The visit to this Kalikambal Temple was
a part of “Shiva and Amman Temples Visit”, in Park Town and George Town areas,
on 22nd 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. The east side arch is with a Rajagopuram.
Moolavar : Sri
Kamateswarar
Consort : Sri
Kalikambal.
Some of the important features of
this temple are...
The temple faces west with
Rajagopurams on the east (built in 1983 ) & west (constructed in 1940 )sides.
At the east side entrance mandapam,
on the right Prithiyangara Devi in stucco image, and shops on the left.
Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and rsihabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. In
koshatam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai
In the inner prakaram Vinayagar,
Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Navagrahas, Veerabhadra, Palliyarai. Vinayagar and
Naga Subramaniar are at the entrance from outer to inner prakaram on east side.
In the outer
prakaram Dwajasthambam with thirisoolam is in front of Ambal
sannidhi. The other sannidhis are Sri Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Sri
Subramaniar, Veerabhadra Mahakali, Vada Kathirkamam, and Murugan ( The cine
song "Ullam Uruguthaiyaa" was written by Sri Andavan Pichai
in the year 1952 from this place), Gayathri, Durgai, Natarajar, Urchavar
Kalikambal, Madapalli, Periyanayagi with Mahalakshmi, and Saraswati on both
sides, in a separate temple like sannidhi with Sanctum Sanctorum, ardha
mandapam.
Ambal
Kalikambal is in a separate sannidhi in a sitting posture, facing west ( which is
unique to this temple ). The upper hands holds Pasa, and Angusam. The lower right hand holds a Nelothpala flower and the left hand is in varada hasta.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The adhistanam is on an upanam with kapotam. The jagathy has reliefs & lotus petals. The pilasters are with Kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and poo mottu pothyal. A two-tier salakara Vimanam is on the prastaram, covered with a gold-plated metal sheet.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple is being maintained by
Vishwakarma. As per the article published in “The Hindu” dated 28 January 2021,
during mid-1600 Kalikambal was worshiped on the Seashore by the devotees of
3 hamlets, and the Goddess was called Chennai Amman. After 1639, when the British
East India Company began building Fort St. George and acquired surrounding
settlements for their warehouses and commercial establishments, the temple was
relocated inside the Fort, with the goddess known as “Kottai Amman”.
When the Viswakarma Community
Sthapathis migrated to Thiruvallikeni, they brought stones for the construction of this Kalikambal Temple from Tiruvannamalai. Once again the temple was forced
to shift from Fort to the present location under the Guidance of Muthumari
Achari. The exact date of shifting the temple is not known. The coin dated
1800, was discovered during the installation of Dwajasthambam in 2018. From this, it
was concluded the temple might have been shifted during the 1800’s.
Rajagopuram was built in 1940, and later Vishwa Brahma shrine and the east side of Rajagopuram were added in 1983. The
earliest structures are the Sanctum Sanctorum, Natarajar granite stone mandapam, and Utsava murtis.
Also, it was told that Chatrapati
Shivaji, the Maratha King worshiped Kalikambal on 03-10-1677 ( information is from a book Published by the Tamil Nadu Government
). Chhatrapati Shivaji’s winning of several fierce battles against Mughal
armies and staving off enemy advances towards the South are due to the grace of
Kalikambal.
It was told that Subramanya
Bharathi, during his stay in Thambu Chetty Street, used to visit this temple
and worship Kalikambal. His intense outpouring of devotion is found in
expression in his verses such as “Yaadhumaagi Nindraai Kali”.
LEGENDS
This Shiva temple is called in the
name Ambal Kalikambal Temple due to the power of Ambal. Kalikambal is
believed to be of Sowmya Swaroopa of Adhi Sakthi ( Incarnation of Parvati / Sakti ) and a Kshipra Prasadini
(swift granter of boons). During Fridays and Sundays, there will be a lot of
rush for Ambal’s darshan.
Vyasar, Agasthiyar, Pulathiyar, and
Varunan also worshiped this temple Ambal.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special
poojas are conducted on Fridays, A 12-day Vaikasi month Brahmotsavam with
procession on Poonther, Kannither, etc. Pournami, Amavasya, Pradosham, Maha
Shivaratri, Navaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, etc are also conducted.
Moolavar is in a small sanctum
compared to Ambal and regular poojas are mainly conducted for Ambal.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open
between 06.30 hrs to 13.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The landline telephone number +91 44
2522 9624, may be contacted for further details.
Email. Kalikambal.chn1@gmail.com
Temple Face book
HOW TO REACH
The temple is at 212, Thambu Chetty
Street opposite Muthialpet Girls School.
Nearest Railway station is Mannadi
metro station
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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