Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Temple, Thiruooral Mandapam / ஶ்ரீ பார்த்தசாரதி டெம்பிள் திருஊரல் மண்டபம், Ekkattuthangal, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

There are many temples within Chennai City, that are not very popular, but they have more than a hundred years of history. The available inscriptions are recorded by the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department. So decided to visit these temples also. This post will cover the Triplicane Sri Parthasarathy Temple Thiruooral Mandapam at Ekkattuthangal, where, Perumal Visits this mandapam once a year during January - February.

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Maha Vishnu of all the temples of Tamil Nadu used to travel to many places, once a year. This gave the opportunity to the Devotees to have the darshan, who couldn’t go to the temples.

The same way Triplicane Sri Parthasarathy ( Krishna as Parthasarathy, ie Charioteer to Arjuna during the Mahabharata war ) used to Visit Ekkattuthangal, every year during January – February and next on 26^th January 2023. On that day Sri Parthasarathy’s Utsava Murti with Bama & Rukmani will start around 03.00 in a specially decorated palanquin. The first stop will be at Peyalwar’s birthplace Mylapore. He continued his journey after blessing donors and Upahayadhars in front of their house gates. Donors and Upayadhars will welcome Sri Parthasarathy will Poorna Kumbh and lighting Kuthuvilakku, etc,. They also offer Thamboolam, fruits with Coconut, flowers, etc., to Perumal. Perumal will bless the Donors with Prasads.

After blessing the devotees on the way, around 13.00 hrs, the procession will reach Ekkattuthangal Thiruooral Utsava mandapam. He used to stay at the mandapam for thirumanjanam and bless the devotees. Around 18.00 hrs Sri Parthasarathy will visit Saidapet Sri Prasanna Venkata Narasimha Swamy Temple. At Saidapet too Perumal will bless the Donors and return back to Triplicane.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Triplicane Sri Parthasarathy temple has many properties all over the world. It was told that Ekkattuthangal was gifted to Perumal. A Mandapam with a metacolour Sheet open mandapam is at Ekkattuthangal, called Thiruooral mandapam, is on the land gifted.

The 1793 CE  inscription on the west side of the mandapam, records that this mandapam and the 36 kani land belong to  Thiruvallikeni, Sri Parthasarathy Temple. ( The inscription is recorded in Chennai Ma Nagar Kalvettukkal – சென்னை மாநகர கல்வெட்டுக்கள் – Published by Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department ).

மண்டபமும் அதைச் சார்ந்த முப்பத்தாறு காணி நிலமும் திருவல்லிக்கேணி பார்த்தசாரதி கோயிலைச் சார்ந்தது என்பதை இக்கல்வெட்டு குறிக்கிறது. 

The inscription reads as….

இந்த மண்டபமும் இதைச் சார்த்த ௩௰௬  காணி நிலமும் சென்னை திரு அல்லிக்கேணி ஸ்ரீ பாற்த்த ஸாரதி பெ[ரு) மா (னடிக]

ளுடையது    ௲௭௱௬௰௩   ளூ [.ராவிபிதா] ம்

Ref

Chennai Ma Nagar Kalvettukkal – சென்னை மாநகர கல்வெட்டுக்கள் – Published by Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department ).

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Poojas will be conducted every year during Triplicane  Sri Parthasarathy’s Visit.

HOW TO REACH

The Thiruooral mandapam is in the midst of factories.

From Koyambedu to Guindy on 100 feet Road after crossing Jafferkhanpet, Adyar river bridge, take a left on Parthasarathy Street and the Mandapam is about 400 meters from 100 feet Road.

The Thiruooral Mandapam is about 8.1 KM from Koyambedu and 12 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway Station is Ekkattuthangal Metro.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

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--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Thulukanathamman Temple / அருள்மிகு ஸ்ரீ துலுக்கானத்தம்மன் திருக்கோயில், Pazhavanthangal, Alandur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

There are many temples within Chennai City, that are not very popular, but they have more than a hundred years of history. The available inscriptions are recorded by the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department. So decided to visit these temples also. As per the inscription this temple was called as Mariamman temple at Pazhavanthangal, a part of Alandur.

The presiding Deity: Sri Thulukkanathamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an entrance arch and a two-tier Rajagopuram. Sapta Mathas stucco images are on the parapet wall of the Mukha mandapam. An Arasamaram is in front of the temple with Nagars. Trishul, Balipeedam  and Simham are in the mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakis are in the mukha mandapam. A stucco image of Gajalakshmi is on the top of Ardha Mandapam entrance. Amman’s various forms like Bhadrakali and Durgai are in the kosta. Moolavar Amman is in a sitting posture with Jwala makuda, holding Soolam and Damaru in upper hands and holding Sword and Kapalam in the lower hands.

Vinayagar and Murugan sannidhis are on both sides of the sanctum sanctorum. Utsavars Thulukanathamman, Karumariamman are in the ardha mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

A mini Rajagopuram with stucco image of Thulukanathamman is on the top of the mukha mandapam entrance. Stucco image of purana of Vinayagar getting mango from Shiva  in Kailash, and Shiva with Parvati, Valli Devasena Murugan, Avvaiyar and Agasthiyar are on the other side of the mukha mandapam.

The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and a open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on the pada bandha adhistanam. The temple was constructed with bricks. A three-tier Vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum (different from the salakara Vimanam in Amman Temples), and Stucco images of Amman are on the Vimana talas and Greeva Kostas.

     

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The inscription was recorded in the Chennai Managar Kalvettukkal – சென்னை மாநகர கல்வெட்டுக்கள், published by the Tamil Nadu Archaeological department. The Original inscription consists of two parts. The upper portion is in English and the lower portion is in Tamil. The inscription records that this temple was constructed by Major General Commissionaire W Morrison’s Butler, Thanappan’s son Santhiappan. As per the inscription the name of the deity was called “Mariamman” and when the same was changed Thulukanathamman is not known. Since the old idol was hit by the horse’s hooves, a temple might have existed on the spot before constructing the temple by Santhiappan. It is to be noted that this Hindu temple was also called a “Church”, as per the inscription. The original inscription reads as….

1. THIS IS TO NOTICE EVERY ONE
2. THAT THIS CHURCH OF MAURYAMA  
3. WAS BUILT BY THE SON OF
4. PARINAMALAY TANAPPAN NAMELY
5. SUNDYAPPEN BUTLER TO MAJOR W^m MORRISON
6. COMMISSARY GENERAL
7. TURO’ THE GENEROUS ASSISTANCE OF THAT GENTLEMAN
8. 1^st  SEPTEMBER 1810

1. பிறமாதூத வறுஷம் ஆவணி மீ  ௰௬  உ. சகலமா(ன)
2. பேருக்கும் அறியப்படுத்துகுற தென்னவென்றால் (யி)
3. (ந்)த மாரியம்மன் கோவிலை பரங்கிமலையிருக்குற
4. …………………………………………………………  …………… தானப்பன் கூமாரன் (சு)
5. சந்தியப்பன் யெங்குறவன் கமசெரி சென(ர)ல் மேசர் வில்லி
6. யம் மாரிசன் துரையிடத்தில் பொட்லெர்ராயிருந்து அந்
7. த தொறையுடைய தயவுனாலேயும் தெவத்தின் நி
8. ட கிருபா கடாஷத்தினாலேயும் கட்டி முடிந்தது
9. யிங்கிலீஸு வருஷம் ௲அ௱௰  ளூ செப்டம்பர் மீ

A mandapam on the same street, as per the request of the ancestors, was built through the people of this place and outside this place by P Ragupathy Pillai, A Shanmugam Pillai, and I.V. Ranganatham Pillai, in September 1920.

The construction ( probably reconstruction ) of Vimanam, Sanctum Sanctorum, Ardha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam, and front entrance Rajagopuram was completed and Ashta Bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 26^th January 1996.

Ref

Chennai Managar Kalvettukkal – சென்னை மாநகர கல்வெட்டுக்கள், published by the Tamil Nadu Archaeological department.

LEGENDS

Up to the 19^th Century CE, the St. Thomas Mount area where our temple is situated was a part of uninhabited land, a hilly area with forest strewn around used for grazing cattle.

During British rule, Mr. Major General Commissionaire W Morrison used to perform horse riding regularly through this place. One day during a casual ride his horse stopped all of a sudden when its hooves hit a stone. The horse Could not move.

The same night Major Morrison had an attack of high fever. Mr Santhiappan the Butler serving the Major had a dream. In the dream, Sakthi Thulukanathamman appeared before him and informed that the horse had hit her idol whose top portion only was visible above the ground.

The butler narrated his dream to his master. Major retrieved the idol of Thulukanathamman and began worshiping her. His fever subsided as he continued worshiping. Having experienced her grace Major Morrison built a temple at the very site of Housing, the idol of the universal mother Thulukanathamman. The temple was consecrated on the first day of September 1810 CE. An inscription on the Stone in the temple declares that this temple was built by Major Marrison. ( The Inscription says that the Butler had built the temple ).

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Amavasya days, 10 days the annual Dussehra festival will be celebrated in a grand manner with car / ther procession ( This year 213^th Dussehra festival was conducted From 26^th September 2022 to 05^th October 2022 ).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Navin Kumar, a descendent of the Trustee ( Late ) P R Venkatesan, who served for about 70 years  may be contacted on his mobile at +916369411665 for further details. Alternatively, the Trustees at +919941549515 & +91 9841379436 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on ( Co-ordinates )12.995723,80.1905291 ) Marrison Street 2, Pazhavanthangal (Alandur ).

The temple is about 850 meters from Nanganallur Metro, 1.5 KM from St Thomas Mount Metro and Sub Urban Railway Station, and 17 KM from Chennai Central Railway Station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Kalahastheeswarar Temple / Kaalahastheeswarar Temple / காளஹஸ்தீஸ்வரர் டெம்பிள், Coral Merchant Street, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, George Town, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kalahastheeswarar Temple Coral Merchant Street, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, George Town, was a part of the “Shiva and Amman Temples Visit”, in Park Town and George Town areas, on 22^nd March 2015.  Many Shiva and Amman temples are spread in these areas. Some of the temples are 500 years old and have a long history. Thanks to the donors, who donated the land, properties, and money for constructing these temples and ensuring continuous poojas.

During my first visit & Uzhavaram to this temple, the temple was under renovation, so I could not take good photos. The place was in a mesh due to construction activities. This temple is squeezed between concrete buildings.

Moolavar : Sri Kalahastheeswarar

Consort   : Sri Prasunannambigai/ Sri Gnanaprasunnambigai.

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

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco dwarapalakas are in front of Sanctum sanctorum. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai. 

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing east. Ambal is in standing posture  with abhaya varada hastam.

In praharam Suriyan, Chandran, Nalvar, Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar,  Nagars, A Shiva lingam with Ambal, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Hanuman, Ayyappan, Naga Devadas ( Pathanchali & Vyaghrapada ), Bairavar and Navagrahas.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of sanctum sanctorum and ardha mandapam. The temple was reconstructed completely and the inscription tablet is missing now. From adhistanam to prastaram built with stone. A two tier dravida Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum.

Stucco images of Ambal, Kannappar puranam, Ekapada thirumurthy, Kalahasti Kalahasteeswara Temple sthala puranam, Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar Sthala puranam, Kalahasti Shiva Lingam are on the side walls of mandapam and praharam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Happened to see an inscription on the south side wall of sanctum Sanctorum, dated 21-1-1926 by Naga Siva Chidambaram Chettiar's son of Subbaraya Chettiar about the donation of a house and a go-down given to the temple for conducting functions from the income after deducting, the taxes to be paid to Government and maintenance charges. During my second visit, this inscription was not found.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 23^rd January 1984, 08^th July 2001, and 06^th July 2022.

The inscription is missing after renovation 

LEGENDS

This Kalahastheeswaraar temple is one of the Pancha Bootha sthalams of Chennai. Sri Kalahasti is the name derived from  SRI = Spider, KALA = Serpent ( Snake), and Hasti = Elephant. It is believed that all three worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and attained mukti. The story goes like this. The Spider weaved a shade to avoid leaves falling on Lord Shiva. This was destroyed by wind with fire and Lord Shiva gave Mukti to Spider. The snake used to worship Lord Shiva by offering precious gems which it brought from its naga land. This was cleaned and worshiped by the elephant with water which brought water through its trunk from the river. On seeing this, the snake got angry and went inside the trunk and killed the elephant through bite and injected its poison. The elephant hit its head on the rock to kill the snake and died. Lord Shiva gave mukti to both snake and elephant for their devotion and bhakti. Hence Shri Shiva is called Sri Kalahastheeswarar.

It is believed that this temple is very much similar to Kalahasti Sri Kalahastheeswarar temple and those who cannot go to Kalahasti, can offer their prayers at this temple. Ambal is very powerful and a Varaprasadhi, granting child boon.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Panguni Uthiram, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Navaratri, Sankatahara Chaturthi, New Year days, etc,.

Navaratri 2002 Kozhu 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH  

The temple is on  155/ 50 – Pavalakara Street ( Coral Merchant Street), Chennai -1  Mannady area.  The north end of the street.

On town bus routes  Ibrahim Sahib Road Gets down at Thambu Chetty  Street and Pavalakara Street is very near. ( 6D, 8B, 11 a, 38 A, G, H, S, 44, 56B, 57D, etc,. ).

The nearest railway station is Rayapuram / Royapuram and is 4.2 KM from Chennai Central.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE  

The old Photographs of the temple before Renovation

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---