This
series of posts consists of temples containing 18th to 20th-century inscriptions recorded
in “Chennai Ma Nagara Kalvettukkal - சென்னை மாநகர கல்வெட்டுக்கள்” published by the Tamil Nadu
Archaeological Department.
Even though many Vinayagar Temples were built throughout Chennai, few have more than a hundred years of history, and
this Nattu Selva Vinayagar Temple on Mint Street in the Park Town area is unique in all respects.
Presiding
Deity: Sri Nattu Selva Vinayagar
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple faces west, and Stucco images of Parvati, Shiva, Vinayagar, Murugan,
Narasimhar, Kali, and Hanuman are on the west and north side top. Moolavar
Vinayagar is in the sanctum Sanctorum. Balipeedam and Moonjuru are in front of
the sanctum Sanctorum, and Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance.
In
praharam, Sundareswarar with Meenakshi, Natarajar, Sri Valli Devasena Murugan,
Padavattamman/Renuka Devi with Dwarapalakas,
7 Veeras bas reliefs panel, Anjaneyar, Durgai, Navagrahas, and Narasimha Murthy.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of a sanctum Sanctorum, and other sannidhis are around the
sanctum sanctorum. The total temple was constructed with Bricks, and the Vimanam is
not Visible since the ceiling of the mandapam is constructed from the prastaram
level.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
The
following two inscriptions are recorded and Published in Chennai Ma Nagara
Kalvettukal – சென்னை
மாநகர கல்வெட்டுக்கள்.
A
portion of 1878(?), year inscription, which is found on the floor slab of the
temple. (The temple was completely renovated, and the floor was also replaced. The
Inscription stones are missing now.) I doubt that this
fragment stone may belong to some other temple also.
The
incomplete inscription records the Kaattivur Vaidhiyar’s sons, Kumaraya Mestri
and Arunachaleswarar. Whether Arunachaleswarar mentioned in this inscription was about the Arunachaleswarar Shiva
Temple, on the same street, or some other temple is not known.
கல்வெட்டின் ஒரு பகுதியே கிடைத்துள்ளது. காட்(டி)வூர் வைத்தியர் சாரி குமாரன் கும(ர)ய மேஸ்திரி, மற்றும் அருணாசலயிசுவரரைப் பற்றிக் குறிக்கிறது.
- உ வெகுதான்ய
- னு மாசி மீ ௰அ
- சோம வாரம் ௮
- மர பஷ்ஷம் சஷ்
- டியும் கிறத்திகை
- நஷ்ஷாத்திரமும்
- யிப்படிபட்ட தினத்
- தில் காட்[(டி)வூர் வயித்
- தியர் சாரிகுமாரன் கு
- ம[ர]ய மேஸ்திரி அறு
- ணாசலயீசுவரரிடை
- …………………………………
Another inscription is also a fragment inscription belonging to the 19th
Century. This inscription records that the Thirukandalam (near Peiya Palayam,
one of the Thondai mandala Paadal Petra Sthalam) Periya Muthu Asari’s Son Kizha
Asari attained the holy feet of Shiva (death of Kizha Asari). This
inscription also mentions the Annamalaiyar (Arunachaleswarar). Does that
inscription just mention the death of Kizha Asari? Hope it may not be...
தங்கசாலைத் தெருவில் 2929-ஆம் எண்,
நாட்டு
செல்வ
விநாயகர்
கோயிலில்
உட்பக்கம் தெற்கில் தரை மேல் உள்ளது. திருக்கண்டலம் பெரியமுத்து ஆசாரி மகன் கிழஆசாரி இறந்ததை இக்கல்வெட்டு
குறிக்கின்றது. The original inscription reads as...
- த…… மவார
- மும் திரியோதசியும் ]
- பர[ணி) நஷ்சத்திரம் யி
- ப்படிப்பட்ட திநத்
- தில் திருக்கண்டல
- ம் பெரிய முத்தாசா
- ரி குமரன் கிழவா
- சரி ஆன்னாமலை
- யாருட பாதாற விந்
- தம் சேர்ந்தார்
The first one seems to be giving Navakandam. Is this inscription associated with this sculpture?.
LEGENDS
The
temple is believed to have been constructed when this place was a Village or might
have a connection with “Nattu”. What it means is not known.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi,
Sankatahara Chaturthi Fridays, etc.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 1.00 hrs and from 19.00 hrs to 19.00
hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
This
temple is on Mint Street and about 10 shops after Sengazhuneer Vinayagar
Temple.
The
temple is about 500 Meters from Chennai Central and about Rajiv Gandhi Govt
Hospital.
The nearest
Railway Station is Chennai Central.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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