Sri Kasi Viswanatha Swamy Temple / ஸ்ரீ காசி விஸ்வநாதர் கோயில், Ayanavaram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

24^th March 2019.

After completing the darshan of Sri Kandaswamy at Kosapet, on 24^th November 2019, Mr Manoj took me to the Shiva Temple at Ayanavaram.  This 200 and odd year Shiva temple, is one of the 400 and odd heritage structures and temples listed by the Padmanabhan Committee, and the same was notified by the High Court of Madras. The Temple is very close to Medavakkam Tank Road. Initially, the Temple had a vast area of land and the major portion was taken over/ encroached on by the Govt. for constructing the Bus Depot, Annai Sathya Nagar, and other residential colonies. This temple also has a connection with Thirupathi Thirumalai Devasthanam (TTD). The details are given below.

Moolavar    : Sri Kasi Viswanatha Swamy

Consort      : Sri Visalakshi

The salient features of this temple are…..

The Temple faces east with a mottai gopuram built with brick and mortar.  The balipedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are immediately after the Mottai Gopuram Entrance. Moolavar is swayambhu brought from Kasi. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai are in the koshtam.  In the Artha mandapam Bairavar, Veerabhadra, Saptamatrikas Nalvar, Urchavars, Nataraja with Manickavasagar and Anjaneyar. Ambal shrine is in the mandapam facing south with a separate balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Ambal’s Simha Vahana on the south side of the praharam. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam.  The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam. A three-tier Vesara Vvimana is on the sanctum sanctum. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam and Bhoomi desam. The total temple was reconstructed with Brick. The Vimanam has stucco images of Shiva, in Karnapathi, Salai Pathi, and Greevam.

Ambal sannidhi is with a separate balipeedam, Vahanam, and Dawajasthambam / Kodimaram. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was built by the Gujarathi family and some of the details are… The Tawkers, a clan of Gujarathi origin had migrated to Trichy in the 1700s. So they added T ( Trichy ) in their initials, thereby establishing the connection with the historic Town of Trichy.  Mr. TR Tawker one from the Gujarathi family moved to Madras and started his Gem and Jewelry business on Mount Road ( The Indo saracenic style building was designed by Henry Irwin, a famous British designer in those days) in 1890s. This firm became insolvent in 1925. One Mr. Viswanatha Tawker also belongs to the collateral branch of the firm and had some contributions to this temple inscribed on a tablet installed at the entrance. However Two women of the Tawker family namely Ramkor Bai and Ratna Bai, the sisters are responsible for the construction of this temple. They were wealthy enough and lent money to the East India Company for their cloth trade. 

The Construction of this temple was started in 1804 CE and Completed in 1807 CE. They brought 2 Shiva Lingas from Kasi, of which one was installed in a small shrine  at a choultry Motta Utra, a congregational center for the Khedawal Community of Gujratis in Madras on Mint street opposite Sri Ekambareswarar Temple. The Second one was installed in this temple. A Tank was also excavated across the road (probably Medavakkam Tank Road ). They constructed Shops and single-story houses with madras terraces & Mangalore tiles around the temple. The income from these properties was utilized for conducting regular poojas and celebrations. They also established a Choultry, which served as a Guest house and is now used as an accommodation for Students.  The Gujarati Sisters' desire to construct a Vishnu Temple was not fulfilled.

The Tawker line that built the temple died out over time and the administration was passed on to the Dagat family and then it came in the hands of the present Daveys. The principal money loaned by the Tawker family Sisters Ramkor Bai and Ratna Bai, to the East India Company was never returned till independence, and only interest was paid. After independence, the payment of interest was also stopped. Daveys, who took the administration of this temple filed a suit in Madras High Court and won the case. The principal amount was returned to the temple after calculating the exchange rate for the pagoda vs the rupee. Now the temple administration is being managed by Mr. T R Subbaraya Davey.  The temple was renovated in 1992 and 2016, without altering the main structure.

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Apart from the regular poojas, a 10-day Bramotsavam will be conducted during April month, every year. On the 9^th night, Lord Shiva with Parvathi are taken in procession on a silver Rishabam. To witness this function the Gujarathi families assemble at the temple from various parts of the Country. 

The Umbrellas taken in a procession meant for the Tirupati Thirumala Bramorchavam, which started from Madras Chennakesava Perumal temple used to stay in this temple for one night before their onward journey.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 11 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 200 meters from Ayanavaram bus terminus

About 2 KM from Perambur Railway station and 2 KM from Perambur Carriage works.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

 Ambal Sannidhi Vimanam

 Saptamatrikas

Veerabhadra

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---