Sri Muthalamman Temple, one of the Mambalam Village Guarding Deities/ A Pallipadai Temple, West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. ST MAMBALAM, CHENNAI.

10^th December 2017.

During my search for the Mambalam village guarding 8 deities, came across this 300-year-old Sri Muthalamman Temple on the south end of Lake View Road. The Gurukkal was preparing the pooja when I visited. Went along with him and told him that he had been doing pooja for the past 30 years in this temple. He told me that this is one of the 8 Mambalam village boundary (ellai) guarding deities. He also claimed that this temple was once a Pallipadai Temple similar to Pamban Swamigal Temple, Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Pondy Bazar Sri Agastheeswarar Temple, and Appar Swamigal Temple. For the proof, he showed me the Hero Stone and a Muthalamman Stone installed at the back side of the sanctum. In the course of time, the old temple was ruined, and this new temple was built in the same place with Amman as a presiding deity.

Main Deity: Sri Muthalamman

Some of the important details are as follows…

The temple is facing east without any entrance arch or Rajagopuram. The temple consists og sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. Amman is seated on a 4 feet pedestal under a Cobra snake hood. Amman is holding Damaru, Trishul, Sword, and Kapala in four hands. Under the base of Amman’s head statue, which was found out from the near by lake. Simha vahana and balipeedam are in the mandapam. In koshtam Gowmari, Maheswari, Vaishnavi, Brahmi, and Durgai. At the entrance of the sanctum, Ganapati and Valli Devasena Subramaniyar are on both sides.

In the prakaram Sannadhi for Kathavarayan, Veerabhadra are at the entrance Gate, Bala Ganapathy & Balamurugan, Anjaneyar, Hero stone, and Navagrahas.  Nagars are under the peepal tree. 

Interestingly happened to see a Kanthu (believed to be the male consort of Amman) and a stone at the entrance of the Temple.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

There is an interesting story that the Amman statue was made for a Singapore temple and somehow ended up at the harbor. Later installed at this temple. It was also learnt that some devotees from Singapore visit this temple even now.  

Two panels consisting of the Amman face and the Hero stone are installed on the back side of the sanctum. Gurukkal claimed that originally this temple might have been built for a person who died in a war, and the temple was built with a small Amman’s head as a presiding deity. In the hero stone, the hero is riding on a horse with a sword in his hand. 

  

 The reliefs of Muthalamman and Hero Stone

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

It is a temple for Poosam nakshatra. Special poojas are conducted on Kiruthigai, Shashti, and Navaratri. Annual serving of millet porridge - கூழ் வார்த்தல் - festival is also conducted on the 4^th Sunday of Aadi month.

  

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs, and from 17.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs. Timings may change during the festival and on Fridays.

CONTACT DETAILS:

C Balasubramania Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile 9444462116, and his address is 5/1B, Kavarai Street, West Mambalam.

HOW TO REACH :

This temple is on the south end of Lake View Street, in West Mambalam,  

The nearest bus stop is MettuPalayam, Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Temple, and Postal Colony.

The nearest Sub-Urban Railway station is Mambalam, and the temple is about 3 KM.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 The Sthala Vruksham with nagars

 Navagraha Sannidhi 

Kanthu 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---