Naalvar Temple,
Thirukazhukundram, Chengalpattu
Naalvar Temple is a Hindu Temple
dedicated to Saivite Saints (Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manikkavasakar),
located in Thirukazhukundram, an outskirt of Chennai City in Chengalpattu
District of Tamil Nadu. This Temple is situated on the eastern side, at the
foot of the hill and is located at about 1 Km from the main Temple.
History
The Saivite saints namely Appar,
Sambandar, Sundarar and Manikkavasakar sang hymns in praise of Lord Vedagiriswarar
standing near the foothill of the mountain without climbing it. This location
where the four saints stood was subsequently built into a temple and henceforth
called Naalvar Koil (The temple of four saints).
The Temple
The Temple is exclusively for
the four great saints of Shaivism. There are no other god statues here. It is
so constructed that the statues of four saints are in a single row and facing
the Lord Shiva in the mountain. There is a small Nandhi statue in front also
facing the mountain, which they say is the Nandhi for Lord Shiva on the top of
the mountain. The Linga on top does not have a Nandhi.
The locals say that Naalvar
temple is the place where one should start the Girivalam, and also end their
girivalam, which is being done from time immemorial and also, they say that
Girivalam is done here in this hill, even before it was started in
Tiruvannamalai. There is a ventilated window opposite to the Linga on top of
the mountain, and if you look from there you can see the Nandhi.
Connectivity
For brief details, please refer
below link;
Location