Temples around Pondicherry ~ Pondicherry Tourism

1. Sri Prithyangara Devi temple

Viswaroopa Sri Prithyangara Devi temple is located in the Pondicherry-Tindivanam route at about 5 kms from Pondicherry at a place called Morattandi. About 2-3 kms after the JIPMER hospital, you have to take a right turn and go further in village road for about 2 km. There are autos available at this junction also. The sudai sculpture of Prithyangara Devi is about 40 feet high and is visible from a km itself. Under this sudai sculpture is present the main temple. The temple entrance is completely covered up with sudai sculptures on both sides and you have to enter the temple through a narrow gate after getting the ticket for, I think Rs 3. First of all, I didn’t like this concept itself - covering the temple entrance completely and admitting people only with an entrance ticket like an exhibition. Anyway, after entering we were pleased to see a beautiful Sri Prithyangara devi deity. I was surprised that a scaring deity has been sculptured so beautifully. The sculpturer might have enjoyed doing every bit of it, otherwise it would not have come so beautifully. There were many other shrines like Guberar, a beautiful shiva lingam etc.,.

Viswaroopa Prathyankara devi

2. Navagraha Temple

Navagraha temple, a km from the Prithyangara devi temple, in a 2 acre farm land. Surrounded by 108 trees for different years, navagrahas, stars etc., this is still being built but has become popular already. All the deities here also are very huge. When we entered, first we were promptly guided by the temple guard to a Sani theertha kulam and when we went there, oh God, it was an ultra modern Swimming pool!!. People throw coins in the pool and laready so many coins were visible under the water.

At the entrance, Vinayahar with his consorts welcome us. The main deity Saniswara Bhagwan is about 27 feet tall and each Navagraha idol is 15 feet tall. There was also a huge vinayahar (under construction), a Vasthu Bhagwan, Lord Shiva as Kalyana Sundareswarar. Again here, the place didn’t really look like a temple but just as a beautiful farm with cool air meant to visit as a toursit.

Lord Ganapathy with consorts