Kolapakkam Agasteeswarar Temple

Chennai, the erstwhile Tondai region, is the land of apsidal (Gajaprshtha) temples. There is a high possibility that all these Gajaprshha temples were built by the Pallavas originally. Later, the Cholas would have reconstructed the temples without changing the base design. Not all those sites are popular. There is one such unknown Chola-era apsidal shrine located in Kolapakkam. The presiding deity is named Agasteeswarar. 

There is another locality named Kolapakkam near Porur, where there is an Agasteeswarar temple. It is a Navagraha Sthalam meant particularly for Surya. That is a comparatively famous temple. The temple mentioned in this article is located near Vandalur. As both the localities share the same name and even the respective temples share a similar name, anyone may get confused.

Situated amidst a forest environment with a beautiful pond on the other side, the temple appears to have been built by the latter Cholas. Except for the sculpture of Agasteeswara Shiva Linga and a few images of fish on the ceiling of Maha mandapa, there is no other antique sculpture or structure remaining. The entire temple, along with all the icons are completely renovated in the recent past. There is no idea if there were any inscriptions found in the original temple.

About a two feet high Shiva Linga named Agasteeswara is enshrined in the east-facing sanctum. Periya Nayaki is the Goddess housed in the south-facing shrine.

Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga - the newly made tiny Koshta sculptures are not attractive.

Ganapati and Subramanya are found at the entrance of the main shrine. Nandi and dhwajastambha (flagstaff) are located facing the main shrine.

The sub-shrines of Shiva Linga with Nagas, Iyappa (stone sculpture) and Navagrahas are found in the prakara.

Happy travelling.