Mother Uma while proceeding to Tiruvannamalai from Kancheepuram, stayed in a place called Vazhaipandal and wanted to do Shiva Pooja. Since she could not get one, she decided to make one with sand and asked Muruga to provide Her water to make the Linga.
Murugan threw His vel (spear) towards the west and water came in red color from the hills there. Seven Gandharvas Puthirandan, Puruhudan, Pandurangan, Bodhavan, Bodhan, Koman and Vaman who were cursed by Lord Shiva to be born in earth as rishis were doing penance to be relived off their curse. They were hurt by the spear and made the water red with their blood. While they got relieved off their curse, Murugan had to bear the sin of killing them.
Mother Uma made the Linga and worshipped. She advised Murugan to establish seven temples on the northern bank of Cheyyar and seven on the southern bank of the river.
The seven temples on the northern bank of the river are called Sapthakarai Kanta Sthalangal.
These are Kanji, Kadaladi, Mambakkam, Thenmati Mangalam, Ela Thuru, Poondi and Kurivimalai and are found on the north side of the river.
Sri Karai Kandeshwara Swamy Temple, Kanji
Timings : 6.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. 5.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m
Phone : 9787690824/9445281378/9965938489
The pilgrimage starts from this Dravidian style shrine shrine which is 24 km from Thiruvannamalai with the Lord karaikandeswarar is seen facing east and Goddess Periyanayaki is facing south. Ganesha, Ayyappa, Sri Subramanya Swami with Sri Valli Devasena, Sri Lakshminarayana Swamy Upalias along with the lingas of the other six Sapta Karaikanda temples are also seen. There is no tower but the nice structures and clean and pristine environment is to be felt. Like the other Karai series temples, The riverCheyyar flows towards north and hence it is considered as divine as Kasi.
Sri Karai Kandeshwara Swamy Temple, Kadaladi
Timings : 7.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m - 4.00 p.m.. – 7.00 p.m.
Phone : 944688734
The small ancient plain temple is found amidst lush green fields, in a serene atmosphere with the backdrop of the mountains. It is located at a distance of 4 km from Kanji. The Lord is karaikandeswarar and the Goddess is Brihannayaki/Periyannayagi.
Sri Karai Kandeshwara Swamy Temple, Mambakkam
Timings : 7.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m - 5.00 p.m.. – 7.00 p.m.
Phone : 9444688734
Built by the Chola kings in the 10th century, The 10th century temple situated at the foot of Parvathamalai, built by Cholas was further developed by the kings of Shambhavaraya and Vijayanagara dynasties. The Lord is karaikandeswarar and the Goddess is Brihannayaki/Periyannayagi.
Sri Karai Kandeshwara Swamy Temple, ThenmathiMangalam
Phone : 75300 73006/9688734295
Known as Then Mahadeva Mangalam, this shrine is one of the seven temples and is 7 kms from kadaladi. Kashi Vishwanatha Swamy with Sri Vishalakshi offer their blessings. The large courtyard of oveer 2 acres has beautiful structures. The Lord is karaikandeswarar and the Goddess is Brihannayaki/Periyannayagi. Built by Cholas, The other dynasties have also done various contributions and renovations to the temple
Sri Karai Kandeshwara Swamy Temple, Elathur
Phone : 9655676224/ 80563 16727
The sanctum sanctorum is on the north side of the temple with the main entrance facing south. The temple is located at elathur, Kalasapakkam village, 9 km from Poondi. The Lord is karaikandeswarar and the Goddess is Brihannayaki/Periyannayagi. The temple renovated by Chola and Vijayanagar empires.
Stucco images of Rishabaroodar and Nandhi are found near the south facing entrance. Karaikandeswarar faces north. Nandhi faces the Sanctum. There is a shrine for Dakshinamurthy. There is an Arudhra Mandapam within the Maha Mandapam. Mother Periyanayagi/Brahanayagi in sitting posture with left hand on thighs and Kuvalai flower right hand in a separate east facing shrine.
Sri Karai Kandeshwara Swamy Temple, Poondi
Phone : 9787051251/9487229930/9952150303/9487601866
The highlight is the opening of the Sri Karai Kandeshwara Swamy Temple after worship at the Sri Agastheeswara Swamy Temple in the village. Balaganapthy and Bala Subramanya are present and the Temple is located at a distance of 3 km from Elathur. Jeeva Samadhi of Poondi Mahan is in this place. The temple belongs to Chola days. Nadi and Dwajasthamabam faces the sanctum. Devotees pray in the nearby Agneeshwarar temple first and then pray here.
Sri Karai Kandeshwara Swamy Temple, Kuruvimalai
Phone : 9787073260/9944416571
It is a combination of two temples located in a serene environment away from the city. One of the adjoining temples is dedicated to Sri Adi Karai Kandeshwara Swamy. Goddess Periyanayaki is worshiped in both the temples. Situated at 6 km from Poondi, this shrine is the last of the Sapta Karai Kanda series
The seven temples on the Southern bank of the river are called Sapthakailaya Sthalangal
These are Vasudevanpattu, Thamaraipakkam, Narthampoondi, Thenpallipattu pazhankoil, Karaipoondi and Mandakulathur and are found on the south side of the river.
Sri Bhaktavatsaleshwara Swamy Temple, Vasudevampattu
Phone : 84890 86309/96774 13824
The place is named after the ruler Vasudeva Varma who built the ruined fort . Sri Veeranarayana Perumal Temple can be seen. The eight feet tall idol of Sri Anjaneya in this temple is magnificent. The ancient Sri Margasahayeshwara Swamy Temple is also located in this village.
Sri Bhaktavatsaleshwara Swamy Temple is built in a spacious area with no rajagopuram. When we enter through the south-facing main entrance the court porch with well-formed binary pillars in sapta patterns are seen. Ahead of the sanctum sanctorum, Nandeeshwara is seen with the gatekeepers, Nalvar, Kashi Lingam, Bhairavar and Dakshinamoorthy. Vinayaka and Murugan, the Navagraha Mandapam and the Sannidhis of Sri Chitra Guptan and Vichitra Guptan in the northeast. Here performing pooja for longevity is a practice.
Presiding deity is Aatkondeswarar / Bakvatsaleshwarar and the Goddess Soundarya Nayagai / Baagampiriyal/ Akilandeswari is in a separate shrine. Goddess is east facing with four hands.
Sri Agneswara Swamy Temple, Thamaraipakkam
Phone : 9446488734/ 96265 07082
The temple built by Kulothunga Chola in the 10th century with presiding deities by Sri Agnishwaraswamy and Goddess Tripura Sundari. Mother is in standing posture. The sculptures are beautiful to look at. Nartana Ganapati, Dakshinamoorthy, Sridevi Varadaraja Swami along with Sridevi Bhudevi, Sri Subramanya Swamy along with Sri Valli Devasena are the other deities. All the temple vimanas along with the main temple look splendid in gold.
Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Narthampoondi
Phone : 74184 12660
Narada Maharshi spent a lot of time in this temple to get relief from the curse by Dakshaprajapati. Iin the early days it was called Narada Poondi and over time it became known as Nartana Poondi. Daksha wanted to develop his three sons as an equal to Shiva which was prevented by Narada by imparting Shiva upadesam to sons and made them noble. Hence the angered Daksha cursed him and the Lord appeared before Narada in Rishaba vahanam after his 12 years of penance and liberated him.
East of the spacious courtyard is a five-story royal tower. Located on the west side of the campus is "Cut Ganesha" whom Political parties in particular worship for victory during elections. Devotees pay special homage to Sri Kailasanathar Swami along with Sri Periya Nayaki for success in education, marriage and fertility.
The inscriptions here state that the temple was built by the Chola kings and was developed by the Hoysala and Vijayanagara kings. It was also ransacked by the invader Malikafur. Also found are Vinayagar, Murugan, Saptha Kannikas and Natarajan shrines
Narthana Poondi is located at a distance of 14 km from Kanji.
Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Thenpallipattu
Phone : 9943935048 /98431 44261
Sri Kailasanathar Swami along with Sri Kanakambikai are the Main deities. Located at a distance of 6 km from Poond, in this small temple Sri Ganesha and Sri Subramanya Swamy, appear separately. This is the birthplace of Sri Mahan Sabhapati Swami, a yoga practitioner and spiritual guide whose tomb is nearby.
Sri Balakradeshwara Swamy Temple, Palam Kovil
Phone ; 9047615588/9655676224 /9894893088
This place is known as Palamkoil or Pazhankoil. The five-storied Rajagopuram is visible from a distance. There is a main archway to the temple and the Lord here is known to cure illness and the Goddesses bestows good fortune. It is believed that the Madhurantaka Chola built this temple in the late tenth century. Ancient Panchaloha idols and utensils were found during the excavation of in the year 2001. The shrine is is home to many deities including the Nayanmars. The Lord is Balakradeshwar and Mother is Balambigai.
The story goes that a king who lost his hand got back by praying here. Hence the Lord gets this name. Gnanasambandar, Appar and Siddhi vinayagar are in presence. Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are around the sanctum. Chandikeswarar is in his appointed spot.
There is a 4 pillared mandapam. Mother is in a separate shrine.
Sri Dharmanatheshwara Swamy Temple, Mandakolathur
Phone : 9600014199
Consider as a centre for vedic learning, this temple is over 1000 years old . There is a 3 tier Rajagopuram and a four pillared mandapam. The Panchapandavas did not live in this area for some time during their exile in Dvaparayugam. Pandavagraja Dharmaraju used to worship Nithya Lingaraja as a rule. Thus it is said that over time the Swami began to be called by this name as Dharmanatheshwar. Mother Dharmasamvardhani devi is in a separate shrine with four hands holding varada, Abhaya hastha, Angusam and pasam. On the walls of the temple, the Nataraja idols of the Ashta Veeratta places, which are considered to be the special temples of Tamil Nadu, are beautifully painted in natural colours.
If you plan to leave Thiruvannamalai in the morning by car, you will have the good fortune to visit all the temples by noon.
The journey from Thiruvannamalai to Ranu Ponu is about 100 km.
Kariaikandeswarar temple, Karaipoondi
Phone 9444034735 / 9585303925
The Presiding Deity is Karaikandeswarar and Mother is Balambigai. The temple has seen renovations by cholas, Sambuvaryars and the Vijayanagar kings
The Entrance faces south with Images of Rishabaroodar in a Mangapan along with Ganapathi & Murugan. Nandi’s image is along the temple walls. Idols of Mahavih=shnu, Durgai, Dalshinamoorthy and Vinayagar are located along the walls of sanctum sanctorum.
Shrines for Suryan and Chandran are opposite to the sanctum with Murugan and Ganapathy along with their consorts at the e
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