Sri Kurungaaleeswarar and Dharmasamvardhini amman at Koyambedu- Chennai

Today i visited an ancient temple for Lord Shiva  located in Koyambedu . proceed towards poonamallee at the koyambedu flyover. After about 100 metres just before the Sridevi hospital is a small road leading you to the temple. you may miss the road if you are not careful. Once inside the road you find the huge temple complex with ample parking space.

The temple, which faces north, has a three-tier Rajagopuram. The holy water source is situated in front of the temple and the jackfruit tree is the "sthala vriksham".

 

This area was called Kusa lava puri where Lava and Kusa grew up in valmiki’s ashram at this place.The main deity is Sri Kurungaaleeswarar and Goddess Sri Dharmasamvardhani (also called Aram Valartha Naayagi).The temple is supposed to have been built by kulathunga chola III and has the gajaprishti vimanam style. In addition there are many wonderful sculptures around

When Sri Rama sent the Aswamedha horse around the country, Lava and Kusa brought the horse to their custody. Without knowing that it was His sons who captured the horse, Sri Rama sent Lakshmana who fought a battle with them. As Lava and Kusa fought against their own uncle, they acquired a Dhosham called Gothra Dhosham. To be relieved of it, it is said that, they installed and worshipped Lord Shiva in this place.

As you enter in front of you is the amman sannidhi and the main sannidhi is to your right. The main sannidhi has a tiny sivalingam as it was built by tiny tots Lava and Kusa. The Aram Valartha Naayagi sanidhi adjacent has a 3-4 feet amman in the standing pose. Just out side is the Vinayagar sannidhi a feature of the idol is that her left foot is projected forward. It is said that a demon lived in the area and the goddess put her left foot forward before leaving her abode to kill him. (One is asked to put his right foot forward before leaving for auspicious functions. It may be mentioned that Anjaneya, before entering Lanka, also put his left foot forward, according to the Ramayana.)

Sri Visaalaakshi Samedha Sri Kaasi Viswanathar shrine and Sri Valli Devasena Samedha Sri Subramanyar shrine are located adjacent to each other behind the sanctum.

The temple has sub-shrines dedicated to Brahma, Chandikeswarar, Dakshinamurthi and Vishnu Durgai. The images of the nayanmars  Gnana Saraswathi, Mahalakshmi, Subramania, Vinayaka and Sastha are enshrined in the outer prakaram.

A painting inside the main praharam

The right wing of the praharam

View behind the Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi sanidhi

Arunagirinathar, in his Thiruppugazh, has referred to the place as Kosai Nagar. Though an ancient temple belonging to the Ramayana period, it has not been sanctified by the hymns of the Saivite saints. But the temple has 14 inscriptions, which date back to the period of Kulothunga Chozhan III and the Vijayanagar kings. These inscriptions, besides explaining the gifts made to the temple, show that the area formed part of Mangattu Nadu in Kulothunga Chozha Valanadu in Puliyur Kottam of Jayankonda Chozha Mandalam. They give the name of the place as Kosai Nagar, Koyattipuram and Prayachithapuram and call the deity Kurungalaandar. Kulothunga Chozhan is said to have ruled in the 12th Century and the temple here was reportedly built during this period.

There are exquisite carvings in all parts of the temple

Just outside the main Temple complex is the 16 pillar mandapam which houses many brilliant carvings.

The most important pillar carving is the sarabeshwarar which has special poojas on sunday

There are many interesting sculptures as seen here

Anjaneya with Rama

Ajamukhan Daksha

Rama worshiping the Linga

Arjuna doing penance

Arjuna and Shiva locked in battle

Vrishabharooda

Murugan

Rahu and Ketu

10 headed Ravana

You can see the sarabeshwarar behind this pillar partly

A peaceful temple associated with Ramayana. Just as you exit this mandapam on your left is the Perumal temple