Sri Varaha Moorthy temple-Thiru Vidanthai, Chennai

Thiru Vidanthai,  Sri Varaha Moorthy temple is situated en route to Mahabalipuram on the East Coast road and is one among the 108 divya desams of Vishnu. Alwars have sung in praise of the God here and this temple sits smugly in a village off the Mahabalipuram road in a calm and serene atmosphere.This temple is about 1000 years old and as it is  near the sea coast many structures and carvings have  corroded here hence it is under the care of Archaelogical Survey of India and I was a bit disappointed when they didn't allow the cameras inside. But I have tried to make the best of my visit by clicking some beautiful shots from outside.

Varaha Swamy is one of  reincarnations of Vishnu, he took the form of a boar to save Mother Earth from the demon Hiranyaksha. There are a very few temples dedicated to Varaha Swamy. Here the idol is about 61/2 feet high, an  exquistively carved idol with Boodevi on His left thigh. He is giving Mantropadesham to Boodevi and at his feet are Adisesha , the serpent God and his wife.

The Utsavar is called as Nithya Kalyana Perumal . It is believed that a visit to this temple and praying here by following certain worship pattern would help  one to find  a good life partner. 

The legend says that as per the wishes of a Maharshi, the Lord here married all his 360 daughters one per day throughout the year and united them all into one as Boodevi who is the Thayar ( mother Goddess) here.There is also separate sannidhi for Thayar and Andal. The sthala vriksham is at the back side of the temple.There are beautiful carvings on the pillars here near the Garudalwar sannidhi which is opposite to the main sannidhi. The carving are etched beautifully as if idols have been stuck on the pillars. The  temple must be around 4-5 acres and there is a  bell tower, dwaja sthamba and balipeetam, typical of any temple front in Tamilnadu.

How to reach:

Chennai is well connnected by air, road and rail. Umpteen number of buses ply from various parts of the city towards Mahabalipuram. Thiru Vidanthai bus stop is 3 Kms. from Kovalam. Distance to Tiruvidanthai from Chennai is 50 Kms.

Check pictures below.
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOwwwp5hHtelMVz6OQ265WgWy94_zhd3CrPem7t

Shore Temple-Mahabalipuram

Mammalapuram or Mahabalipuram is about 56 Kms.from Chennai, is famous for it's shore temple, an architectural marvel dating back to Pallava period. i.e 600 AD . This is a classified as an UNESCO World Heritage Monument and it has become a protected sight. There is no worship in this temple though there are one or two shrines. Out of the 7 temples or pagodas , only one is remaining now and others got submerged in water. The shore temple is famous for its monolithic sculptures, bas reliefs and small caves. Tourists flock to this place and spend time leisurely enjoying the beauty of the monuments and the wonderful beaches.

The deities and outer walls of the main temple have started eroding due to the exposure to saline water which flows into it during high tidal waves. This temple along with the monolithic Rathas and Arjuna's Penance are famous. There are also a couple of temples nearby. This place is a must see for those who are planning a South Indian tour.
To reach:
Many AC and non AC buses ply to Mahabalipuram from different parts of the Chennai city