Thiruvidanthai

Tiruvidanthai 

Thiruvidanthai Nithya Kalyana Perumal temple is dedicated to Lord Adi Varaha Perumal (Lord Vishnu in the form of Wild Boar). It is the 62nd temple of 108 Divya Desam vishnu Temples. Mangalasasanam (Praised as a holy Shrine) to this temple was done by Thirumangai Alwar (One of the 12 Alwars Saints).  This Sthalam (Temple) is one of the 22 Divya Desam Temples in Thondai Nadu. 

Thiruvidanthai  - Nithya Kalyana Perumal Temple
Main Deity	Lord Vishnu
Name	Sri Boodevi Sameda Sri Adi Varahar
Goddess Name	Sri Komalavalli Thayar
Location	Thiruvidanthai (திருவிடந்தை)
Significance	108 Divya Desam, Praised by Thirumangai Alwar Varaha Kshetram,
Built in	8th Century A.D. by Pallavas
Travel Base	Chennai
Near By	Mahabalipuram, Crocodile Bank

It is located on East Coast Road (ECR) betwen Chennai-Thiruvanmiyur to Mahabalipuram , about 24 Kilometers south of Thiruvanmiyur and and around 19 Km North of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram).  

This temple is widely believed to bestow good luck to those wishing to get married, and help remove obstacles that prevent marriages. The temple is more than 1000 Years Old. Based on the inscriptions found in the temple, it is said to be built by pallavas around 8th Century A.D. This temple well known to locals as Nitya Kalyana Perumal Temple. It is considered a Varaha Kshetram.

Thiruvidandai Temple has three Theerthams (Holy Ponds) namely Kalyana Theertham, Varaha Theertham and Ranganathar Theertham

Temple History : Sage Gavalaa Maharishi had 360 daughters. He was determined to get them married. He prayed to Lord Vishnu. The Lord who resides here promised the sage that he would marry one daughter a day and married all 360 in a year. So the Lord is called 'Nithya Kalyana Perumal'. The Lord then immediately converted all the daughters into one and kept on his left lap. Hence the name is called "ThiruVidandai".

Sage Markandeya and King Mahabali visited the kshetram. Pilgrims visit for the blessings of Lord Nithyakalyana Perumal. Those who want to get married offer two garlands. After Puja, the priest gives back one of the garlands. The person wears that garland and does Pradakshinam. Marriage follows soon after.

Check this link for more temples in and around Chennai - Temples Around Chennai

Kundrathur Murugan Temple

Kundrathur Murugan Temple

Kundrathur Sri Subramaniya Swami Temple : The Kundrathur Murugan Temple is a famous temple situated on top of a hillock dedicated to Lord Murugan. There are 84 steps to reach this hill temple. This is the only Murugan temple in Tamil Nadu where the God is standing in a north facing direction. 

Tamil Poet Sekkizhar was born here and his birthplace was made into a Temple. He was the chief minister of Kulothuga Chozha II alias Anabaya. He withdrew from the ministry and wrote Periapuranam. His young brother Palaravayar dug a water tank near his residence, which is now called ‘’Palaravayar Kulam’’.

The karthigai deepam festival celebration is famous here. The temple has mention in the Tirupugazh hymns of saint Arunagiriar.

Kundrathur - Murugan Temple குன்றத்தூர் முருகன் கோயில்
Main Deity	Lord Murugan
Name	Sri Subramaniya Swami
Goddess Name	Valli and Theivanai
Location	Kundrathur
Significance	Lord Murugan is praised in Tirupugaz, Birth Place of Tamil Poet Sekkizhar
Built by	King Kulothunga Chola - II
Travel Base	Chennai
Near By	Pallavaram, Porur

How to Reach :   Kunrathur Murugan Temple is 10 kms from Pallavaram and 11 kms from Porur. Frequent Buses available to kundrathur Murugan Temple from High Court / Paris, Saidapet, and Vadapalani .

Check this link for more temples in and around Chennai - Temples Around Chennai

Mambakkam

Mambakkam - Muruganatheeswarar Temple :  Mambakkam is a small village on the Vandalur -  Kelambakkam  Road, Around 16 kms from vandalur. There is a shiva temple which is believed that more ancient one. I heard that recently the temple has been renovated.

In this Muruganadeeswarar temple there is a lot of sannadhis(Shrines)
Arulmigu Sri Deiva Nayagi Samedha Sri Muruga Nadeeswarar 
Karpaga Vinayagar
Valli Devasena Samedha Subramanya Swamy
Navagraham sannidhi
Sri Anjaneyar
Chandikeswarar

Every month two pradosham pooja is performed here well and good by the village people to get the blessing of a lord Sri Muruga nadeeswarar.

This temple receives fund from Hindu Aranilaya thurai department of tamil nadu. 

 Temple Pond 

How to Reach this temple : Muruganatheswarar Temple - 16 kms from Vandalur to Kelambakkam, Thiruporur road , And turn Left in Mambakkam to Medavakkam Road,

We can see the temple in right side after 1 km drive. Land Mark : Near by Chennai VIT Campus.

Check this link for more temples in and around Chennai - Temples Around Chennai

Thiruvadisoolam

Thiruidaichram ( presently called as Tiruvadisoolam ) has one of the ancient shiva temple, which is located Chengalpattu - Thiruporur road. This is one among the 274 Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam  and 27th Thondai Nadu Devara Temple. Recently 5-tier raja koupuram has been built for this temple.

Goddess Parvathi came here as Kamadhenu (cow) with her brother Lord Vishnu and worshipped Shiva by pouring milk on the Shivalingam. Sages Gowthama Maharishi and Sanath kumarars worshiped Lord Gnanapureeswarar of this temple. 

Thiruvadisoolam - Gnanapureeswarar Temple
Temple Name	Gnanapureeswarar Temple
Main Deity	Swayambu Maragatha lingam
Shiva Name	Idaichuranathar, Gnanapureeswarar (ஞானபுரீஸ்வரர்)
Amman Name	Govarthanambikai, Imayamdakoti Nayaki (இமயமடக்கொடி நாயகி)
Sthala Viruksham	Vilvam
Other Names	Thiruvidaichchuram, Thiruvadisoolam, Thiruidaichchuram (திருஇடைச்சுரம், திருவடிசூலம்)
Significance	Thondai Nadu Devara Temple, Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam Swayambu Maragatha lingam,

How to reach:

The temple can be easily reached from Chengalpet or Thiruporur. 

It is about 7 kms  from Chengalpet towards Thiruporur Road. There is an arch on the main road indicating the entrance to the temple.

Gnanapureeswarar Temple

Tiruvadisoolam

Via Sempakkam

Chengalpattu Taluk

Kancheepuram District

PIN 603108

Ashtalakshmi Temple - Besant Nagar,

Besant Nagar Ashtalakshmi Temple 

The Ashtalakshmi Kovil is a Hindu temple, which lies on the shorelines near the Elliot's beach, in Chennai, India. 

The temple is dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi, and her eight primary forms - the Ashtalakshmi - the giver of all eight forms of wealth, namely, offspring, success, prosperity, wealth, courage, bravery, food, and knowledge. The sanctums are depicted on a multi-tier complex in such a way that visitors could visit all the shrines without stepping over any of the sanctorum. The temple was constructed on the wishes of Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati swamigal of Kanchi Mutt.

The temple was constructed at the efforts taken by the devotees under the leadership of the erudite Scholar Mukkur Srinivasa Vardachariyar and others. The foundation was land in the year 1974.The first Consecration Ceremony. (Kumbhabhishekam -Kudamuzhukku) was done on 5 th April,1976.

The temple's architecture is unique, with the deities installed in four levels. In this temple the Ashtalakshmi are present in four levels. The shrine of Lakshmi and her consort Vishnu is in level two. One starts the worship from here. One can take the stairs and the path leads to third floor which has the shrines of Santhanalakshmi, Vijayalakshmi, Vidyalakshmi and Gajalakshmi. Then again take a few steps and we reach the shrine of DhanaLakshmi, which is the only shrine on the fourth floor. Exiting the main shrine, in the first level, there are shrines for Aadilakshmi, Dhaanya lakshmi and Dharyalakshmi. The temple also has Dashavatara (avatars of Vishnu), Guruvayoorapan, Ganesha, Dhanwanthari and Anjaneyar deities.

Special Features: The temple was designed and constructed in the shape of ‘AUM’,the First Vedic Mantra, Pranava. As the temple is in the AUM shape it is well known as the OMKHARAKSHETRA.

Ashtanga Vimana: As the temple is dedicated to Mahavishnu and Ashta Lakshmis, the construction is on the models of Ashtanga vimana (Eight Parts) style. This is one of the very ancient styles of temple construction. This Ashtanga vimana style is found in Tirukkotiyur Where Sri Ramanuja learnt the meaning of the Ashtakshara mantra at the feet of Tirukkotiyur Nambi, Madurai (Koodalazhagar), Tiruttangal, Kanchi(Vaikuntanathar Temple) and Uttiramerur.

Ashtalakshmi Kovil - Near Beach Seashore, Besant Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600090, India.
This temple is very close to Arupadai veedu Murugan Temple

Check this link for more temples in and around Chennai - Temples Around Chennai

Arupadai Veedu Murugan Temple

Besant Nagar - Arupadai Veedu Murugan Temple

The Arupadai Veedu Murugan Temple depicts all the avatars of Lord Murugan in a exact replica of his arupadai veedu temples in Palani, Palamudircholi, Thiruparankundram, Tiruchendur,  Tiruttani, and Swamimalai. It gives a sense of being to all the shrines together.

If we want to see all the Abodes of Muruga in Chennai, then the place is Aarupadi Veedu Temple Besant Nagar. Peaceful and clean. One temple for all the six Padai Veedu (Arupadai Veedu) temples of Lord Muruga at one place and that too in granite. Mr. Muthiah Stapathy, who has built many temples in India and in USA, is the architect of this project. 

This temple is built very near Besant Nagar Beach, the shore of Bay of Bengal behind Ashtalakshmi Temple., dedicated to Lord Muruga. If we cannot visit all the six houses of Lord Muruga spread all over Tamil Nadu, better visit this temple in the heart of Chennai. It is a fairly new temple , well constructed and well maintained. 

Swami Malai Temple was built first in 1995. and then
Mahavallabha Ganapati, Palani and Tiruttani was build at 1998
Tiruchendur, Tirupparankundram and Palamudirsolai was built at 2002.

Directions of Murugan Temple :
Tiruchendur at the east, 
Swamimalai is situated at the northeast,
Palamudirsolai and Tirupparankundram at the south, 
Palani at the west and Tiruttani in the northwest. 
The Mahavallabha Ganapati temple is in the center.

Address :  Arupadai Veedu Murugan Temple (Six Houses of Murugan )
Tiru Murugan Street, Kalakshetra Colony, Besant Nagar, Chennai 600 090.

Check this link for more temples in and around Chennai - Temples Around Chennai

Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium is an entertaining, intriguing and educational experience for guests of all ages. While promoting a fun and enjoyable learning experience, the Aquarium instills in its guests a new appreciation for the world’s aquatic biodiversity.

On November 23, 2005, Georgia Aquarium officially opened its doors to the public. As the world’s most magical aquarium, Georgia Aquarium features more animals than any other aquarium in more than ten million gallons of water. Through a path of more than sixty exhibits, the Aquarium tells a global water story, with features modeled after the greatest zoos and aquariums in the world. Each majestic exhibit is designed to inspire, entertain and educate.

Aquarium Fact Sheet : The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world, whether you’re measuring by the number of fish or volume of water. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA at Pemberton Place, it has more than 8.5-million-US-gallon (32,000 m3) of marine and fresh water housing more than 120,000 animals of 500 different species in 60 different habitats. The aquarium’s notable specimens include four young whale sharks, four beluga whales, and four manta rays. There is 12,000 square feet of viewing windows and cost $290 million USD to build.

Explore The Aquarium

• Dolphin Tales Show
• Cold Water Quest
• Georgia Explorer
• Ocean Voyager
• River Scout
• Tropical Diver
• 4D Theater
• Behind the Scenes Tour
• Journey with Gentle Giants
• Sleepovers
• Kids Corner
• Aquarium Programs

Address: 
Georgia Aquarium - 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313