Sri Ponniamman Temple / ஸ்ரீ பொன்னியம்மன் கோயில், ஊரூர் / அடையாறு, Vasantha Press Road, Urur, Besant Nagar ( Adyar ), Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

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

This Ponniamman Temple complex consists of Sri Vallieswarar, a Shiva Temple facing east, A Mariamman Temple facing west, a Maha Vishnu as Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple facing east, and this Sri Ponniamman Temple. Of the above Sri Ponniamman Temple is the oldest. These three temples are in Urur Village, now a part of Besant Nagar & Adyar.

The Presiding Deity  : Sri Ponniamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

This temple is facing North.  Trishul, balipeedam and Simha vahanam are in the mandapam. Usually, Vinayagar and Murugan sannidhis will be at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum, but here the relief of 4 people of which two are male and two are female on the left  ( Probably the Donors ) and Sri Valli Devasena Murugan are on the right side of the sanctum sanctorum entrance. Amman’s various forms are in the koshtas.

Amman is in a sitting posture with Pasa angusam and his lower hands are in abhaya varada hastam.

Donors ...?

Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, an ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The whole temple was reconstructed completely with bricks in recent years. The sanctum sanctorum is on a raised adhistanam and a tier salakara Vimanam is on it.  Stucco images of Amman’s various forms are in the salai and greeva kostas.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This temple was built in 1890 CE. As per the inscription this Kirama Devathai Temple was Constructed by Kirama Mirasudhar Ponnappa Mudaliar, of Thuluva Vellalar Community. The original inscription reads as...

1. ஊறூர்
2. கிறாம தேவதை ஸ்ரீ
3. அகிலாண்டகோடி
4. பிரமாண்ட நாயகி  
5. பொன்னியம்மாள்
6. ஆலய கையிங்கிறிய
7. கூட்டம் ஊறூர் கிறா
8. ம மிராசு துளுவவே
9. ளாள பொன்னப்ப
10. முதலியார் அவர்க
11. ளால் நிரவேரினது
12. 1890 ளூ ஆகஷ்டு மா
13. சத்துக்கு சரியான த
14. மிழ் விக்குருதி ளூ
15. ஆடி மீ 18 உ

Ref

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

LEGENDS

This is a Village Guarding the deity of Urur Village, now a part of ( Adyar ) Besant Nagar and 6 other Villages.  Another Mariamman temple is adjacent to this temple built at a later date.

It is believed that Ponniamman is very powerful and devotees worship for Child boon and removal of marriage obstacles.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Oru kala pooja, special poojas are conducted on Fridays and Aadi month Fridays.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since Oru kala Pooja is conducted the opening and closing times are unpredictable.

CONTACT DETAILS

 

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on Vasantha Press Road in Urur, a part of Adyar, now Besant Nagar, adjacent to “The Theosophical Society” and “Besant Gardens”.

The temple is about 1.4 KM from Adyar Bus Terminal, 2.2 KM from Kasturba MRTS Railway Station, 3 KM from Kotturpuram MRTS, Railway Station, and 9.9 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway Station is Kasturba MRTS Railway Station. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Mariamman Temple with Ponniamman Temple in the background

Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---