Arulmigu Draupadi Amman Temple, Dharmaraja Temple and Nagathamman Temple, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

12^th January 2020.

The visit to this temple was a part of the Goddess of Mylapore Heritage Walk curated by Mrs. Padmapriya Baskaran on 12^th January 2020, in Connection with the Mylapore festival. Mylapore is a part of Chennai, one of the oldest cities and has the most historic places. The Historical places include Saptha Sthana Shiva temples, Vishnu, and Village Deities.  Mylapore was called by different names. Greco-Roman, a famous geographer of the 2^nd Century CE, mentions Mylapore as Mylarphan. From ancient times, Mylapore was called Mayilarpil, Mayilai, Tirumayilai, Mahilup, Mirapolis, Mirapor, and Malepur. During the Chozha period, Mylapore was under Jayankonda Chozha Mandalathu Puliyur Kottam. During the Pallava period, Nandhivarman-III assumed the title of “Mayilai Kavalan,” i.e., guardian or protector of Mylapore.

Mylapore is also known for many Village deities, and this Arulmigu Draupadi Amman – Dharmaraja Temple is one such village temple on MundaKanni Amman Koil Street, Mylapore. The worship of Draupadi Amman is followed in many cults. In this  temple, the Epic Mahabharata heroine Draupadi is worshiped as the presiding deity. There is also a Draupadi Amman Temple, similar to this, on Dharmaraja Koil Street, Saidapet, a few km away from this temple.

   

Presiding Deity: Sri Draupadi Amman

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

The temple faces east about 3 steps below the outside ground level. Bothuraja / Pothuraja, in the form of a bas relief, is in front of the temple. The presiding deity Draupadi is in a sitting posture. In the sanctum, Dharmaraja, Arjuna, Bheema, Nakulan, and Sahadevan. Krishna with Bhama & Rukmani and Nagars are in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. There are two bas-relief sculptures worshiped as Chandra and Surya in the mukha mandapa. A Stucco vimana is over the sanctum. 

SPECIALITIES 

On the left of the entrance is the Sati Stone /hero stone with an inscription, and on the right is the memorial stone in a worshiping posture. These Nadukarkal / Hero Stones belong to the 16th to 17th Century.

 

 Sati stone with inscription as தலை பலி

 A Donor memorial stone

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was built with bricks and is maybe 100 to 200 years old.

LEGENDS

Devotees used to pray to Draupadi for a marriage and a child boon. The bangles offered are tied on the Neem tree.

POOJAS AND FESTIVALS

Apart from regular poojas, the annual festival is also celebrated with Therukoothu. The Mahabharata story will be the theme of the therukoothu, in which males will act as the female characters.      

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 7.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Those who are doing Pooja for Angala Parameswari Amman Temple, which is adjacent to this temple, are also doing Pooja for this temple. Poojari Suresh Kumar may be contacted on his mobile +91 8754544856 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is on Mundakanni Amman Koil Street, Mylapore, Chennai.

The temple is 500 meters from Mundaka Kanni Amman Koil MRTS Railway Station, 1 km from Thirumayilai MRTS Railway Station, and 8 km from Chennai Central Railway Station.

The nearest Railway Junction is Chennai Central Railway Station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---