Senganmal Shiva Temple

Senganmal Chenganmaaleeswarar Temple

Senganmal is a small Village in Thiruporur Taluk in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu State, India. It comes under Thaiyur Panchayath. It is located 65 KM towards East from District head quarters Kanchipuram. 6 KM from Thiruporur. 40 KM from State capital Chennai.

The main God of this temple is Lord Shiva known as Chenganmaaleeswarar. The Goddess here is Sri Brihannaayagi. In Tamil, Chenganmaal denotes the name of Lord Vishnu. It is said that Lord Vishnu worshipped Lord Shiva here and hence the deity got the name, Chenganmaaleeswarar and the village, Chenganmaal.

Temple legend has it that Lord Vishnu worshipped Lord Shiva here offering 1008 lotus flowers. He was praying Lord Shiva with utmost devotion. Lord Shiva made a

trick and made one flower vanish from 1008 lotuses. When Lord Vishnu was about to offer the last flower, He was shocked to see that there was no more flowers. Lord Vishnu immediately owed Himself as the last flower to complete the Pooja.

It is also said that, as this temple was built by an ancient Chozha king called Ko Chengannan (who built Thiruvaanikkaaval temple); this place got its name after the king Ko Chengannan. This temple is believed to have been built during 12th century. This temple does not have a Rajagopuram. There is a big pond outside the temple, on its northern side, which serves as ‘theertham’(holy water) for this temple and is called as ‘Vishnu Theertham’. The sthala vruksham here is Vilvam.

Senganmal  - Sri Chenganmaaleeswarar Temple செங்கண்மால் செங்கண்மாலீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord Shiva
Name	Sri Chenganmaaleeswarar
Goddess Name	Sri  Brihannaayagi
Location	Chenganmaal /  Senganmal in OMR Road Chennai
Old Names
Theertham	Vishnu Theertham
Significance	Adthi Varagha Moorthy Worshipped lord Shiva here
Ancient
Travel Base	Chennai

 

How To Reach : The Senganmaaleswarar Siva Temple Located in Chenganmaal village lies about 40 kms from Chennai on the OMR (Old Mahabalipuram Road), just 6 kms before Thirupporur.

Sri Chenganmaaleeswarar Shiva Temple - Near Thaiyur in OMR Road

Old Mahabalipuram Rd, Senganmal, Tamil Nadu 603103, India

Near By Temples :

Tirupporur Murugan Temple - 6 kms away from this temple.

Arani Shiva Temple

Aarani Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar Temple

Aarani is a small, beautiful village located about 50 kms north western side of Chennai near Gummidipoondi. To reach Aarani, one has to cross Red Hills from Chennai and take the road towards Gummidipoondi.

The main God of this temple is Lord Shiva known as Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar. The Goddess here is Sri Sivakaamavalli. The place Aarani got its name as it lies on the banks of Aarani river which was known as Brahmaranya River in ancient days.

Lord Shiva has 5 faces; Isaanam, Thathpurusham, Vaamadhevam, Sathyojaatham and Agoram. There are 5 Shiva temples (Pancha Brahma Sthalams) near Chennai, representing each of the 5 faces of the Lord. Out of 5, this temple represents the Vaamadheva face of Lord Shiva. This place was also called as Vaamadhevapuram in ancient days.

Pancha Brahma Sthalams - 5 Shiva Temples in Arani River Bank
Aarani	Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar	Vaamadhevam
Ramagiri	Sri Vaaleeswarar	Isaanam
Suruttuppalli	Sri Pallikondeeswarar	Thathpurusham
Ariyathurai	Sri Varamoortheeswarar	Sathyojaatham
Karungaali	Sri Chinthaamaneeswarar	Agoram

Interestingly, these entire 5 temples lie on the banks of Brahmaranya (Arani) river, till the river merges into the ocean at Karungaali.

Aarani  - Sri Sampangi Pitchaleeswarar Temple ஆரணி சம்பங்கி பிச்சாலீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord Shiva
Name	Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar (சம்பங்கி பிச்சாலீஸ்வரர்)
Goddess Name	Sri  Sivagama Valli
Location	Arani  - in Ponneri Highway
Old Names	Vamadhevapuram
Theertham
Significance	Pancha Brahma Sthalams
Ancient	1000 Years
Travel Base	Chennai

This sivan temple is one of the seven temples on the bank of this river that Saint Agathiar worshiped. This temple has an interesting legend attached to it. It is said that this village had lots of Sampangi (flower) plants all over. A man who owned many cows in this village, saw one of his cows going alone in the bushes and pouring milk by its own. Surprised by this act of his cow, the man and few villagers curiously went and cut the bushes off including a Sampangi plant to see what’s under bush. To his surprise, he saw a beautiful Shiva Lingam in the ground which was bleeding as the Axe had hit while cutting off the Sampangi plants.

Guilty of his act, the man cut his own hand off as he felt he had done an irreversible sin. The man’s wife pleaded to Lord Shiva and with His blessings the man got back his hand. Since the Lord evolved from the Sampangi bush and gave the man’s hand as biksha (alm), He came to be known as Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar.

How To Reach : Arani Shiva Temple is about 45 km north of Chennai, and 15 kms away from Ponneri. Local Buses are available from Ponneri and Periyapalayam.

Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleswarar Temple, Arani, Tamil Nadu 601101, India

Near By Temples :

Periyapalayam Sri Bhavani Amman Temple - 5 kms away from Arani

Periyapalayam Shiva Temple

Periyapalayam Imuktheeswarar Temple

Periapalayam is a village about 40 km north of Chennai, in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu State, India. It is in Ellapuram block which stretches from east Thanakulam village, west Uthukottai, north Kosavanpettai and in the south up to Komakambedu village. It has one of the main routes to Andhra Pradesh. The town is famous for the Palayathuamman Temple and Imuktheeswarar Temple.

The main God of this temple is Lord Shiva known as Imukteeswarar. The Goddess here is Sri AnanPoorani. Since Pancha Bhoota Piruthuvi, Appu, Theyu, Vayu, Agayam are worshipped the lord here, so lord Siva is called as Imukteeswarar. It is believed that Sage Valmiki stayed here and worshipped the Lord Shiva. The Periyapalayam shiva temple lies on the banks of Aarani river and other side of the river bank famous Bhavani Amman Temple located.

Periyapalayam  - Sri Imuktheeswarar Temple பெரியபாளையம் ஐமுக்தீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord Shiva
Name	Sri Imuktheeswarar
Goddess Name	Sri  Anna Pooranamba
Location	Periyapalayam
Old Names
Theertham	Aarani River
Significance	Pancha Bootham worshipped lord shiva
Ancient
Travel Base	Chennai

Pancha Bhootam refers to the (Pancha means Five) five prime elements of nature-land, water, air, sky, fire. Prithvi is Earth, Vayu is Air, They means Fire, Appu is Water, Agayam means Space.

How To Reach : The Periyapalayam Siva Temple Located in about 45 km from Chennai in Chennai-Kolkata highway near Red Hills, and 20 kms away from Ponneri.

The Imukteeswarar Temple is located very close to Periapalayam bus terminus in Chennai suburb. MTC buses ply to Periyapalayam from Vallallar Nagar, CMBT etc.

Near By Temples :

Periyapalayam Bhavani Amman Temple - Just half kms away from this temple.

Arani Sampangi Pitchaaleswarar Temple - 5 kms away from Periyapalayam

Periyapalayam Amman Temple

Periyapalayam Bhavani Amman Temple 

Periapalayam is a village about 40 km north of Chennai, in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu State, India. It is in Ellapuram block which stretches from east Thanakulam village, west Uthukottai, north Kosavanpettai and in the south up to Komakambedu village. It has one of the main routes to Andhra Pradesh. The town is famous for the Sri Bhavani Amman Temple. This temple is located on the Arani river flowing through the town. The temple attracts thousands of people during the Tamil months of Adi and Avani especially during the weekends.

According to the legend people refer Amman as the sister of Lord Krishna who managed to escape from the clutches of Kamsan (Demon King) and after warning Kamsan about his death she decided to settle in this place in name of Sri Bhavani. The temple after recent renovations shines as of Bhavani Amman, upon entering the temple Vinayagar has a separate Sanidhi in name of Sri Arpudha Sakthi Vinayagar, followed by Sri Sarva Sakthi Mathangi Amman. The Moolasthanam Amman is seen with the Sangu Chakram in the upper part of her hands. A sword and Amirtha Kalasam are seen on her lower hands. When crossing the Moolasthanam Utsavar Amman we are welcomed by us sitting in a well-decorated seat, Kungumam and Theertham are offered as Prasadham, which is known to cure many ailments in the human body.

Periyapalayam  - Sri Bhavani Amman Temple பெரியபாளையம் பவானி அம்மன் திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Amman Temple
Name
Goddess Name	Sri  Bhavaani Amman / Periyapalayaththamman  (பவானி அம்மன்)
Location	Periyapalayam
Old Names
Theertham
Significance	Adi Month Festival (ஆடி திருவிழா)
Ancient
Travel Base	Chennai

The  other deities in the temple are Sri Subrammaniyar, Srinivasa Perumal with Mahalakshmi, Anjaneyar, and Sri Prasuramar (one among the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) and Naga Sannidhi.

How To Reach : The Periyapalayam Amman Temple Located in about 45 km from Chennai in Chennai-Kolkata highway near Red Hills, and 20 kms away from Ponneri.

The Bhavani Amman Temple is located around 1 km away from the Periapalayam bus terminus in Chennai suburb. 
Periyapalayam Bhavani Amman Temple Bus Route : MTC buses ply to Periyapalayam from Vallallar Nagar, CMBT etc.  And it well connected from Redhills and Ponneri.

Near By Temples :

Arani Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleswarar Temple - 5 kms away from Periyapalayam

Panjetty Shiva Temple

Panjetty Agastheeswarar Temple Near Thatchoor

Pancheshti is a very small village near Thatchoor located on Chennai Kolkota highway, about 30 kms from Chennai. Pancheshti had got its name from Pancha Ishti. Pancha means 5 and Ishti means Yagna means Penance which is performed to get some wish fulfilled.

The main God of this temple is Lord Shiva known as Agastheeswarar and Goddess as Akilandeswari Ambal, From the main entrance Shiva sannidhi is visible straight ahead and to the right , Akilandeswari sannidhi is present. Lakshmi Narayana Perumal temple is another small temple located adjacent to this shiva temple.

According to legend, there lived a demon king called Sukethu, who along with his family suffered some curse. To get him relieved of the curse, Sage Agasthiyar performed about 5 yagnas called Deva Yaagam, Brahma Yaagam, Bhootha Yaagam, Pithur Yaagam and Manusha Yaagam here. Hence this place got its name Pancha Ishti which later changed to become Pancheshti and now Panchetti.

It is said that Sage Agasthiyar stayed here for long and worshipped Lord Shiva and also helped the Devas like Lord Indra, Indrani (Indra’s wife) and Viswaroopan to get relieved of their curses, by performing Pradhosha Poojas.

The Lord here is a Swayambhu (self evolved) Lingam, which is said to be existed even before the arrival of Sage Agasthiyar here. As Agasthiyar worshipped here, the Lord here is called Sri Agatheeswarar. The Theertham (Pond) here is called as Agasthiya Theertham. Goddess Anandavalli with 3 eyes and keeping her left foot forward - Beneath her feet is the most famous "Durga Saptashati" yantra. Here the Goddess has taken a fierce form to destroy the evil.

Pancheshti  - Sri Agastheeswarar Temple பஞ்சேஷ்டி அகஸ்தீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord Shiva
Name	Sri Agastheesvarar (அகஸ்தீஸ்வரர்)
Goddess Name	Sri  Ananda Valli
Location	Panchetti / Pancheshti  in Chennai - Kolkata Highway
Old Names	Pancha Ishti
Theertham	Agasthiya Theertham
Significance	Parihara Sthalam
Ancient	1000 Years
Travel Base	Chennai

The walls of Raja Gopuram of this temple, carries hundreds of sculptures which are feast to watch. Though this is a Shiva temple, the sculptures of Vaishnava concepts are given equal importance here. The entire walls of Raja Gopuram, have sculptures connected to incidents from all the 4 Yugas. 

 It is one of the best Ancient Temples in south India You Should Visit to explore the spirituality and Dravidian architecture.

How To Reach : Panchetti Shiva temple is located close to Thatchoor in Chennai Kolkota highway, about 30 kms from Chennai. After crossing Red Hills and Karanodai on the highway, you have to take a right turn to enter this village. The temple is just 500 meters off the highway. Local Buses are available from Ponneri and Redhills .

Near By Temples :

Siruvapuri Bala Murugan Temple