Somanatheswarar Kolathur

Saivite Temples, Chengalpet Taluk

God

Somanatheswarar, facing east

Goddess

Amudambikai, facing south

Other Deities

Ganesha, Muruga with consorts, Navagraha, Kalabhairava, Suryan, Chandran, Chandran with Lingam. Sanctum niches – Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Brahma, Chandikeswara, Durga

Somanatheswarar Kolathur is a small and beautiful east facing temple with a single Prakaram in which all shrines are located. This is an ancient temple which has been lost over time. A small idol of Chandran worshiping Shiva Lingam is present just outside the main sanctum and this temple is considered a Chandran Parikara Sthalam (to set right the negative effects of the moon). The shrines have all been painted up and more work is ongoing. Many of the deities were recovered from the well while cleaning.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Chandra Pushkarini

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Somanatheswarar Kolathur is an ancient temple which was lost over time. The old stone temple was discovered buried in earth by a person called Raju Chettiar in the 1900’s and from then on he took up the cause. During the Muslim invasions many of the deities of temples were kept in tunnels and other safe places. The idols discovered in the well here should have been dumped in it for safety. While deepening and cleaning the well the other idols of Mahasastha, Nandi, Chandikeswara, Muruga with consorts, Vinayaka and Durga idols were discovered. A stone inscription found here in the well confirms the antiquity of this temple. The presence of the remnants of a large wall provides an idea about the large size of the original ancient temple.

Legend

Chandran (Moon, Soma) was given 27 of the daughters of Thakkan in marriage (also considered the 27 celestial stars). Chandran who paid more attention to his favorites Krithikai and Rohini was cursed by Thakkan to lose his abilities one by one. A distraught and waning Chandran finally approached Lord Shiva for relief, installed a lingam and worshiped the same after creating and bathing in the Pushkarini here. Lord Shiva pleased with Chandran’s devotion gave back his shine and abilities. Thus the Lingam here is called Somanatheswarar. Another story for the goddess name is when she stopped the poison in Lord Shiva’s throat (refer to the story of Devas and Asuras churning the ocean for Amrut) with her hands and turned it into Amrut thus getting her name Amudambikai.

Directions

Somanatheswarar Kolathur is about 2.2 kilometers south of Mambakkam in the Vandalur to Kelambakkam road. There is also a large Perumal temple nearby adjoining a beautifully maintained temple tank.

Stay and Food

None locally. Restaurants are available near Vandalur and Kelambakkam.

Saivite Temples

Kancheepuram Temples

Tamilnadu Temples