Chidambareswarar, Koovathur, Chengalpattu

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Chidambareswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Tripurasundari, Sivakamasundari
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	to & to	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Koovathur	District:	Chengalpattu
Maps from (click):	Current location	Kanchipuram (77 km)	Chennai (89 km)
	Tiruvallur (99 km)	Cuddalore (107 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

This ancient Siva temple is believed to be from the Pallava era, making it nearly 1400 years old. When we visited this temple in December 2020, it was closed due to an ongoing court matter. However, one of the locals allowed us to enter through a side gate and spoke to us about the temple.

The temple’s administration is / was a matter of dispute between the temple’s local administrators, and the state administration (which I believe has been recently ruled in favour of the state).

A priest visits the temple once a day (timing not certain), for the daily puja. Other than this, there are no festivities celebrated at this temple, not even the fortnightly pradosham.

Inside the temple is a single prakaram, with separate shrines for Vinayakar, Murugan, Bhairavar, Suryan, Chandikeswarar, the Tevaram moovar plus Manikkavasagar, and also a Navagraham shrine. The sculptures and architecture here are said to be unbelievably beautiful, particularly the ashta digpalakas represented on the vimanam.

Other information for your visit

The temple’s pitiable and dilapidated state makes it relatively unknown even to the locals, and definitely not reachable easily using a map. In the map location above, I have identified the exact location, since we were able to at least find the place and enter the temple premises.

Very close to this temple – virtually next door – is the more well-known Tiruvaleeswarar temple.