Chinthamaneeswarar Temple, Karungali – Connectivity

Chinthamaneeswarar Temple, Karungali – Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 9 Kms from Pulicat, 24 Kms from Kattur, 17 Kms from Thirupalaivanam, 28 Kms from Ponneri, 34 kms from Minjur, 78 Kms from Tiruvallur and 63 Kms from Chennai.

By Road:

Reach Pulicat Village from Ponneri, cross over the new bridge and drive along the lighthouse road to reach Karungali temple. This is desolate area and not advisable to go after 5 pm, in fact it is better to go in the morning. Temple is not open always. Metal road is there but in some areas shifting sand could cover the road and you could get struck badly.

Alternatively, to reach Karungali one has to take the road from Minjur towards Pazhaverkadu (Pulicat). After crossing about 10 Kms from Minjur one can reach a village by name ‘Kattur’. Take right turn from Kattur and drive about 5 Kms (bad and sandy road amidst many salt lakes) to reach the banks of the river Arani. 

After reaching the river Arani, one has to take a boat to cross the river and the temple is on the other side of Arani river, which is Karungali village. There is only one boat available and sometimes we have to wait for some time for the boat man to arrive. He charges Rs. 10/- for an up and down trip which takes hardly 5 minutes for each way. Alternatively, to reach the temple by road one can also take the Ennore Port Road, which will lead to this temple.

By Train:

The Temple is located at about 28 Kms from Ponneri Railway Station and 33 Kms from Minjur Railway Station.

By Air:

The Temple is located at about 74 Kms from Chennai International Airport.

Chinthamaneeswarar Temple, Karungali – The Temple

Chinthamaneeswarar Temple, Karungali – The Temple

This Temple should have been a large temple based on the fact that so many of the structures are outside the sanctum sanctorum. This is an east facing temple with no Rajagopuram or compound wall with old temple pillars as fence posts.  The temple is beautifully located with the river on one side and the sea on the other side. Presiding Deity is called as Chinthamaneeswarar and is facing east.

Lord Shiva has five faces and they are Isanam, Thatpurusham, Vaamadevam, Sathyojaatham and Agoram.  This temple represents the Agoram. All the five temples are on the banks of this river Kosasthalaiyar River (Brahmarayanya) and this temple is on the place where the river merges with sea. Nagabaranam adds beauty to the Shiva Lingam. Dwarapalakas are seen guarding outside the sanctum.

The Vimana above the sanctum is built in Gajabrushta shape to look like the back of a sleeping elephant which in Thamizh is called Thoonganai Maadam, a Pallava style of temple architecture. Nandhi is seen facing the Lord towards the sanctum. Lord Ganesha (Vinayakar) and Muruga are present on either side of the sanctum with the names, Chinthamani Vinayagar and Chinthamani Murugar respectively.

Mother is called as Sivagami Ambal / Sivakamavalli and she is housed in a shrine facing south. There is also a Simha Vaahana facing the Goddess. Adjacent to Ambal, there is another small Shiva Lingam present with another Nandhi. There are also other deities like Dhandayuthapani (Murugan), Mahavishnu, Nagar and Durgai next to each other, present in the same shrine.

On the north-eastern side outside the sanctum, there is a separate shrine for Kaala Bhairavar. This temple is also considered a Bhairava Kshethra where people worship Lord Bhairavar for a sooner marriage and other wishes. There is a shrine for Navagrahas in the Temple. The speciality of this temple is that, it has sea in the front side, a river behind it and forest on the other side. It is a very rare sight to see a temple amidst such a natural setting.

Kari Krishna Perumal Temple, Thiruayarpadi, Thiruvallur

Kari Krishna Perumal Temple, Thiruayarpadi, Thiruvallur

Kari Krishna Perumal Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Thiruayarpadi Village near Ponneri in Thiruvallur District of Tamilnadu. This is a very ancient Krishna temple, a rarity in Tamilnadu as Krishna temples are few compared to Shiva temples.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2018/03/kari-krishna-perumal-temple-thiruayarpadi-legends.html

History

The temple was built by the Chola king Karikala II, and that is why the deity has the prefix Kari before his name. The present temple with its carved stone pillars must have been built much later than Karikalan’s time. Maybe the temple built by Karikala crumbled in the course of time and was later replaced with the present one by one of his descendants. The temple is well maintained.

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2018/03/kari-krishna-perumal-temple-thiruayarpadi-temple.html

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains open from 07.30 am – 10.30 am and 05.30 pm – 08.30 pm.

Festivals

·        10 days Brahmotsavam beginning with Chitra Pournami.

·        Chitra Festival – meeting of Kari Krishna Perumal with Lord Shiva

·        Puratasi Saturdays special at this temple

·        Vaikunta Ekadesi

·        Rama Navami

Prayers

The Lord is worshipped here by childless couples to be blessed with a child. It is considered as a Prarthana Sthalam for the childless. On Rohini star every month, if childless couples visit the Kari Krishna temple with two plantains, ½ liter milk, 100gms butter and oil (Gingelly lamp oil) and perform an archanai, the Lord is said to immediately bless the couple with progeny.

Contact

Kari Krishna Perumal Temple,

Thiruayarpadi, Thiruvallur District

Phone: +91 44 2797 2290 / 2797 4934

Mobile: +91 94447 20636 / 99941 82494

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2018/03/kari-krishna-perumal-temple-thiruayarpadi-connectivity.html

Location

References

http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2010/03/kari-krishna-perumal-thiru-aayarpadi.html

https://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/around-chennai-north/

Kari Krishna Perumal Temple, Thiruayarpadi – Connectivity

Kari Krishna Perumal Temple, Thiruayarpadi – Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Ponneri, 13 Kms from Minjur, 8 Kms from Thatchoor, 10 Kms from Thirupalaivanam, 19 Kms from Pulicat, 17 Kms from Gummidipoondi, 31 Kms from Thiruvottriyur, 38 Kms from Chennai and 54 Kms from Tiruvallur.

By Road:

The Temple is located at about 1 Km from Ponneri Bus Depot. Take the Kolkata highways (Grand North Trunk road) and go straight beyond the Tollgate at Karanodai. At about 2-3 kms from the Tollgate, you will see a cross road called Thatchur cross road. At this point, turn right towards Ponneri and you will reach Ponneri in about 5 kms. Once you enter Ponneri cross 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.

By Train:

The Temple is located at about 1 Km North East of the Ponneri Railway Station. Auto from the Ponneri Railway Station to the temple is available. Sub-Urban trains ply between Chennai Central and Ponneri (Gummudipoondi route) every half hour. It will take about 1 hour to reach Ponneri from Chennai Central Station.

By Air:

The Temple is located at about 50 Kms from Chennai International Airport.

Kari Krishna Perumal Temple, Thiruayarpadi – Legends

Kari Krishna Perumal Temple, Thiruayarpadi – Legends

Kari Krishna Perumal:

Ages back a cow belonging to a villager used to graze around in the forests here. One day the master of the cow saw the cow pouring its milk in a bush without any one actually milking it. The master who got confused went and saw the place along with the villagers. There was an ant hill amidst the bushes. They started demolishing the ant hill curiously. While digging out they saw this idol of Lord Krishna showing up.

While digging further, it is said that, Lord Krishna moved his leg a bit and stood slanting to avoid being hit by the crowbar. But one of the crowbars hit him on his shoulders. The villagers took out this beautiful idol of Lord Krishna which stood tilted, holding a whip on his hand. It is said that the mark of the crowbar still remains on the deity and sandal paste is applied on it regularly, to heal the wound.

The villagers installed the idol here adjacent to the ant hill itself. The Lord does not have any Peetam or base and seen standing on the floor, in a tilted posture with one of his leg a bit away. Ancient Chozha king, Karikala Chozha II has built this temple for Lord Krishna and hence the God here came to be known as Sri Kari Krishna Perumal.

Hariharan Sandhippu Urchavam:

Bharadhwaja Maha Rishi is said to have undertaken penance at this temple and Agastya Rishi is undertook penance at this place invoking the blessings of Lord Shiva. Pleased with their prayers, Lord Vishnu is said to have appeared before Bharadhwaja Rishi and Lord Shiva before Sage Agastya and acceded to their request of providing joint darshan to the devotees. Marking this occasion, a festival called Hari – Haran Sandhippu Urchavam (‘Shiva - Vishnu Meet’ festival) is celebrated annually near this temple.

This is probably the only place where these 2 Gods meet. In accordance with this event, every year on the 5^th day of Chitrai, Kari Krishna Perumal leaves on a procession to the bazaar street in Ponneri where he meets with Lord Shiva and exchanges garland. As Lord Shiva met with Lord Vishnu here, this street has come to be called Hari-Haran bazaar street.

Prarthana Sthalam:

It is also a Prarthana Sthalam where childless couples worship and are blessed with children.

Aayarpaadi:

In Thamizh ‘Aayarpaadi’ means shepherd village, the place where Lord Krishna grew up. This village also has the same name, as the Lord here gives Dharshan as a Shepherd.

Kari Krishna Perumal Temple, Thiruayarpadi – The Temple

Kari Krishna Perumal Temple, Thiruayarpadi – The Temple

The Temple has a three-tiered Rajagopuram with a newly built cement mandapam in front. Presiding Deity is called as Kari Krishna Perumal. The Lord here is Swayambu Murthy (self-evolved). Lord is in standing posture and he is facing North. There is an ant hill present inside the temple. Usually, such ant hill can be seen only in Amman temples. But this is the only Vishnu temple, has an ant hill. The main deity is said to be evolved from this ant hill only.

The Lord here is seen as a Yadhava (shepherd), with his right hand holding a shepherd’s whip and left hand rested on the hip. The Lord has Amrutha Kalasam (bowl containing celestial nectar) on his head. His right leg is slightly down on a pit while his left leg is normal. Hence, one finds the moolavar in a standing posture slanting slightly towards his right. The Lord does not have any Peetam or base and seen standing on the floor, in a tilted posture with one of his leg a bit away. Garuda is seen in front of the sanctum.

There are two Dwaja sthambams one in front of the Ramar sannidhi and one in front of the Krishna sannidhi. Mother is called as Soundaravalli Thayar. She is housed in a separate shrine and she is in standing posture facing east. Another unique feature at this temple is that Soundaravalli Thaayar is seen to the left of the Kari Krishna Sannidhi like in a Shiva temple. In Vishnu temples, one normally finds the Thaayar Sannidhi to the right of Moolavar deity.

Andal sannidhi is situated behind the main temple. There is a separate shrine for Lord Rama. Here Rama and Sita are present with Hanuman in front and the Kodimaram behind. There are a lot of Mandapams inside the temple with various Vaishnava saints. Shrines for Azhwar, Ramanujar and Manavala Mamuni can also be seen in this Temple.

Outside the temple is a mandapam, an architectural marvel with 16 stone pillars, all slanting in different directions, built that way purposely, for the reason that the main deity here is standing in a tilted position. It is an architectural marvel that the ceiling is firmly in place in spite of these slanting pillars. All the outer pillars are leaning outwards like the blooming petals of a flower.

The Sthala Vriksham is Magizham. Another unique feature of this temple is that it is surrounded by water in the front as well as the back of the temple. Behind the Sanctum is Santhana Pushkarani said to be very sacred, especially for child birth. In front of the temple, on the Northern side is the Arani River.

The temple has a beautiful wooden chariot, which lies abandoned in the village bazaar. The top portions of the wooden chariot have been completely vandalized. The lower portions are relatively unspoilt, have exquisite carvings. These represent scenes from the life of Krishna. There is also a piece that shows Kari Krishna Perumal emerging from the termite hill with his slightly tilted leg.

Ranganathar Temple, Devadanam, Thiruvallur

Ranganathar Temple, Devadanam, Thiruvallur

Ranganathar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Devadanam Village near Ponneri in Thiruvallur District of Tamilnadu. Here Lord Ranganathar is in a reclining (Bhoga Sayanam) posture measuring about 18 feet in length and is bigger than Srirangam. The Temple dates over 1000 years to the rule of the Chalukya kings and situated on a large sand mound. The temple is called as Uthara Rangam (North Srirangam) of Thondai Nadu.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2018/03/ranganathar-temple-devadanam-legends.html

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2018/03/ranganathar-temple-devadanam-temple.html

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains open from 6.30 AM to 12.00 Noon in the morning and 4.00 PM to 8.00 PM in the evening.

Festivals

Rama Navami, Panguni Uthiram, Vaikunta Ekadesi are celebrated here but there is no procession of the deities. In the month of Panguni that is March to April is the Thirukalyanam or celestial marriage of the Lord.

Prayers

It is believed that worshipping Lord Ranganatha by lighting ghee lamps for seven Saturdays and worshipping Lord Nagaraja of the snake hill shrine will result in the fulfillment of all the wishes and prayers of the devotees. All obstacles regarding marriages are removed. Reasonably good job opportunities are assured. Childless devotees are blessed with children.

Contact

Ranganathar Temple,

Devadanam, Thiruvallur District

Mobile: +91 97868 66895 / 98410 90491

Email: sarvinsurgi@yahoo.co.in / asgopinathraju@gmail.com

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2018/03/ranganathar-temple-devadanam-connectivity.html

Location | Photos

References

https://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/devadanam/

http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2010/03/devadhanam-ranganatha-near-chennai.html

Ranganathar Temple, Devadanam – Connectivity

Ranganathar Temple, Devadanam – Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 8 Kms from Ponneri, 8 Kms from Minjur, 13 Kms from Thatchoor, 18 Kms from Thirupalaivanam, 24 Kms from Pulicat, 25 Kms from Gummidipoondi, 26 Kms from Thiruvottriyur and 32 Kms from Chennai.

By Road:

The Temple is located at about 8 Kms from Minjur Bus Depot and 9 Kms from Ponneri Bus Depot. Bus 56 D runs between Broadway (Parrys Corner) and Minjur. It will take about 1 ½ hours to reach Minjur by bus from Chennai. The temple is about 8 Kms South East of Ponneri (there are buses every hour or so from Ponneri).

Take the Kolkata highways (Grand North Trunk road) and go straight beyond the Tollgate at Karanodai. At about 2-3 kms from the Tollgate, you will see a cross road called Thatchur cross road. At this point, turn right towards Ponneri and you will reach Ponneri in about 5 kms. At Ponneri, at a cross road, take a right towards Minjur (but you don’t have to go to Minjur). At about 2-3 kms from Ponneri, you must turn left and travel for about 5 kms to reach the temple.

By Train:

The Temple is located at about 3 Kms from Anuppambattu Railway Station, 6 Kms from Minjur Railway Station, 8 Kms from Ponneri Railway Station and 24 Kms from Gummidipoondi Railway Station. Take a Sub-Urban train from Chennai Central and get down at Minjur (45minutes) – Gummudipoondi section. From Minjur, take a share auto/ mini bus on the Eastern Side just outside the station to reach the temple in about 20 - 30minutes.

By Air:

The Temple is located at about 50 Kms from Chennai International Airport.

Ranganathar Temple, Devadanam – Legends

Ranganathar Temple, Devadanam – Legends

Vada Srirangam:

Being an Abhimana Sthalam (temple built out of love), there is no big legend behind. Chalukya rulers who visited Srirangam wanted to recreate an idol, within their empire, like the sleeping Ranganatha. They came back here and constructed an idol even bigger than the one in Srirangam. Hence, this temple is also referred to as Vada Srirangam (North Srirangam).

Deva Dhanam:

The village is believed to have been gifted by the Devas and hence the name Deva Dhanam.

Lord in Bhoga Sayanam:

Yet another story goes that tired of measuring the paddy during the harvest season, Lord Ranganatha is believed to have relaxed his head on the same grain measure (One has seen a similar kind of story relating to the Sarangapani temple where Thirumazhisai Azhvaar enquires the sleeping Aravamudhan if he is tired after his long walk and requests the Lord to give him darshan).

Lord appeared in a devotee dream:

Saroja Sadasivam, from a leading business house here, had a vivid dream in 1983. She dreamt of a supine Ranganatha Swamy in a derelict temple, totally neglected, beseeching her for attention. The eighteen and a half feet stone idol, lying on a giant Adhiseshan, was sweating copiously in her dream, telling her that it had had no oil application for very many years, and so could not bear the heat. From the very next day she began the search for this temple, and in the process, visited scores of them.

Two years later, on a chance suggestion, she visited Devadanam, and found the then undeveloped village and temple to be the one in her vision. The deity was all covered in dirt, and the temple completely weed-ridden, and broken down. From then, till now, almost 20 years later, constant effort and a great deal of money has been spent, with the temple finally done its Kumbabhishekam.

Ranganathar Temple, Devadanam – The Temple

Ranganathar Temple, Devadanam – The Temple

The Temple has 3 tiered Rajagopuram with single prakaram. There are Sudhai sculptures of Vinayagar and Kalinga Krishnar at the back wall on either side of the Rajagopuram entrance. The Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and the Chakrathazhwar shrines are located at the entrance. Next to Kodi maram, a separate Sannadhi for Periya Thiruvadi - Sri Garudalvar is found facing towards the Moolavar Sannadhi. Presiding Deity is called as Ranganathar.

In the sanctum sanctorum, Ranganathar is in a reclining (Bhoga Sayanam) posture measuring about 18 feet in length and is bigger than Srirangam according to the priest. The Lord is facing east having the measuring vessel (Padi) as his pillow with his right hand placed over it, reclining on the bed of Aadhi Sesha with his five heads as umbrella. The Adhiseshan forms a 5.5 foot high 3 layer bed to him. Legend has it that he is resting after getting tired over giving away the grains in the measuring vessel to feed the world during the harvest season.

The idol is a Sudhai sculpture made of many Salagrama stones which are considered very sacred for worship. The Lord has a perfectly chiseled face with flaring nostrils. The sanctum sanctorum is very small, just enough to accommodate the Perumal, the urchava idols and the Bhattar. The entrance to the sanctum is very narrow and only about 5-6 people can have a full Dharshan of Perumal at any time but the big advantage being that we can see the Perumal very closely from a distance of just about 2-3 feet.

To see the Perumal with so much power, beauty and grandeur so very close is really a striking experience. Since the idol is a Sudhai sculpture, no Abhishekam is being done and only the herbal oil (Thailiakappu) is being applied to him once a year. Only the urchava idol takes on the Abhishekam. Brahma is seen on a lotus coming out from the navel of Lord. Sridevi and Bhoodevi are present near his feet. Sage Thumburu and Anjaneya are present around him praying.

Mother is called as Ranganayaki. She is housed in a separate shrine in the outer prakaram to the south west of the sanctum. There is a separate shrine for Andal to the north-west of the sanctum sanctorum. The foot of the Ranganathar is imprinted on the outside of the inner praharam wall as a projection from the sanctum idol. Shrine of Chakrathazhwar can be found in the outer praharam. Great Alwars along with Sri Venugopala Swamy can be found in the front Mandapam. Anjaneyar shrine is located near the entrance.

There is a snake pit on the Western side of the temple behind the sanctum. The belief is that the snake inside the snake pit protects the temple and the devotees who visit here. The Sthala Vriksham is Parijatham (Pavazha Malli) and it is found near the Snake Pit. There is a big peepal tree in front of the temple, located at a slightly elevated height. The kumbabhishekam was performed in May 2004. There is also Sri Theertheswari samedha Sri Somanatha Easwar temple at Kaniampakkam nearby.