1. Parthasarathy Temple:
   
   
   One of 108 Divya Desam temple.
   The temple is in Triplicane of Chennai city.
   
   
   
   Main Deity is Arul megu Venkata Krishnan.Teertham is Kairavani Pushkarani. The pond in front of the temple is of Indra, Soma, Agni, Meena and Vishnu teertham.
   
   
   Importance: Parthasarathy Perumal here, is seen with Panchajanyam in one hand and the other pointing towards his feet. We also see Rukmani, his elder brother Balarama, younger brother sathyaki, his son Prathumnan, and grand son Anirudhan within the sanctum along with him.
   
   
   
   Goddess Vedavalli Thyar, and Andal are seen in different sanctums. We see Narashima Swamy in different sanctum with separate dwaja sthambam. Other deities present in the temple are Sri Raman, and Gajendravaradhar in different sanctums.
   
   
   
   
2. Teerthapaaleswarar: Siva temple.
   
   
   The temple is located at Krishnam pettai, Natesan Street.
   
   
   Main Deity is Teerthapaaleeswarar and his consort known as Tripurasundari Amman.
   
   
   Importance: In the month of February / march, urchava vigraha of seven temples take a dip in occan and the urchvar of this temple is first to take the dip. The Lingam here is of four side dimension.

1. Thiruvotriyoor
   
   
   This temple is one of the 275 important Siva Devara sthalams. The temple is 1500 years old. The place is about 18 kms from Chennai. Teertham is known as Brahma and kasi teertham. SthalaVruksham is Atthi and Magizha maram.
   
   
   Main Deity is Swayambu lingam known as Adi pureeswarar, / Thyagarajar and his consort known as Vadivudai amman in separate sanctum.
   
   Importance: The Swayambu lingam is teenda thirumeni and it is in the form of snake pit. Siva is known as putridangkondar, / Thyagarajar, and Adipureeswarar. Durga devi here is known as Vattaparai amman.
   
   The other deities areJaganadhar, Sundarar, Sahasralingam Amirtha kandeswarar, Nakshtra lingam, Annamaliyar, Jambukeswarar, Nagalingar, Meenakshi Sundaraswarar, and Bairavar are important.
   
   
   One can have the darshan of the main deity in the form of pit on karthagai pournami of every year for two days. Brahma and Vishnu worshipped here.
   
   Appar, Sundar Sambandhar sang hymns on Siva of this place. Arunagirinadhar sang on Subramanya swamy. There are 27 lingams in a row representing each star.
   
   
   
   
2. Vada guru sthalam: Dakshina moorthy.
   
   The temple is near Thiruvotrioour.
   
   
   Main Deity isYoga Dakshina moorty of 10’ height.
   
   
   Importance : Dakshina moorthy facing to north side which is unusual. Muyalagan under leg is also facing inside which is different. We see Pancha mukha Ganapathy of 6’height on Lion as his vahana.
3. Agasteeswarar Temple: Siva temple.
   
   The temple is in the same street of Vadivudaiamman temple and next to Vada guru nadhar temple.

1. Suruttapalli: Siva tmple.
   
   
   
   
   
   This place is a village to Andhra and Tamilnadu border. The temple is on highway and easy to approach.
   
   Main Deity is Pallikondeeswarar and his consort known as Sarvamangala devi.
   
   
   Sthala purana : When the ocean was churned with the help of vasuki snake as a rope by Devas and Asuras lot of things came up. Due to pain the vasuki started emitting poison known as kalam and poison from the ocean that came up was known as aalam.
   
   Due to the request of Devas and Asuras both Aalam and kalam was made as a ball and swallowed by Lord Siva. At that time Bhuneswari caught hold of Siva’s throat to stop the poison. Hence Siva is also known as Vishabakara moorthy, Neelakandar, Kalakandan, Nanjundeswarar and Ambal as Amudhambikai.
   
   Siva gave the nectar to Devas and was going back to his place Kailas. On his way he felt tired and rested his head on the lap of Bhuneswari known as Sarvamangala devi at a place known as Suruttapalli.
   
   
   Importance: Here we Siva in lying posture which is unique and the idol are about 18’in length. We see Brugu maharashi, Brahma, Mahavishnu, Markendeya, Naradha, Chandra, Surya, Kubera, Agastiyar, Gowthamar, Thumburar, Vasishtar, Viswamitrar, Valmeeki, Indra, Ganesha, Subramanya with Valli and Devasena.
   
   
   
   
   We see goddess Maragadambikai in separate sanctum. Out side the sanctum we see Sanganidhi and Padumanidhi with their wife Vasundara and Vasumathi. Inside the sanctum of Maragadambikai we see Kalpa vruksham and Kamadenu to either side.
   
   
   
   As we go around the Amman sanctum we come across Jwarahara moorthy (Siva with three heads, three legs, and three hands and with Agni in one of his hand) and Ekapadha moorthy (Brahma on Hamsa, Siva on Nandi and Vishnu on Garuda in one stone with single leg.) Saptha madhar, Raja Mathangi, Chandikeeswarar and Nandhi are also there within sanctum.
   
   
   Here in separate small sanctum we see swayambu linga known as Ramalingeswarar. The linga is in trikona dimension and was worshipped by Valmiki. Most of the dities present in the temple are with their consorts. Pallikondeeswarar and Swarvamangalambikai, Valmekeswarar and Maragadhambikai, Kubera and Gowri.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Dakshina moorthy is seen holding Gowri on his lap to left side, is known as Dampdhya Dakshina moorthy, which we find only in this place. We see the complete family of Rama with his brothers and Hanuman. We see small foot prints which they say it is lava kashas. Sastha with Poorna Pushkala is seen here.

1. Chinnambedu / siruva puri:
   
   
   The place is 10 kms west to Ponneri.
   
   
   Main Deity is Swayamubu lingam known as Agasteeswarar and his consort Unnamalai amman.
   
   Importance: The peacock near he subramanya swamy in the main sanctum is of emerald stone. Utsava vigraha of Sundarar is a beautiful piece in this temple.
   
   Lava and Kusha fought with Sri Rama, without knowing, he is their father in this place. The place is known as Siruvar puri and over a period it has changed to siruva puri.
   
   
   
   
2. Periyapalayam: Bhavani amman.
   
   
   The place is about 20 kms from Thiruvallore.
   
   
   Purana says when king Kamsa heard, Devaki is bestowed with child, he came to the jail and as usual, and he took the child from them to kill the new born. At that time child announced that she is only maya and Lord Krishna is in some other place. After wards she moved from the place and she resided at periya palayam. The main deity is only unto chest with sankam, chakkra, knife, and amrita kalasam in her hands.

1. Ranganadhar temple which is 1000 years old.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The Devadhana perumal temple is 4 kms from Anupampattu. One can reach Anupampattu which is to outskirts of Chennai via gummidipundi.
   
   
   Main Deity : Ranganadhar in lying posture above Adiseshan, with Sridevi, and Bhoodevi. Ranganayaki thayar is seen in different sanctum. Thumbar maharishi and Anjeyaneyar are there. The main deity is of salagramha stone. Sthala vruksham is Baniyan tree.
   
   
   
   
2. Andar kuppam: Siva temple.
   
   
   The temple is, located at 5 kms south of Ponneri.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity is Swayambu linga known as Viswanadhar and his consort known as Visalakshi amman.
   
   
   Importance: Subramanya swamy asked the meaning of pranava which Brahma was not able to answer. We see a small stone outside the sanctum in front of subramanya swamy temple which is considered as Brahma. We can see the carving of the story in one of the pillars here in the temple.
   
   Arunagirinadhar sang Thirupugazh on Murugan of this place.

1. Chinnakavanam Siva temple: This temple is 500 years old.
   
   
   
   The place is about 33 kms from Chennai to north of Chennai and the place is known as Chinnakavanam. There are two temples in the same premises.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity is Chatur Veda parameeswarar / Nootreteeswarar and his consort known as Ashtothravalli Amman. Sthala Vruksham is Angola Vruksham.Teertham is Arani river.
   
   
   
   Purana says Agyastar worshiped Siva here. He made 107 siva lingas and at that time he remembered that he forgot to worship lord Ganesha. All 107 lingas together formed as Ganesha under the sthala vruksham. The Ganesha is Swayambu and there is no trunk for him. 108 linga which Agastyar made is known as Nootreteeswarar and that is the one we worship in the temple.
   
   
   Importance: Some fruits of the sthala vruksham ie; Angola maram which falls down goes and sticks back to the tree again.
   
   
   
   
2. Thirupalaivanam: Siva temple built by Rajendra chola.
   
   
   The place Ponneri is about 33 kms from Chennai, and from there10 kms NE is Thirupalaivanam.
   
   
   Main Deity is Thirupaleeswarar and his consort known as Lokambikai amman in different sanctum. Sthala Vruksham is Palai. Teertham is Amirtha pushkarani.
   
   
   
   Sthala puranam: When parkadal was churned nector came up and it was taken by devas for themselves. Anything that we have should be offered to God, so they made a linga from the nector, and they worshipped here.
   
   
   Importance: The Amirta linga here is worshipped with milk, rose water, curd and coconut water.

1. Thiru Ayarpadi:
   
   
   
   The place is 33 kms from Chennai to Gummidipoondy, alight at ponneri. The temple is in 1km distance from here on the banks of Arani River.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity is Swayambu Krishnan known as Karrikannan and Goddess Soundaravalli thayar.
   
   King Karikala chola constructed the temple for Krishna hence the name Karikrishnar. Sthala Vruksham is Magiza maram.
   
   Importance: Once Baradwaja muni was meditating under the tree and he had darshan of Lord in the form of snake pit, and lot of milk was poured to remove the mud. Even before the mud was washed they tried to remove the mud by hands.
   
   Here Krishna is standing in slanting posture with milk pot on his head and a stick in his hand like a cow boy. There is no adhara peetam for Krishna here. Another unusual sight seen here is, Thayar in standing posture. We see 16 pillars mandapam outside the temple in which the pillars are slanting which are unique.
   
   Other deities in the temple Kodhanda Ramar, Azwar, Andal, Ramanajur, and Manavala mamuni.
   
   
   
   
2. Agastheeswarar Temple:
   
   
   Siva temple constructed during Raja raja chola period.
   Location: Ponneri, Harihara bazzar street.
   
   
   
   Main deity is Siva Lingam known as Agasteeswarar and his consort, Ananda valli Thayar.
   
   
   
   Importance: Agastiyar worshipped Siva in this place. Agastiyar met Baradwaja muni in his ashram and they wanted to remove the saiva vaishnava dispute which was prevailing at that time.
   
   
   They both decided that every year on full moon day of chitra month deities, Siva and Kari Krishnar meet and exchange their garland to prove that they both are one and the same. This may bring unity among Shiva and Vishnu.

1. Varadaraja Perumal Temple:
   
   
   The temple is in Meenjur.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity is Varadaraja perumal and Perundevi Thayar.
   
   
   
   Importance: The temple is 5000 years old and well maintained.
   
   
   
2. Ekambareswarar Siva temple.
   
   
   The temple is in Meenjur.
   
   
   Main Deity: Ekambareswarar and His consort Kamakshi Amman.
   
   
   
3. Siva Temple:
   
   
   The temple is in Melur, which is about 35 kms from Chennai.
   
   
   Main Deity: Swayambu Linga known as Thirumanageeswarar and Thirupara Sundari amman. Sthala Vruksham is Konnai.
   
   
   Importance: There are three Temples relating to Ichha, Kriya and Gyana Sakthi. Visiting the three temples on same day is considered good. This is the first temple to worship in the morning time.
   
   
   The Goddess of, three temples together, has known as Pournami Nayakiyar. The Goddess Thripura sundari amman represents Icha sakthi.
   
   
   
   Purana says a cow use to pour milk daily even before feeding its calf. One day the villagers wanted to find out what it was and they found a snake pit in the form of linga and heard akashavani to construct a temple.
   
   
   
   Once Parvathi closed the eyes of Siva for a second and the whole world became stand still, for which as a punishment she was to take birth on the earth three times, and after meditating she will join Lord Siva. Here is the place she took the form as ichha sakthi roopam

This time our trip was to visit temples around north of Chennai. It was three day trip. As usual we were not able to cover all places according to our plan. I am happy to share my visit with every one, in my few posts.

1. Veda Narayana Perumal Temple
   
   
   The place is 25 Kms from Tirutani.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity is Veda Narayana Perumal in standing posture.
   
   
   
   Importance: Only temple for Machya avatharam. There is no padadarshan of the deity here, because the leg is under the ground. We see Hanuman, Lakshmi Hayagreevar, and Kodhanda Ramar sannidhi in a row in the mandapam outside the main sanctum. The other end of the mandapam we see Hanuman in separate sanctum.
   
   
   
2. Nemili: Vishnu temple.
   
   
   The place is about 11 Kms from Tirutani to Nagalapuram.
   
   
   Main Deity is Vaikunda perumal in sitting posture.
   
   
   Importance: Vaikunda perumal holding paddy in his left hand. When they perform pooja in large scale they say we can see the main deity sweating. One can worship and do pooja here to get suitable alliance.