Suruttupalli Pallikondeswarar

SuruttuPalli is a small town - about 7 kms from Oothukottai - before Nagalapuram, on the way from Chennai to Tirupathi. The main deity of the temple in this town in Pallikondeeswarar and the name of His consort is Maragadambikai. 

In pursuit of Amrit (nectar), Devas and Asuras churned the Ksheerasagara ocean with Snake Vasuki as rope, Mandhara mountain as the churning tool and Lord Vishnu in the form of a tortoise (Koorma) holding up the mountain on His back. During the churning of the ocean, fumes of the Haala Haala poison emanated and began to suffocate all around. Lord Shiva came to the rescue and consumed the Haala Haala poison and Goddess Parvati managed to stop the poison in Lord Shiva’s neck itself (and hence the name Neelakanta for Lord Shive). Weary from His efforts, Lord Shiva rested on the lap of Goddess Parvathi in this place. 

It is very rare to see Lord Shiva in lying position in the temples. However, SuruttuPalli temple is an exception - with Lord Shiva in Sayana (lying down posture). Pradosham ritual in this temple is very famous among devotees. Another interesting feature in this temple is the presence of Dakshinamurthy with His wife as Dampathya Dakshinamurthy. Offering prayers at this temple is supposed to bring mental peace and happiness in the family.

Ettukudi Shanmugar

The temple is famous for Shanmuga and the temple in Ettukudi shares Sthala Puranam with Ennkann and Puravacheri. The Shanmuga statue was sculpted by the Sculptor without a thumb. 

The 3 stone statues of the Shanmuga on the peacock in Ennkann Ettukudi and Puravacheri were made by the same Sirpi (sculptor). According to Sthala Puranam, Mutharasu Chozhan ordered the sculptor to make the statue of Shanmuga in Puravacheri. Struck by the beauty of the statue and in an attempt to prevent the sculptor from making a similar statue, the king ordered the sculptor’s thumb to be cut off. However the sculptor went on to make the replica of the Shanmuga in Ettukudi without thumb also. Mutharasu Chozhan then removed the Sirpi’s eyes as punishment. Aided by Ambal who came in the form of a small girl who guided the Sirpi, the Sculptor went on to make the third replica of the Shanmuga statue in Ennkann without eyes and thumb. On completing the statue in Ennkann, Lord Muruga gave salvation to the Sculptor after returning the sculptor’s thumb and eyesight. Mutharasu Chozhan also realized his mistake and repented for his mistake.

The striking feature in the three identical statues is the intricacy of the details depicted. One can see the venation in the peacock’s legs and the plumage in full flourish. Needless to say, the three statues are of the same height, width etc. When we recall the physical challenges with which the sculptor completed the statues, one cannot fail to admire the divine intervention which made the feat possible.

The name of the Eswaran is Soundareswarar and the name of his consort - Anandhavalli. The other deities include those of Saneeswarar, Vanmiga Sidhdhar, Siddhi Vinayakar and Natarajar. The temple is open from 5.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Puravacheri Shanmugar

The main Shiva Lingam is Sundareswarar and the name of the Ambal is Meenakshi. Interestingly, Dakshinamurthy is in Ambal’s Sannidhi and the deity of Idumban is with Kavadi. The other deities include Yoga Narasimhar, Sakthi Vinayakar, Annadaana Pillayar, Sri Singaravelar, Dandayudhapaani, Krithikkai Pillayar and Navarathri Amman. 

The 3 stone statues of the Shanmuga on the peacock in Ennkann Ettukudi and Puravacheri were made by the same Sirpi (sculptor). According to Sthala Puranam, Mutharasu Chozhan ordered the sculptor to make the statue of Shanmuga in Puravacheri. Struck by the beauty of the statue and in an attempt to prevent the sculptor from making a similar statue, the king ordered the sculptor’s thumb to be cut off. However the sculptor went on to make the replica of the Shanmuga in Ettukudi without thumb also. Mutharasu Chozhan then removed the Sirpi’s eyes as punishment. Aided by Ambal who came in the form of a small girl who guided the Sirpi, the Sculptor went on to make the third replica of the Shanmuga statue in Ennkann without eyes and thumb. On completing the statue in Ennkann, Lord Muruga gave salvation to the Sculptor after returning the sculptor’s thumb and eyesight. Mutharasu Chozhan also realized his mistake and repented for his mistake.

The striking feature in the three identical statues is the intricacy of the details depicted. One can see the venation in the peacock’s legs and the plumage in full flourish. Needless to say, the three statues are of the same height, width etc. When we recall the physical challenges with which the sculptor completed the statues, one cannot fail to admire the divine intervention which made the feat possible.

Ennkann Shanmugar

This temple is 12 kms from Tiruvarur. The Shivan in this temple is Brahmapureeswarar and the name of the Ambal is Brihannayaki. 

There is a story linking the Shanmuga in Ennkann, Ettukudi and Porvacheri . The 3 stone statues of the Shanmuga on the peacock in Ennkann Ettukudi and Puravacheri were made by the same Sirpi (sculptor). According to Sthala Puranam, Mutharasu Chozhan ordered the sculptor to make the statue of Shanmuga in Puravacheri. Struck by the beauty of the statue and in an attempt to prevent the sculptor from making a similar statue, the king ordered the sculptor’s thumb to be cut off. However the sculptor went on to make the replica of the Murugar in Ettukudi without thumb also. Mutharasu Chozhan then removed the Sirpi’s eyes as punishment. Aided by Ambal who came in the form of a small girl who guided the Sirpi, the Sculptor went on to make the third replica of the Murugar statue in Ennkann without eyes and thumb. On completing the statue in Ennkann, Lord Muruga gave salvation to the Sculptor after returning the sculptor’s thumb and eyesight. Mutharsu Chozhan also realized his mistake and repented for his mistake.

The striking feature in the three identical statues is the intricacy of the details depicted. One can see the venation in the peacock’s legs and the plumage in full flourish. Needless to say, the three statues are of the same height, width etc. When we recall the physical challenges with which the sculptor completed the statues, one cannot fail to admire the divine intervention which made the feat possible.

It is believed that Brahma also offered prayers to regain the creation job.

The Sirpi’s Samadhi is in Ennkann. Other deities in this temple include Kasi Viswanathar and Navagrihas. Kumbabhishekam was performed on April 25th 2010 in this temple. The temple is open from 6.30 a.m - 12.30 p.m and from 4.30 p.m - 8 p.m. The sthala vriksham is Vannimaram. 

It is recommended that people having Sevvai Dosham or eyesight problems visit this temple to get relief. 

Divya Desams in Kanchipuram

This note is to provide information about visiting Divya Desams in Kanchipuram.

We started at  2:30 p.m from Chennai and reached Kanchipuram at 3:45 p.m (about 73 kms). The temples listed in Part 1 below were covered in one evening (4.30 p.m - 7.30 p.m). The temples in Part 2 were visited in the following morning (8 a.m - 11 a.m).

Part 1

• Varadaraja Perumal
• Ashtabhuja Perumal
• Yadothkari Perumal
• Azhagiya Singar
• Deepa Prakasar
• Ulagalanda Perumal

Part 2

• Kamakshi Amman Temple - Adi Varaha Perumal
• Pachchai Varna Perumal
• Pavazha Varna Perumal
• Ekambreswarar Temple -  Nila Thunda Perumal
• Pandava Dhoothar Perumal 
• Vaikunta Perumal: The temple has Perumal in Nindra, Amarndha and Saayndha kolams i.e, standing, sitting and lying positions. The Perumal in standing and lying posiitons can be seen only on Ekadasi.

Tiruputkuzhi - another Divya Desam, is about 8 kms from Kanchipuram on the Chennai - Bangalore Highway towards Bangalore. 

Kanchipuram Ulagalanda Perumal

This Temple is a unique in that there are 4 Divya Desams in this temple itself. 

The Ulagalanda Perumal Moolavar shows Perumal with one foot on Maha Bhali’s head and another in the air. Near the Moolavar sannidhi one can see the Perumal as Adisesha or Ooragathan. In the outer Praharam, one can find Neeragathan (Nindra Kolam) of Tiruneeragam, Karagathan (Amarndha Kolam on Adisesha) and Kaanavarna Perumal (in Nindra Kolam with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi). The name of the Thayar is Aaranavalli Thayar.

The temple is open from 7.30 am to 12 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm. 

Kanchipuram Azhagiya Singar

This temple is a Divya Desam (74th/108) and also known as Tiruvellukai. 

The name of the Moolavar is Azhagiya Singar or Yoga Narasimhar. He came to protect His devotees during the yagna that was performed by Lord Brahma and stayed back to protect all His devotees from Asuras. The name of the Thayar is Amrutavalli. The name of the lake is Kanaka/ Hema Saras. The Lord became Pratyaksha to Sage Brighu.