Famous Temples in India

History

The temple was contributed by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamilnadu. It is said that Goddess Parvathy helped him reach Kancheepuram by providing him light by the way of flashes of lightning. Hence, she is praised here as “Minnoliyammai” (Minnal in Tamil means lightning). It is further said that Goddess Parvathy consoled Sundarar by saying that life goes in accordance with one’s good or evil deeds and assured him that he would get back his vision in the due course of time. Hence, she is also praised as “Kanivai Mozhi Nayaki” the goddess who gave assurance.

The present masonry structure was built during the 16th century. The temple was relocated here (Poondi) by the authorities in 1968. Earlier this Shiva temple was situated on the banks of river Kusashthalai in a village called Thiruvulampudur. During the year 1942, Tamilnadu Government acquired and took over many villages including Thiruvulampudur for construction of the Poondi water dam. The Government provided alternative land at Thiruvenpakkam (Poondi) for construction of a new temple in place of the old one at Thiruvalampudur. The idols of deities except the moolavar, pillars and sculptures were removed from the old temple of Thiruvulampudur and reinstated at the new location. For this new temple, the consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 5th July, 1968. It is further said that some portion of the old temple’s main tower can still be seen from the banks of the Poondi Lake. It is said that the second consecration of this temple took place in the year 2000. Recently, this temple was renovated and on 14th September, 2016 the third consecration ceremony took place. The original complex is believed to have been built by Cholas.