VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Jagannath Shrine / Sri Jagannath Temple /ஸ்ரீ ஜகந்நாதர் கோயில், Reddikuppam, Kanathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Saturday, 5 August 2023

Jagannath Shrine / Sri Jagannath Temple /ஸ்ரீ ஜகந்நாதர் கோயில், Reddikuppam, Kanathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Jagannath Temple at Kanathur was a Part of not popular temples of Chennai South Visit on 27^th November 2022. This temple is at Reddikuppam, a Part of Kanthur on ECR Road.

The temple is also called “Dakshinakshetra”. Apart from regular poojas, “Sri Jagannath Spiritual Educational Cultural Trust”, organizes Annadhanam, Periodic medical Camps, Satsang, and Cultural programs.

Presiding Deities : Sri Jaganath, Sri Devi Subhadra and Sri Balabadra/ Baladeva.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a stone lamp ( Deepa Sthambam ) in front. The main temple is at an elevated level with 21 ( 22 ) steps to climb up. The Dwarapalakas / Door Guardians, Jayan & Vijayan are on both sides of the Maha mandapam. In sanctum Sanctorum Moolavar Jaganath is with Devi Subadra and Sri Balabadra. In Kostam Varaha Murti, Narasimha / bijaya.

In praharam, Kasi Viswanath Shiva temple with Karthikeya, Vinayagar, Brahma, Ashtadikpalakas as kosta murtis, Vahana mandapa kalpataru / Combination of Neem Tree, Banyan Tree and Peepal Tree ie, Elephant, Garudan, Swan, Lion, Moonjuru, Eagle are under peepal tree, Vinayagar, Buddha, Ma Vimala, Maha Lakshmi, Navagrahas in a single row, Yajna mandapa and Bhaktha Hanuman.

There is also another shrine for Yajna Nursingha below the main sanctum sanctorum. The mandapam is painted with 12 rasis, Dasha dik palakas, Ramayan and Mahabharat stories.

Koshtams - Varahar - Narasimhar - Thiruvikrama Perumal

Door Guardians on both sides

ARCHITECTURE

The steps are being donated by the devotees, mainly from North India, whose names are on brass plates fixed on each step.

The stone lamp has the bas relief of Nagaraj coiled around the lamp The base has the bas reliefs of Vinayagar, Maha Vishnu’s various avatars, Vahanas of that avatars. The Stone lamp / Deepa Sthamba is resting on a Tortoise.

The Ground floor mandapa and the Ardha / Maha Madapam in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum, ceilings are painted with Maha Vishnu’s 10 incarnations, Dasha Digpalas Yantra.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This Jagannath temple is being maintained and managed by the “Sri Jagannath Spiritual Educational Cultural Trust”. The temple was built and consecrated on 26^th January 2001. The required granite stones are sourced from Mahabalipuram and the marble is from Rajasthan.

The Rath is made of Stainless steel and decorated with wood and cloth, measured to be about 16 feet tall with the help of IIT Madras and Ashok Leyland personnel.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Poojas and rituals ( 12 Rituals are carried out, similar to the rituals followed at Puri Jagannath Temple, Odisha / Orissa, and the priests are also from Orissa. The flowers used for worship are from the inside garden only.

"Dwarphita & mangal arati " AT 5.30 A.M. (Opening of the door and morning prayer),

"Mailam" AT 6 A.M.

"Abakash" - 6 A.M. TO 6.30 A.M.

"Mailam" and Pravatha Puja 6.45 A.M to 8.00 A.M.

Rosha homa, Surya puja, and Dwarapal puja- 8 A.M. to 8.30 A.M.

Gopala ballava puja - 9 A.M. (Breakfast of the God)

Madhyanha dhupa (morning lunch offering) 12.30 A.M.

Madhyanha pahudha 1 P.M. to 3.30 P.M.

Sandhya arati

Sandhya Dhupa - 6.30 P.M. to 7 P.M.

Mailam and chandana lagi

Badasinghar Vesha