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….
- THIS IS TO NOTICE EVERY ONE
- THAT
THIS CHURCH OF MAURYAMA
- WAS BUILT BY THE SON OF
- PARINAMALAY TANAPPAN NAMELY
- SUNDYAPPEN BUTLER TO MAJOR Wm MORRISON
- COMMISSARY GENERAL
- TURO’ THE GENEROUS ASSISTANCE OF THAT GENTLEMAN
- 1st SEPTEMBER 1810
- பிறமாதூத வறுஷம் ஆவணி மீ ௰௬ உ. சகலமா(ன)
- பேருக்கும் அறியப்படுத்துகுற தென்னவென்றால் (யி)
- (ந்)த மாரியம்மன் கோவிலை பரங்கிமலையிருக்குற
- ………………………………………………………… …………… தானப்பன் கூமாரன் (சு)
- சந்தியப்பன் யெங்குறவன் கமசெரி சென(ர)ல் மேசர் வில்லி
- யம் மாரிசன் துரையிடத்தில் பொட்லெர்ராயிருந்து அந்
- த தொறையுடைய தயவுனாலேயும் தெவத்தின் நி
- ட கிருபா கடாஷத்தினாலேயும் கட்டி முடிந்தது
- 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 26th January 1996.
Ref
Chennai Managar Kalvettukkal – சென்னை மாநகர கல்வெட்டுக்கள், published by the Tamil Nadu Archaeological department.
LEGENDS
Up
to the 19th 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 213th Dussehra festival was conducted
From 26th September 2022 to 05th 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
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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