Keelkattalai Neelakantheswara Temple
Keelkattalai is a southern suburb of Chennai city. Neelakantheswara Temple is one of the most famous temples of this locality. Although the temple is new, the Shiv Linga and few other idols are few centuries years old. The footprints of Shiva are found, which cannot be seen anywhere else. Go through the article to know the details.
In a narrow street in the congested Keelkattalai area, Neelakantheswara Temple is located. The east-facing temple has a tall five-tiered gopuram (tower) at the entrance.
The sanctum enshrines a big Shiv Linga, named as Neelakantheswara. The idol appears to be 300-400 years old.
The four-armed Goddess Neela Nira Umaiyammai in the standing posture is found in a south-facing shrine.
In the maha mandapa, the stone idol of Nataraja with his consort Sivakami and devotee Manickavasagar is found. Mostly, bronze icons of Nataraja-Sivakami icons are found in temples and only a few temples have the stone idols of Nataraja. However, these idols are very new that were done recently, where artistic talent is entirely missing.
On the backside of the sanctum, the holy peepul tree is found. Under the tree, Kalatheeswara Linga, the footprints of Shiva and Raghu and Ketu in Anjali mudra are found. Raghu and Ketu in front of a Shiv Linga is unique. Similarly, we find footprints of Rama but not Shiva. This is also a unique feature. This footprint is also very old similar to Shiv Linga.
Nandi is found facing the sanctum. This is also an old idol similar to Shiv Linga.
Shiv Linga, Shiva's footprint and Nandi idols were discovered when digging up the land. The local people decided to build the temple and thus, the original temple was constructed in 1993. The other shrines and the tower were added up later. It is said that few inscriptions were also discovered along with Shiv Linga. But, no one in the temple currently has the clue about those inscriptions.
Other sub-shrines that are located in the temple include Naga Ganapati (under the five hood serpent), Murugan-Valli-Devasena, Chandikeswara, Navagrahas, Nalvar, Sekkizhar, Bhairava and Veerabhadra.
At the entrance of the sanctum, the idols of Bala Ganapati and Bala Murugan are situated.
Nardana Ganapati, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Vishnu Durga are found as the Koshta (niche) deities around the sanctum.
Happy travelling.
In a narrow street in the congested Keelkattalai area, Neelakantheswara Temple is located. The east-facing temple has a tall five-tiered gopuram (tower) at the entrance.
The sanctum enshrines a big Shiv Linga, named as Neelakantheswara. The idol appears to be 300-400 years old.
The four-armed Goddess Neela Nira Umaiyammai in the standing posture is found in a south-facing shrine.
In the maha mandapa, the stone idol of Nataraja with his consort Sivakami and devotee Manickavasagar is found. Mostly, bronze icons of Nataraja-Sivakami icons are found in temples and only a few temples have the stone idols of Nataraja. However, these idols are very new that were done recently, where artistic talent is entirely missing.
On the backside of the sanctum, the holy peepul tree is found. Under the tree, Kalatheeswara Linga, the footprints of Shiva and Raghu and Ketu in Anjali mudra are found. Raghu and Ketu in front of a Shiv Linga is unique. Similarly, we find footprints of Rama but not Shiva. This is also a unique feature. This footprint is also very old similar to Shiv Linga.
Nandi is found facing the sanctum. This is also an old idol similar to Shiv Linga.
Shiv Linga, Shiva's footprint and Nandi idols were discovered when digging up the land. The local people decided to build the temple and thus, the original temple was constructed in 1993. The other shrines and the tower were added up later. It is said that few inscriptions were also discovered along with Shiv Linga. But, no one in the temple currently has the clue about those inscriptions.
Other sub-shrines that are located in the temple include Naga Ganapati (under the five hood serpent), Murugan-Valli-Devasena, Chandikeswara, Navagrahas, Nalvar, Sekkizhar, Bhairava and Veerabhadra.
At the entrance of the sanctum, the idols of Bala Ganapati and Bala Murugan are situated.
Nardana Ganapati, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Vishnu Durga are found as the Koshta (niche) deities around the sanctum.
Happy travelling.
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