bhikshandar here and brahma prayed here to absolve himself of the sins of lying.

The temple has been sung about by Sri Gnanasambandar and Arunagirinathar

There is no Dwajasthambam only bali peetamm

The main temple is a simple structure with a slightly inclined Shivalingam facing east.

The Ambal Tripurasundari is in her own sannidhi facing south

The outer praharam has unique Koshta vigrahas

Ganapathy

The Dakshinamurthy here is famous  and helps clear marriage obstacles

Lingodhbhavar

A rare panel of Shiva Parvathi and murugan as hunters carrying Bow and arrows

Ardhanarishwara

Vishnu Durga

A rare Pradosha murthy Shiva and Parvathy as a couple

other sannidhis

Ganapathy sannidhi

Murugan Sannidhi

Bhairava on the left, Navagraha in the far left behind and Shanishwarar in front of murugan

This place is famous for the Bhairava and special prayers to him to help vanquish difficult times are performed here

A small neatly maintained ancient temple with rare sculptures

Sri Marundeshwarar koil at Kandamangalam /Navamal Marudhur near Pondicherry-An ancient temple renovated recently

About 15 years ago an elderly relative urged me to visit this temple which was in a dilapidated stage and he told me it wont last long. I could not find more details. Today I could recollect the place and could visit the same when I visited Pondicherry.

Though I could not get more information of this temple I found that new construction has been done.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is situated 15 kms from Pondy on the Villupuram road in a village called Marudhur . The winding narrow village road leads us to the temple and locals are eager to guide you. Sadly at 10 AM there were not many people around and the temple is being looked after by an elderly oduvar.I heard from him that Sri. Thirunavukkarasar has visited this temple.I read somewhere that records from 1056 AD  in the Karandhai temple in Tanjore district there were 66 acres of land allotted to this temple by Raja Raja Chola.

It is very famous as a parihara sthalam with the Bhairava being very powerful. The Oduvar said if you pray to this lord I predict you will see results in 15 days!! such was his confidence

A placid natural uncared for pond in front of the temple

View of the temple from the pond. The Huge Nandi guards the temple entrance where in a huge Shivalingam rests in the main sannidhi facing SOUTH as is the Marudhambigai sannidhi  a very rare feature. Shiva was manifested in a Marudha tree here (Arjun tree) hence marudhur. Both Shiva and Parvathi are equal in height . The whole temple was built with black granite  which was available about 70 kms away ( all this data from Sri. Sathiya   Narayanan on Google maps and from the Oduvar in the temple my gratitude to both of them and all credit to these two people for all the  info regarding this temple)

The temple was consecrated by sri Parakesi munivar it seems

To the right you can see the Marudhambigai sannidhi

I

Marudhambigai sannidhi

Murugan and Vinayaka sannidhi can be seen behind the main sannidhis.

I front of the Ambal sannidhi facing north are the sannidhis  for Suryan, Chandran ,Kala Bhairava and the Navagrahas

Sri Maragadhavalli sametha Sri Margasahayeshwarar and Sri KarunakaraPerumal temple Maduravoyal,Chennai

Another Gem of an ancient temple came to my notice recently as I was travelling on the busy Poonamalle high road. A recently put up sign board drew my attention to this ancient temple and I could visit it today. The temple has been taken up by the Archeological survey of India and is being re built.You would never imagine such a peaceful ancient temple exists near this busy highway.

The Vishnu temple was actually situated nearby on the banks of the cooum.Apparently in 1970’s there was flooding and the temple was washed away and the Moola virat was rescued and installed in this Shiva temple.

HOW TO REACH:

On Poonamalle highroad as you are coming from the Kanchi/ Bangalore side towards Chennai you will cross the inner ring road and then come to the first signal.Just after this is the Maduravoyal corporation office and adjacent to this is the narrow lane leading to the temple. Since I was not sure about this road I proceeded a bit straight and took the next acute left turn  east mada street and reached the temple

The main Shiva temple is undergoing renovation

Due to the renovation the main lord is in Balalayam and kept in a small enclosure in the for court next to the navagraha. The most captivating thing here was the sheer peace and greenery with multiple Ganeshas under various banyan trees

There were also a mango tree , Bhilva tree and Jack fruit tree all with fruits

In the hind court of the temple complex is the Karunakara perumal temple with Sridevi and Bhoodevi.

Picture of the main deity taken with the permission of the Bhattar below

A small derelict temple which I am sure will be attracting more visitors shortly