Shiva Temples of Chennai and Surroundings

MANGALEESWARAR TEMPLE This temple was worshipped by Sevvai. Linga has a square Aavudaiyar. Sthala Viruksha of this temple is Peepal tree. This was a small temple. Only Shiva and Nandhi were found in the temple. There was no Gopura. There was a pond near the temple. After the temple got destroyed the Nandhi got submerged in the ground with half of its body seen outside. The Linga was half submerged deep under ground level under peepal and Neem tree found together. There is no pond. When the people wanted to construct a temple for this Linga certain people said that Aavudaiyar is slightly broken. So, they left the Linga in the same place and brought the Nandhi out of the ground. They decided to build a new temple with new deities completely. Now a new temple has been built. Mangaleeswarar, Mangalambigai, Vinayaka, Murugar, Navagrahas, Pancha Koshta deities and Chandikeswarar have been installed newly. The Mangalaeswarar and Nandhi have been retained in the same place. The temple is m

1. SUNDHARAESWARAR TEMPLE Nolambur is situated near West Mogappair. In ancient days this temple was a big temple. The Linga has a square Aavudaiyar. The Linga is big. Shiva, Bhairavar, Nandhi, Vinayaka and Muruga were only found in the temple. The Bhairavar of this temple has a dog facing the left side. This place was called Nalan Ambu Oor as a big lake was created by Nalan by Launching his arrow. Sundharaeswarar faces east. Later this temple was destroyed. This Linga was found nearby. No other deities were found. Now a big temple has been constructed for Sundharaeswarar.  Now there are Sannidhis for Meenakshi Amman, Hanuman, Vinayaka, Vinyaka on Aavudaiyar, Naalvar, Shakthis on Amman Koshta, Murugar, Dhakshinamurthy, Lingothbhava, Durgai, Chandikeswarar, Ayyappan, Saraswathi, Bhairavar, Navagrahas and Nandhi. There is a special Sannidhi of Stone Nataraja with Sivagami, Vykarapadha and Pathanjali, all made out of stone. The Nataraja has 10 hands. This Nataraja is special as he lift

1. AAVUDAIYAPPAR TEMPLE This temple is situated near Pazhandiyamman temple in Nanmangalam. The Linga has a square Aavudaiyar.  A cow showered milk at a certain place daily. The villagers were informed of this and they went to the place and dug the ground and found an Aavudaiyar. They decided to build a temple for the Aavudaiyar. During the period of Construction they found the Baana separately under the ground. The Villagers were happy as the Bana fit into the Aavudaiyar perfectly. They built a temple with a 1 tiered Raja Gopura and named Shiva as Aavudaiyappar as they found the Aavudaiyar first. All the Pancha Koshta deities, Vinayaka, Murugar and Nandhi are found in this temple. 2. EKAMBARAESWARAR TEMPLE This temple is a brick temple. The Raja gopuram is 3 tired. The Linga is small with round Aavudaiyar. There is a Neela Varna Perumal temple near this temple. In ancient days the Deepa Aaradhana of both the temples were conducted at the same time. In ancie

1. EKANDHALINGAESWARAR TEMPLE This temple is situated in Korattur Agraharam. This Linga is a huge Linga. The Aavudaiyar is square in shape. In ancient days only Linga and Nandhi was present in a small brick temple opposite to the Seeyathamman temple. Later the temple was destroyed and the people hid the Linga near the Lake. After many long years when the lake grew dry the Linga was seen. The people of that period took out the massive Linga and placed it outside the Seeyathamman temple. Later a small temple was built near the Seeyathamman temple and Amman Ezhilambigai was installed. The other deities which are installed in the temple are Nandhi, Dhakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Durgai and Naagar. The Sthala Viruksha of this temple is neeem tree. The early name of this Shiva was Kandha Lingaeswarar as the Linga is made up of a magnetic stone and the name has been transformed to Ekandhalingaeswarar. 2. MUTHU LINGAESWARAR TEMPLE This temple is found in Venkatra