Monday 17 July 2023

Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple / ஶ்ரீ ப்ரஸன்னா வெங்கடேச சீனிவாச பெருமாள் டெம்பிள் / No2, Thoppai Pillai Street, Periyamet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

The Visit to this Sri Prsanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple  was  a part of Temples Visit in Periyamet area on 07th May 2023. This Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple is on Thoppai Street in 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 mandapm. 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 Prsanna 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 of square in shape on a adhisthanam. In Bhitti the pilasters are of brahma kantha pilasters with vettu pothyal. The Koshtas are sala type.  The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus. The nasikudus are with simple carvings of some designs with out 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 has the bas-reliefs of Hanuman, Udayavar, Alwars, etc.

The Udayavar sannidhi   Vimanam is of eka tala nagara style with a sigaram is in the form of amalaka, similar to North Indian architecture. ( The amla tree is the sthala vruksham of this temple, may reminds that ). 



HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the temple was built during 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 side of the images  are written in Telugu language and characters of 17th century C.E. Seems to records the 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 told that, when the original temple ( near the old Moore market ) was in dilapidated condition, a devotee found out the moolavar, shifted and installed in a temple at 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 days 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 opened 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


















--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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