Sri Sundareshwarar Temple is located in Kovur on the outskirts of Chennai between Porur and Kundrathur. This Temple in Kovur is situated a few 100 metres away from the main road. The South facing Rajagopuram which is 7 tiered looks gorgeous and in typical Tamil Style. Devotees entering through the South facing Rajagopuram may have to circumambulate and enter the Sanctum Sanmctorum only through the East facing entrance. There is a South facing Nehtra Vinayagar to begin with. In the outer peripheral there is an East facing Vara Siddhi Vinayagar Sub Shrine and another Sub Shrine for Lord Subramaniyar. There is a multi pillared Thirukalyana Mandapam where Divine Rituals are conducted frequently. Facing the Moolasthanam is a Dwajasthamabam or Kodi Maram, a Neivedhya Peedam and a Nandhi Vaahanam within a four pillared Mandapam. Two huge black Dwara Baalaga Idols are found on either side of the East facing Moolasthanam and close to these Dwara Baalakas are the Idols of Naga Devathas and Pillayar. The gateways of the Sundareshwarar and His Consort Soundarambigai have gold plated thresholds. The Presiding Deity is Sundareswarar, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Sundhareswarar is also called by the name Thirumaneeswarar. He is found as an East facing Shiva Lingam. His Consort Parvathi is called as Soundarambigai here. Likewise Goddess Soundarambigai is also called as Thiruvudainayaki. She is seen in a South facing Shrine in a standing posture. There are no Dwara Baalagis before the Ambal's Shrine. There is a Suryan, Naalvar, Kalikambal, Veerabadrar, Samaskanadar, Sukravara Amman, Muthumari Amman, Ponni Amman, Vinayagar, Chandrasekarar, Chandikeshwarar, Karunakara Perumal, Subramaniyar, 63 Naayanmaars, Thogai Adiyar and Sekkizhar. Closeby is the Palliyarai for which the daily ritual is conducted between 8.15 to 8.30 PM. Around the Koshtam the Idols of Narthana Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingothbhavar, Brahmma, Chandikeshwarar and Durgai. Around the Koshtam of the Ambal there are Idols for Nagalakshmi, Mahalakshmi, Dhairyalakshmi, Chandikeshwari, Bhairavar and Natarajar. The Sanctum Sanctorum of this Temple is designed and built in the Gaja Brushtam style which is quite appealing to any Devotee when they circumambulate the Temple during their Pradakshanam. In the outer peripheral there is a West facing Shrine for Sri Saneeswaran and another Sub Shrine for Navagrahams. The Temple has provided an exclusive oil lamp stand for lighting lamps. The Temple gains great prominence due to the visit of Carnatic Music Composer Saint Thiagarajar who composed several verses in praise of the Presiding Deity Sundhareshwarar and these songs are collectively called as Kovur Pancharathnam. An interesting story says that when Saint Thiagraja was passing  through Kovur in a Palaquine towards Thirupathi, he was stopped by a local village leader who asked the Saint to sing in praise of him. Saint Thiagaraja refused to the request of the local leader and said that he would do so only in praise of the God and none else. Therefore when Saint Thiagaraja was returning from Tirupathi his retinue was stopped by a few bandits on the instigation of the local village leader and stones were thrown at him. Saint Thiagaraja did not budge but instead got down from his palanquine. At that point from nowhere a rain of stones were hurled at the bandits in retaliation. None knew as to who hit the bandits but Saint Thiagaraja firmly believed that Sri Ram and Lakshman did it for his sake to save his life from the bandits. He therefore sang several verses in praise of the God there itself.  It is believed that King Sundara Cholan started building this Temple initially and later King Kulothunga Cholan completed the building work and also renovated it. Several Sub Shrines are seen clustered around the Sanctum. The Sthala Viruksham of this Temple is a Maha Vilvam Tree which has immense medicinal properties. The Temple has a Chariot which needs an immediate renovation and the Theertham or Pushkarani is known as Gangai Theertham. The Sannidhi street leading to the Temple has an Annadhana Koodam for the sake of the Devotees. There is a steady flow of Devotees on auspicious days and all National holidays. The way how the Purohits decorate and adorn the Shiva Lingam is eye captivating and a treat to watch. There are no nearby shops around this Temple. Though the Temple does not have any earmarked car parking there is ample space opposite to the Temple to park the vehicles. Vinayagar Chathurthi, Aippasi Annabishegam, Arudhra Dharisanam, Masi Magam, Pradhosham, Navarathri, Maha Shivarathiri are some of the festivals are celebrated in a grand manner. This Temple gains utmost importance since its hailed as a Budhan Parihara Sthalam.

Temple Timing: 6 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM

Contact Number: Mala Flower Shop 99520 41354, Latha Flower Shop 95661 82662, Mahesh Chief Gurukkal 96771 52581, Hariharan Gurukkal 77084 37192 and 044 2478 0124

Distance from Kundrathur to Kovur is 3 Kms

Distance from KK Nagar to Kovur is 12 Kms

Distance from Porur to Kovur is 7 Kms

Distance from Mangadu to Kovur is 6 Kms

Distance from Poonamallee to Kovur is 10 Kms

Distance from Vadapalani to Kovur is 13 Kms

Distance from Koyambedu to Kovur is 15 Kms

Distance from West Mambalam to Kovur is 17 Kms

Distance from Nanganallur to Kovur is 14 Kms

Distance from Triplicane to Kovur is 25 Kms

Distance from Thiruvotriyur to Kovur is 41 Kms

Distance from Selaiyur to Kovur is 20 Kms

Distance from Tambaram to Kovur is 12 Kms

Distance from Redhills to Kovur is 29 Kms

Distance from Maduravoyal to Kovur is 11 Kms

Distance from Anna Nagar to Kovur is 21 Kms

Distance from Mailam to Kovur is 125 Kms

Distance from Vallakottai to Kovur is 32 Kms

Distance from Theerthagiri to Kovur is 128 Kms

Distance from Uthiramerur to Kovur is 72 Kms

Distance from Sriperumbudur to Kovur is 23 Kms

Distance from Kancheepuram to Kovur is 56 Kms

Distance from Vellore to Kovur is 134 Kms

Distance from Thennangur to Kovur is 95 Kms

Distance from Kaveripakkam to Kovur is 96 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Kovur is 22 Kms

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