Emerald Lingam idols consecrated daily except on annual Thiruvathirai star day. The reason for covering the idol with sand paste is that the idol has fragile properties and may not bear sound and light waves. The sandal paste removed from the idol is distributed to the devotees. Siruvapuri Balasubramania Swamy Temple is located on the north western side of Chennai city and is lying 33 km from Chennai. The visitor needs to take diversion from Chennai Kalkotta National Highway. The except the idols of Lord Balasubramaiya Swamy, Aadhimoolar and Navagrahams, all the other idols are carved out of emerald stone. The beautiful
Emerald Buddha Yia (Bamboo Forest Monastery, later renamed Wat Phra Kaew) in Chiang Rai, revealing a Buddha covered with stucco inside. The Buddha was then placed in the abbot's residence, who later noticed that stucco on the nose had flaked off, revealing a green interior. The abbot removed the stucco and found a Buddha figure carved from a green semi-precious stone, which became known as "Phra Kaew Morakot" or in English the Emerald Buddha. ("Emerald" refers to its "green colour" in Thai, not its composition.) Some art historians describe the Emerald Buddha as belonging to the Chiang Saen Style of the 15th