The
Visit to this Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple was a
part of the Temple visit in the Periyamet area on 07th May 2023. This
Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple is on Thoppai Street in the Periyamet area, a
part of Chennai City. This temple is also called as Udayavar ( Sri Ramanujar )
Temple.
Udayavar Sannidhi
Moolavar : Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal
Consort : Sri Alarmel Mangai Thayar
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple is facing east with an entrance arch from North. Stucco images of Sri
Alarmel Mangai Thayar, Sri Venkatesa Perumal, and Andal are on the top of the
entrance arch. Deepa Sthambam, Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Periya Thiruvadi
Garudan are in front of the temple. Stucco images of Ramanujar, Maha Lakshmi, Venkatesa Perumal, and Andal are
on the top of the Mukha mandapam. In the mukha mandapam, sannidhi for Sri Rama,
Sita and Lakshmana and Sri Udayavar ie Sri Ramanujar.
The
Dwarapalakas Jayan and Vijayan are at
the entrance of Maha mandapam.Adhi Moolavar is small ( facing downwards ) and Alwars are in the maha
mandapam. Moolavar is Sri Prasanna
Venkatesa Perumal in the sanctum sanctorum is about 6 feet tall. In Koshtam
only Vinayagar as Thumbikai alwar.
In
the outer praharam Anjaneyar ( in front of Sri Ramar Sannidhi ), Chakkarathalwar
with Yoga Narasimhar, Sri Alarmel Mangai Thayar, Andal, Thulasi madam and
sthala vruksha Nelli tree / Amla Tree, Madappalli and ThirukKalyana
mandapam.
Garudan
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The
Sanctum Sanctorum is square in shape on an adhistanam. In Bhitti the
pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with vettu pothyal. The Koshtas are
sala type. The prastaram consists of valapi,
kapotam with nasikudus. The nasi kudus are simple carvings of some designs
without any images. A three tier dravida Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.
Stucco images of Maha Vishnu’s 10 avatars are on the Vimanam tala and Greeva
koshtams. The Mandapa pillars have the bas-reliefs of Hanuman, Udayavar, Alwars,
etc.
The
Udayavar sannidhi Vimanam is of eka
tala nagara style with a sigaram in the form of amalaka, similar to North
Indian architecture. ( The amla tree is the sthala vruksha of this temple,
may remember that ).
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
It
is believed that the temple was built during the Pallava period, 1012 CE and there
is no inscription evidence to prove the same.
As
per the article written by Sudha Umashankar in Dinamani, The temple was
constructed in 1012 CE, through the effort of Thumthubi, Namasammacharam Sri Chennaiya
Chettiar, and His wife Lakshmi Devi. This
temple is figured as one of the Heritage Buildings List, prepared by Justice
Padmanaban.
The
inscriptions on both sides of the images are written in Telugu language and characters of 17th century C.E. Seems
to record some services made by Lakshmidēvi, wife of Narusasetti, son of
Rāmisetti and grandson of Jīvisetti of Chāmalai.
LEGENDS
It
is believed that Udayavar Sri Ramanujar ( 1017- 1137 CE ) came to this temple,
stayed for some days, and worshipped Venkatesa Permal of this temple.
It
is said that, when the original temple ( near the old Moore market ) was in
dilapidated condition, a devotee found the Moolavar, shifted and installed it in a temple in Mumbai. A small Vigraha was installed and the same was removed
and kept along with Alwars since the Moolavar was facing down. The present Moolavar is the Third one.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas are conducted as per Thenkalai, and special poojas like
Poolangi seva, Maha Vishnu with Alarmel Mangai Thayar Thirukkalyanam, a 10-day
Brahmotsavam used to start, on when Brahmotsavam ends at Tirupati, Vaikunta
Ekadasi, Rapaththu and Pakal Paththu in the month Margazhi.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 11 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00
hrs. On Sundays, the temple will be opened around 10.00 hrs.
HOW TO REACH
The
temple is on the Thoppai ( Pillai ) street in Periyamet, near Jawaharlal Nehru
Stadium and Chennai Corporation.
The
temple is about 500 Meters from Chennai Corporation building and 800 Meters
from Chennai Central Railway station.
The
nearest Railway Station is the Chennai Central Railway Station.
THE LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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