Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple / ஸ்ரீ வேணுகோபால சுவாமி கோவில், லிங்கி செட்டி தெரு, Linghi Chetty Street, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

 18^th September 2016

One of my temple Uzhavaram friends gave me a ring on 17^th Sep 2016, for uazhavaram at Sri Natarajar temple and Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple, at Linghi Chetty Street, Chennai. The same was scheduled on 18^th Sep 2016. Since there was no scheduled program on that day readily accepted to participate. Both temples are on the same street and have a connection with British  East India Company history.  These two temples are about 10 meters distance from Sri Mallikeswarar temple, which is preparing for the kumbhabhishekam.

Moolavar  : Sri Venugopalaswamy

Thayar     : Sri Mahalakshmi.

Some of the important details are….

The temple faces east with a mandapam in front. Garudalwar sannadhi is in front of Sanctum Sanctorum. On the back balipeedam and a dwajasthambam.  

Sannadhi for alwars, Varadharaja Perumal, Ramar with Seetha and Lakshmana, Bajanai Perumal,  Anjaneyar, and stucco images of Perumal’s 10 avatars. The sannadhi of Alwars continued at the sides and back side of the sanctum also.

Sannadhi for Mahalakshmi and Andal are at the back side of the sanctum.

There is a Shiva Lingam and Rishabam with a female relief panel installed in front of Mahalakshmi sannadhi. In the Mahalakshmi sannadhi, Lakshmi Narayan moortham is also installed facing north.

In the sanctum Sanctorum Sri Venugopala Swamy with Thayars and Urchavars. In the artha mandapam urchava murtis of Alwars, Lakshmi Narasimhar, Venugopalaswamy, and Thayar.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

There are three inscriptions that say the property was donated by the devotees to take care of the expenses of the daily poojas.

The mandapam was built in 1977 by a Christian by the name of Susai Udaiyar and Mr Ananthachari at Rs 35000.  A case of a win in favor of Susai, through Aanathachariyar,  so he made this contribution.

The temple is maintained by the elected trustees of Arya Vysya Telugu Beri Vysya Saba a registered body.

In 1935-36 inscription records that, a house on Thambu Chetty Street in Muthialpet was gifted to this temple for poojas by Ve. Subbarayan. In the same inscription mentioned about the Sanctum Sanctorum stone work was done by Poolur Nayanana Chettiar.

    

This 1904 inscription records the endowment of the building by Poolur Nayanana Chettiar's wife... 

Maha samprokshanam was conducted on 16th Feb 1992 and 21st March 2005.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple is kept open between 08.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is about a km from Beach Railway station.

About 100 meters from Sri Mallikeswarar Temple on the same Linghi Chetty street.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Devotees offerings 

How did this panel come to this Vishnu temple?.

A Memorial stone or Land Donation to a Shiva temple ...?

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Natarajar Temple / ஸ்ரீ நடராஜர் கோவில், Linghi Chetty Street, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

 18^th September 2016

One of my temple Uzhavaram friends gave me a call on 17^th Sep 2016, for uzhavaram at Sri Natarajar temple and Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple, at Linghi Chetty Street, Chennai. The same was scheduled on 18^th Sep 2016. Since there was no scheduled program on that day and readily accepted to participate. Both temples are on the same street and had a connection with the British East India Company. These two temples are about 100 meters distance from Sri Mallikeswarar temple, which is preparing for the Kumbhabhishekam.

The temple was too shabby and seems nobody cleaned it for the past many years. Debris is scattered and the old gurukul could not do any maintenance without assistance.

Moolavar    : Sri Natarajar

Consort      : Sri Sivakami

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple faces west with a small Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam in the front mandapam. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum.

In the paraharam Natarajar, Thillai Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar, Naalvar with Sekkizhar, Pandurangan, Anantha Sayana Perumal, and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar.

Vahana mandapam and Navagrahas are on the back side of the sanctum in a Madras terrace building.

According to the Sivachariyar Sabarathina Sivan, the temple was built by Subbaraya Bakthar (relief is on the mandapam pillar and a photo is available at the temple, he worked as a treasurer in East India Company) who had no male issues with his first wife. So he constructed this temple with Shiva lingam and Amman and worshiped Lord Shiva. After a few years, he married a Vaishnava lady and added Pandurangan and Anantha Sayana Perumal sannidhi. Even then there was no male child born. Finally, he made a will to donate all his property to this temple and died.

This temple is under the control of Tamilnadu's HR & CE.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple is kept open between 08.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Sabarathina Gurukkal (the fourth-generation Gurukkal who is performing pooja in this temple) may be contacted on his mobile, 9840256435.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is about a km from Beach Railway station.

About 100 meters from Sri Mallikeswarar Temple on the same Linghi Chetty street.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Mr. Subbaraya Batthar who constructed this temple  

UZHAVARAM PHOTOS 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

An Aspidal Vishnu Temple / Sri Varadharaja Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Vandalur, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu

 10^th September 2016.

This Heritage visit was arranged through the R.E.A.C.H Foundation for its Epigraphy students by Mr Ramanath on 10^th September 2016. Though it was not a planned visit, 19 heritage enthusiasts in their cars and motorcycles participated. I was fortunate to hear the history, architecture, and inscriptions of Chozhas and Pallavas once again from Mr. Ramachandran Sir and Mr. Vakula Varadharajan after a long gap. We had covered Madambakkam, Sri Dhenupureeswarar, a Chozha Period Shiva Temple, A Buddha Statue at Ottiambakkam, Nandhiwaram Sri Nandeeswarar a Nandhivarman, a Pallava period temple and a Pallava period and reconstructed during Vijayanagara Period Gajaprishta / Gajabirushta sanctum Sanctorum Perumal temple at  Vandalur.

Sri Varadharaja Srinivasa Perumaal Temple, at Vandalur Chennai District. / AN ASPIDAL VISHNU TEMPLE AT VANDALUR, CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU.

A continuation to the previous post …..

The temple is immediately after the Vandalur over the bridge towards Padappai via Manimangalam. Even though the deity is Maha Vishnu, as per the inscription the temple must be a Shiva Temple. 

Moolavar   : Sri Varadharaja Srinivasa Perumal

Consort     : Sri Mangalambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are.....

The temple faces east with a Deepa sthambam /vilakkuthoon and Garudan sannidhi. Moolavar Sri Varadharaja Srinivasa Perumal is on a pedestal. The Koshtas are empty without any images.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is of Gajaprishta style up to prastaram on a pada bandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam on a lotus pedestal. The Brahmakantha pilasters are shown on the Bhitti with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai, and pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus, and Vyyalavari. The brick eka tala nagara vimana is over the Gajabrushta sanctum Sanctorum was built at a later date.

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The inscriptions belong to the Vijayanagara period ie. the 17^th century and as per Mr. Ramachandran may belong to 1520 CE. The original temple may have been constructed during the Pallava period and reconstructed during the Vijayanagara Period. During reconstruction, the athistanam stones are not kept in their original position, hence the continuity of the inscription is lost. Vandalur was the ancient Vandainagar during the Chozha period which is referred to in “Kalingathuparani”. 

The 17th century Vijayanagara King Maha Mandaleswara.... period inscriptions, records the endowment of Pooja and burning a sandhi/day light lamp at this temple in Vendalur - வெண்டலூர். For the same 2005, Kuli land was gifted to this temple. The inscription confirms an earlier grant of land for daily worship and the burning of a day/sandhi lamp.

The inscription’s ompadaikilavi / curse is in two parts. One part mentions that obstructing this endowment will be equivalent to the sin of killing a cow on the banks of the River Ganga and Killing their mother and father. The second part is so strong that, obstructing this endowment, will be equal to the sin of sending their wife to the person who burns the dead body ( Vettiyan ) and to the umbrella holder.

The inscription traced by Dr. Gift Siromoney  (click here) is written wrongly on the website, as per Dr. Ramachandran Sir.

An inscription stone is missing --so the continuity of the inscription is lost

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- Om SHIVAYA NAMA :---