Karikrishnaswamy Ponneri

Vaishnavite Temples, Thiruvallur District

God

Karikrishnaswamy, north facing, standing posture

Goddess

Soundaravalli Thayar, east facing, standing posture

Other Dieties

Rama, Lakshmana, Seetha, Hanuman

Karikrishnaswamy Ponneri temple is a north facing temple situated beautifuly on the banks of the Aarani River. The lord here is slanting with his left leg inside the ground. There is no base for the idol. Aligning with the slanting nature of the lord the Mantapa outside the Rajagopuram also has all pillars slanting in different angles. A tunnel is believed to exist between this temple and the Thirupalaivanam temple though no proof has been discovered. A large temple tank is present south of the temple.

Holy water (Theertham) – Santhana Pushkarini, Aarani

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Magizham (Mimusops elengi)

History

Karikrishnaswamy Ponneri would be easily about 1000 years old. It is said that Karikala Chola II (Aditya Karikala Chola II?) built Karikrishnaswamy Ponneri temple. The historical facts have to be verified and updated.

Legend

The idol of the main deity at Karikrishnaswamy Ponneri was found in an ant hill nearby after a cow shedding milk into it led the owner. As the idol was excavated the lord ordered the excavation to stop. One foot of the idol was yet to emerge from the pit and as the Lord ordered them to leave it as it is, today we find the deity leaning a bit on to the right. The Lord at Karikrishnaswamy Ponneri is in the form of a shepherd, holding the whip in his right hand and the left hand rests on his thigh. There is a pot on his head, Amritha Kalasa.

Sages Bharadwaja and Agasthya had done penance here at Karikrishnaswamy Ponneri requesting for Dharshan from both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Both are believed to have appeared and blessed them. To commemorate this once in a year there is a big festival which involves Karikrishnaswamy Ponneri Temple and the nearby Agastheeswarar Temple. Lord Shiva comes towards the Karikrishnaswamy Ponneri Temple as Panchamukheshwara on the Rishabha Vahana and Lord Karikrishna goes over on the Garuda Vahana to meet him, the meeting point being the Anjaneya Temple half way in the market. The market is named Harihara Market to denote the confluence of Saivism and Vaishnavism. This festival takes place in April-May.

Directions

Karikrishnaswamy Ponneri is just outside Ponneri town before crossing the Arani river bridge on the road to Tirupalaivanam and Pulicat.

Stay and Food

Balaji Hotel in Ponneri Town is a decent place for food. Stay for this entire district would be Chennai.

Vaishnavite