Mata Sree Bhuvaneswari Amman Temple / Bhuvaneswari Amman Temple / புவனேஸ்வரி அம்மன் கோவில், ஆதம்பாக்கம், Uthira Navasalapuri, Puthukai, Andal Nagar, West Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

29^th October 2017.

This weekend's temple visit was to the Temples in Nanganallur and Adambakkam. Mata Sri Bhuvaneswari Amman Temple is the first temple visited on 29th October 2017 which is about 2 km from my residence.

Presiding Deity: Sri Bhuvaneswari Amman.

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

The temple is facing south with an entrance arch. Amman is in a sitting posture. Mazhu and Pasam are in the upper hand. Lower hands are in abaya and vara hastham.  Maha meru is in front with Urchavar. Varaki and Rajamathangi area at the entrance of the sannidhi in addition to Vinayagar and Subramaniyar. In koshtam Panchamuga Anjaneyar, Durgai, and Iyappan.

In the praharam sannidhi for Vinayagar, Sri Shanthanantha Swamikal, Dhathreyar footprints, Navagrahas, Shiva Lingam with nandhi under Bilva / Vilva tree.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was constructed during the year 1982 CE and maintained by Sri Bhuvaneswari Bhakta Mandali. Sri Shanthanantha Swamigal was instrumental in establishing the Sri Bhuvaneswari peedam of Pudukottai. 

His Guru Sadasiva Brahmendra Saraswathi  Swamigal, Sri Swayamprakasha Brahmendra Saraswati Swamigal and Sri Santhananda Brahmendra Saraswati Swamigal

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, all important festivals are celebrated, especially the Navaratri. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be opened between 06.30 hrs to 10.30 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The office landline number is 044 2253 2323

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is just before AGS Colony in West Velachery about 2 KM from Velachery and about 6 KM from Guindy.

Town bus M9M from T Nagar to AGS Colony passes through this temple

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Thanks to the unknown photographer  - from the website

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Ellai Amman Temple / Sri Ellaiamman Temple, அருள்மிகு ஸ்ரீ எல்லை அம்மன் ஆலயம், மேற்கு மாம்பலம், West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd October 2017.

The last temple visit in West Mambalam was the Ellai Amman Temple. This is the Village guarding deity, who protects the village from the bad elements. Normally these deities are installed on the boundary of the village. Now due to urbanization, these Ellai Amman have come to the part of the Village.

This Ellai Amman is facing east with an entrance  3 tier Rajagopuram on the north side. Her Vahana Simham and balipeedam are in front. On the South side wall, stucco images of Amman's various forms with Ellaiamman in the center. Nagar is under the neem tree. The Temple may have been constructed during the late 20^th century.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 Hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is very near to Sr Kasi Viswanathar temple, which is at the end of Madley Road Bridge.

The temple is about a KM distance from Mambalam Sub-Urban railway station and a 2 km distance from T. Nagar Bus terminus.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Om Murugashramam / அருள்மிகு ஓம் முருகாஸ்ரமம், மேற்கு மாம்பலம், West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd October 2017.

This temple is in between Ayodhya Mandapam and Sri Sathyanarayana Perumal Temple, on the same street. Bhajans are in progress in connection with Kantha Sasti, during my visit to this temple.

Presiding deity: Sri Murugan.

This ashram or the Murugan temple was established by Sri Shankarananda Swamiji a disciple of Shantananda Swamiji of Skandasramam, Salem. Swamiji had written a book on Thiru Kumaranadiyar Puranam in which he narrates the sequences of incidents to the establishment of this ashram. It was assumed that he might have been born in the year 1924 or 1925. Till 1970 he spend his life towards the development of his family. 

He Visited daily Vadapalani  Murugan Temple and became an ardent devotee of lord Muruga. In the 1970s he started getting dreams of constructing a Murugan temple. In the meantime, he met Kanchi Periyava and Thirukovilur Gyannanda Swamikal.  On 12-10-1971, his wife suggested constructing a Murugan Temple in the vacant space of their house without knowing Lord Muruga instructed him in the dream. Initially, a Photo of Lord Muruga was kept in a makeshift shed, and started prayer from 12-11-1971.

Swamiji restored about 200 old dilapidated temples with the guidance of Lord Muruga. When his guru Gnanananda attained Samadhi, Swamiji had seen a light entering his Guru's photo kept in the ashram. In 1984 a murugan idol was installed and Kumbhabhishekam was performed by Sri Santhananda Swamiji after constructing a small vimana on a hexagonal sanctum. Murugan idol looks small kid, a mature adult, and an old man from different angles.

Swamiji entered into sainthood on 10-02-2002 as per the instruction of Lord Muruga. At the age of 86, Swamiji constructed a Mahatripurasundari temple at Arungundram as per the instruction of Goddess Parvati.

Swamiji attained Samadhi on 14^th January 2017 and wanted his Samadhi to be built at Arungundram. A sannidhi was also constructed with a handful of mud brought from his Arungundram Samadhi.

ASHRAM TIMINGS:

The Ashram will be opened between 05.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Web site address: http://murugan.org/centers/ommuruga.htm

The landline number is  044 2474 7593

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is very near to Ayoட்hya mandapam, a landmark of west mambalam.

About 2 km from Mambalam sub-urban railway station.

City buses from Ashok pillar to T. Nagar pass through Ayodhya Mandapam on Arya Gowda Street / Road and the bus stop is Ayodhya Mandapam. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

For further reading Ref Web blog  https://rslaks.blogspot.in/2017/02/om-murugashramam-west-mambalam-chennai.html

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Sankara Madam / Sankara Mutt / ஸ்ரீ சங்கர மடம், மேற்கு மாம்பலம் / West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd October 2017.

Sankara Matam, a branch of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam is located in West Mambalam near Kasi Viswanathar Temple. It functions as a center for spiritual and dharmic activities.

Deity : Sri Kamakshi.

The Mutt is facing east with Sri Kamakshi Sannidhi and a Mandapam in front. In the mandapam stucco images of reclining  Perumal on Adi Sheshan and Lakshmi sitting on a Lotus.  Sri Kamakshi was installed by His Holiness Jagadguru Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and Sankara Vijayendra Swamigal.  Daily and special poojas are offered to Sri Devi Kamakshi Amman.

Monthly Vidwat sadas ( seminars on different shastras ) in Sanskrit are conducted by Sri Kamakshi mandali in this matam.   A Telugu Mahasabha is also functioning on this premises. Jataka Parivartana is also done here. Musical concerts, Bhajans, Pravachans, and several such programs are conducted regularly with the active participation of devotees.

The Matam also maintains a Kosala and   Ko poojas are performed regularly on the back side of the Matam.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Kancheepuram madam may be contacted for further details on the landline number 044 27222115

Web site address: http://www.kamakoti.org 

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is very close to Sri Kanchi Mutt and at the end of the Mandley road bridge.

The temple is about a KM distance from Mambalam Sub-Urban railway station and a 2 KM distance from the T. Nagar Bus terminus.

LOCATION OF THE SANKARA MADAM:    CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

Ayodhya Aswamedha Maha Mandapam / அயோத்தி மண்டபம், மேற்கு மாம்பலம், West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd October 2017.

This mandapam is on the Arya Gowda road, a landmark place of West Mambalam. Established in the year 1954 by Sri Ram Samaj. The main aim of the Sri Ram Samaj is to celebrate Ram Navami every year in a grand manner and to serve the people and society in the way of Bharat culture.

  

The thought of celebrating Sri Rama Navami in West Mambalam was the brainchild of one Mr K.Subramania Iyer fondly called KS, in the year 1954. Brahmasri Somadeva Sarma ( father of Srivatsa Jayarama Sarma a famous religious orator) gave the name “Sri Ram Samaj” and the same was registered in the year 1958. With Srinivasa Rao, KS approached Sri Venkatrama Iyer, a noted Congressman who gave Rs 25/-.  With this initial amount, they collected Rs 242/-  and celebrated the first Sri Ram Navami in a thatched shed on vacant land on Bhaktavatsalam Street. Nine orators were arranged for all nine days to discourse. The first upanyasam on Srimad Valmiki Ramayana   was given by Sukhabrahman Brahmasri Ramaswamy Sastrigal. In 1957 the Thanjavur painting was purchased and kept presently at the mandapam.

To celebrate Ram Navami and to have its own structure, a 4-ground land was purchased with encumbrance from Sri Srinivasa Iyer, a real estate developer, and the same was solved through Veppathur Sri V S Venkatarama Iyer. The cost of the land Rs 5400 was given as a loan by Mr K Sundaresa Iyer, the younger of KS, and the same was repaid over three years.

Maha Periyava also visited the site and sat in a place where the deities are presently kept. He blessed and said, “Buy this piece of land, it will augur your society”. Brahmasri Somadeva Sarma  gave the name of this mandapam as “Ayodhya Aswamedha Maha mandapam”   The first ever Upanyasam at this maha mandapam was by Brahmasri Sengalipuram Narayana Dikshitar ( younger brother of Brahmasri Sengalipuram Anantharama Dikshitar).  Now lot of discourses are conducted throughout the year.

With the blessings of Maha Periyava The Sri Ram Samaj, now possesses a Community Centre called Mithilapuri Kalyana mandapam,  A place to perform the obsequies for the departed soul at T Nagar,  Sri Sitaram Vidyalaya, a matriculation school and Gnanapavai.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Landline numbers are 044 24893077, 23451600, and 2345 1604

Web site address: http://sriramsamaj.org/

E-mail address: sriramsamaj@gmail.com

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is very near to Ayodhya mandapam, a landmark of west mambalam.

About 2 km from Mambalam sub-urban railway station.

City buses from Ashok pillar to T Nagar pass through Ayodhya Mandapam on Arya Gowda Street and the bus stop is Ayodhya Mandapam. 

LOCATION OF THE MANDAPAM: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri SathyaNarayana Perumal Temple / ஸ்ரீ சத்யநாராயண பெருமாள் கோயில் , West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd October 2017.

This temple, Ayodhya Mandapam and Murugashramam are very close to each other in West Mambalam. During my visit, abhisheka was in progress with the Utsavars. This temple is very much similar to the one at Nanganallur, but confined in a small space.

Moolavar : Sri Sathyanarayana

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple is facing North with a three-tier Rajagopuram & 5 kalasas on the top. The Rajagopuram is simple without many stucco images, except for Dwarapalakas and Vimana thangis.

Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudalwar are opposite Sri Sathyanarayana sannidhi. Sannadhis also for Hanuman, Lakshmi Narasimhar, Chakrathalwar, Kothandaramar, Andal, and Stucco images of Thirupathi Venkatachalapathy.

LEGENDS

As per the legend the  Hanuman sannidhi was first constructed under a banyan tree by Seshadri Bhattacharya and Rattan Das. Later Ratan Das handed over the temple to Seshadri Bhattacharya. After some years, a devout group called Sudarshana Sath Sangam added Maha Lakshmi, Sathyanarayana, and Lakshmi Narasimhar Sannidhis.

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

During Pournami special poojas with abhishekam are conducted and urchavar is also taken to Thiruveethi Uzha in Chandra prabha vahana. In addition to this important festivals like Chitra Pournami, Muthangi Sevai, Garuda Sevai, Nammalwar Utsavam, Krishna Jayanthi Vizha, Andal birthday, Desikar Utsav, Navaratri, Sri Rama Navami, Hanuman Jayanti are also celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will kept open between 06.15 hrs to 10.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is very near to Ayodhya mandapam, a landmark of west mambalam.

About 2 km from Mambalam sub-urban railway station.

City buses from Ashok Pillar to T. Nagar pass through Ayodhya Mandapam on Arya Gowda Street and the bus stop is Ayodhya Mandapam. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple / ஸ்ரீ காசு விஸ்வநாதர் கோயில், மேற்கு மாம்பலம், West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd October 2017.

After the Perumal Temples visit, this week’s Sunday Shiva’s darshan was at Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple of West Mambalam. This temple is also called Mahabilva Kshetra. 

  

Moolavar    : Sri Kasi Viswanathar

Consort      : Sri Kasi Visalakshi

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

The temple faces east with a 7-tier Rajagopuram and a 3-tier Rajagopuram on the south. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Nandhi are immediately after the east side of Rajagopuram.

On the north wall of the mandapam stucco images of Shiva’s dance as Natarajar & Urdhva Thandavar on both sides of Shiva & Parvathi Kalyana kolam. On one of the Mandapa pillar statues of Nandhi, Sankaranarayanan, Sarabeswarar, Prathyangira devi, Yoga Narasimhar, Sanjeevi Rayar ( Hanuman), Garudalwar, Kamakshi Amman and ArthaNareeswarar. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In the outer prakaram 63var, Naalvar, Arunagirinathar, Sekkizhar, Pattinathar,  Chandikeswarar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Kala Bhairavar, Navagrahas and Nagaras under a Bodhi tree.  The Temple’s Chariot is kept in a shed at the end of the temple street.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple is constructed with a Sanctum and a maha mandapam. Ambal sannadhi is facing south on the same mandapam. The mandapam was built for multipurpose, annadhanam, religious discourse, etc. Beautiful stucco reliefs of designs and flowers are made on the ceiling of the mandapam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple is said to be from the Vijayanagara Nayaka Period (17^th Century ) and was reconstructed in 2003. It was learnt that the Nayaka King who built the Tenkasi Shiva temple also built this temple.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, the place was called Mahabilam, later turned into Mambalam.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.15 hrs to 20.45 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The landline number of the temple is 044 2489 0018

The temple website address: http://www.westmambalamkasiviswanathartemple.tnhrce.in/

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is very close to Sri Kanchi Mutt and at the end of the Mandly Road bridge.

The temple is about a KM distance from Mambalam Sub-Urban railway station and a 2 km distance from T. Nagar Bus terminus.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Statues on the pillar 

Stucco images on the mandapam wall and ceiling 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Kothanda Ramar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கோதண்ட ராமர் கோவில், மேற்கு மாம்பலம், West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd October 2017.

After the darshan of Sri Adi Chenna Kesava Perumal, situated at Mettupalayam, a part of West Mambalam, my next destination was Sri Kothanda Ramar Temple.

Moolavar: Sri Kothanda Ramar with Seetha and Lakshmanan

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Vasantha Mandapam is on the opposite of the road. Hanuman Sannadhi is immediately after the entrance arch.

Little further on the right Thiru Kalyana mandapam with Paramapata Vassal and Andal Sannadhi on the right and on the left sannidhi for Sri Ranganayaki and Thirukulam with neatly paved steps. A 4 pillar mandapam is in front of the main shrine. Nandhavanam is on the back side of the sanctum.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum antarala and artha mandapam.  In the sanctum Moolavar Rama with Lakshmana and Seetha. Urchavars Ramar, Seetha, Lakshmana and Narasimhar are in front of moolavars.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTION

This temple is about 200 years old, built by Sri Adi Narayana Dasar similar to the temple at Bhadrachalam. The Bhadrachalam temple was built by Sri Bhaktha Rama Dasar one of Sri Narayana Dasar’s ancestors. Hence this temple is called Dakshina Bhadrachalam.

In the year 1926 AD, this temple was developed by Sri Vangayala Kuppaya Chetty, who has no children. So his relatives gave him slow poison through his food, to kill him to enjoy his property.  Sri Ramar appeared in his dream and asked him to expand this temple and also relieved him from the poison. The Sri Bra. Ve. Dhenuva Gupta Venkatarangaiya Haridhasar one of the Managers & caretakers of this temple, was making arrangements for the expansion of this temple. When he heard  Sri Vangaayala Kuppaya Chetti’s wish to expand this temple, handed over Rs 4000 collected from the devotees. They sold some old articles and got Rs 1000. With Rs 5000 as the initial amount, the bhoomi puja for the expansion work was started on 26^th July 1926. Kumbhabhishekam was performed on 30^th April 1927 as per Sri Vaikhanasa agama.  The inscription stone is fixed on Sri Garudalwar’s sannidhi wall in Telugu.

 Telugu inscriptions about the temple expansion/construction by Sri Vangaayala Kuppaya Chetti 

Sri Vangaayala Kuppaya Chetti expanded the temple.

 This inscription speaks about the donation to create this temple tank 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be opened between 06.30 Hrs to 10.30 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Temple web site http://www.westmambalamkothandaramartemple.tnhrce.in/contact.html#

Landline number 044 2370 0243

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about a KM from Mambalam Suburban railway station and autos are available from there.

The Town Buses  5E,5T, 10e, 11G, 11H, 12G, 49A, and S35 pass through this temple Bus Stop Mettupalayam, and from there about a KM.

About 2 KM distance from T Nagar Bus terminus.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---