Thursday, 5 January 2023

Sri Dharma Vinayagar and Dharmaraja Temple / தர்மராஜா கோயில்/ Sri Muthalamman Temple / முத்தாலம்மன் கோயில், Linghi Chetty Street, Seethakadi Nagar, George Town, Chennai.

This series of posts consists of temples containing 18th to 20th Century inscriptions recorded in “Chennai Ma Nagara Kalvettukkal -  சென்னை மாநகர கல்வெட்டுக்கள்”, Published by Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department.


Even though the temple is named Dharma Vinayagar and Dharmaraja temple, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar is given more importance right from Rajagopuram, Vahana, neon signboard, Sanctum sanctorum, mandapam parapet wall (7 sets of stucco images, etc,.)

Presiding Deity  : Sri Dharmaraja.
Consort            : Sri Throwpathi Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are...
The temple faces east with an entrance arch and  stucco Dwarapalakas on both sides, which looks like a mini Rajagopuram. Stucco image of Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar are on the entrance arch and mandapam parapet wall. Peacock vahana, balipeedam, and Dwajasthambam are after the entrance gopuram. Nagar sannidhi is on the left side of the entrance.

In the main shrine, Sri Valli Devasena with Subramaniar is at the center, Krishna, Dharmaraja & Throwpathi Amman are on the left side Shrine and Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar is on the right side shrine. All the three sannidhis are facing east in a straight line from South to North. Inside mandapam has Utsava murthis, Bairavar, Saneeswarar and Suryan. Throwpathi Amman is in a separate sannidhi.

Dharma Vinayagar and Muthalamman are in separate temples, on both sides of the entrance arch facing east.

In Muthalamman Sannidhi, Amman is in a sitting posture. There are 7 Veera Statues, of which 2 are in Navakandam posture. Stucco images of Ashta Lakshmis are on the walls of the mandapam.   

ARCHITECTURE
The total temple was constructed with bricks. Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar sannidhi is with two tala Vesara Vimanam ( stucco images are in the tala and Greeva Kostas ), Shiva’s sannidhi and Dharmaraja’s sannidhis are with eka tala nagara vimana with stucco images of Maha Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhudevi are in Greeva Kostas. Since all the three sannidhis are abutting each other adhistanam and bhitti are not built separately.


HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple may be 100 to 150 years old and reconstructed in recent years. The original temple may be built for Dharmaraja and during reconstruction Shiva and Murugan sannidhis are added. The Place Muthialpet might have obtained its name from this Sri Muthalamman.

Construction of Vimanas for Sri Dharmaraja, Murugan Sannidhi Sri Sundareswarar Sannidhi, and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 3rd May 1995.

Ashta Bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted to Dharma Vinayagar, Dharmaraja, Muthalamman, Throwpathi Amman, Subramaniyar, Ayyappan, and all privara devada’s sannidhis on 09th February 2014.

Installation of Dwajasthambam and Salakara Vimanam Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 05th June 1989.




LEGENDS
There is no particular legend associated with this temple. Going by the name Dharmaraja temple, Krishna, Throwpathi Amman, originally this temple might have been constructed for the Characters of epic Mahabharata. Even though Arjuna is the hero of the epic, Dharmar is the eldest and is known for Dharma. There are many Dharmaraja and Throwpathi Amman temples in Tamil Nadu, where Maha Vishnu devotees are in large numbers. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from Oru kala pooja, special poojas are conducted on Krishna Jayanthi, Thai Poosam, Vinayagar Chathurthi, Dharmar Pattabhishekam, Aadi month festival, etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH
The temple is on Linghi Chetty Street in Seethakadi Nagar on the northern end of George Town.
This temple is very close to Thambu Chetty Street bus stop on Ebrahim Sahib Street, 650 Meters from Royapuram Sub Urban Railway Station, 1.5 KM from Mannady Metro Station, and 3.9 KM from Chennai Central Railway Station.
Nearest Railway Station is Royapuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE




Muthalamman Temple





Navakandam
Navakandam
Ashta Lakshmi
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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