Kandaswamy Temple, Thiruporur

Arulmigu Kandaswamy Temple stands in the centre of Thiruporur, a town on Old Mahabalipuram Road about 30 km from Chennai, at the foot of the Pranava hill. It is dedicated to Murugan, shown standing as Kandaswamy, with separate shrines for his consorts and for Shiva and Parvati. Its origins go back to the Pallava period, inscriptions inside date from the 10th and 12th centuries, and the temple faces east.

Legend says Murugan battled demons at three places: Tiruchendur by sea, Thirupparankundram by land, and Thiruporur in the air; the name comes from the Tamil word por, meaning war. Floods are said to have buried the temple under earth and palm forest until Sri Chidambaram Swamy found the idol and rebuilt it in the 17th century.