Saturday, 9 December 2023

Sri Kannathamman Temple / அருள்மிகு ஸ்ரீ தேவி கண்ணாத்தம்மன் திருக்கோயில், Ambattur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kannathamman  Temple at Ambattur was a part of the “Lesser Known Vishnu, Shiva, Amman Temples of Chennai Visit” on 23rd October 2022. Most of the temples were reconstructed during recent years, and some retain their original structure. All these temples have a long history of Pallava, Chozha, and Vijayanagar.



The presiding deity: Sri Kannathamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east, with a temple tank in front. The entrance arches are on the east and north sides. 3 Trishuls, balipeedam and Amman’s vahanam Simham are in the mandapam. The presiding deity, Sri Kannathamman, is a little below ground level.

Sri Kannathamman is in sitting posture with left leg folded and right leg hanging. Amman is with 4 hands, holding pasa angusam in the upper hands and lower hands in abhaya varada hastam.  There are no images in the Kostas.  In Praharam,  Nagars and Kanniamars.


ARCHITECTURE
The temple is in a large area, leaving a lot of open space around the temple. The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum with two mandapas. The entrances to the sanctum are narrow, and the height is very low. The entrance arch has the bas-relief of Vinayagar, Kannathamman, and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar.  The sanctum was built in the Gramiya style. Ardha Mandapam is supported by two Vrudha pillars and vettu pothyal.



HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple may belong to the 13th Century, and the present structure is about 100 to 150 years old. This is a Village guarding deity for 7 Villages. Mr. Vadivelu, who is looking after this temple, is the 4th Generation. The Sanctum Sanctorum was built by his great-grandfather, the inner mandapam was built during his grandfather’s period, and the next mandapam was built by his father. The Mukha mandapam, arches, and other facilities were added by him.   

LEGENDS
As per the legend during the 13th Century, a Pandya King came to the north part of Tamil Nadu to capture Thondai mandalam, which was under the control of Latter Pallavas. They stayed in many places, establishing the Padai Veedu. In the soldiers, a group belongs to Nattarasankottai. They used to carry a handful of mud taken from their Kula Deivam Kannathamman Temple, believing that their Kula Deivam would also travel with them and guard them. During that time, this place was full of etti trees. They built a small temple with mud and worshiped Kannathamman. Also, they excavated a Temple tank in front of the temple. After the Pandya King returned to Madurai, the Nattarasankottai group settled here in 7 Villages around the temple and mingled with the local people. The 7 Villages are Mangalapuram, Veelalar Street ( Vinnavaraya Perumal Temple area ), Kuppam, Ramapuram, Varadharajapuram, Kalyanapuram, Venkatapuram and Chozhapuram.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays in Thai and Aadi months. The annual festival will be conducted during Chithirai, after Pournami. The 7 Villagers used to offer Pongal prepared at the temple before starting any mangala functions in their homes.

The Utsavar or the procession deity will be taken to all 7 Villages around this temple, staying two days in each place and coming back after 14 days.

2012 Celebration -Procession deity 

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
Mr Vadivelu, who is looking after the temple and priest, may be contacted on his mobile number +919840061827 for further details.

HOW TO REACH
The temple is 100 meters off from Madras Thiruvallur High Road, 100 meters from Dunlop Factory bus stop, 1.8 km from Ambattur O T Bus terminus, 2.5 km from Ambattur Industrial Bus Depot, 10.4 km from Koyambedu Bus Terminal, and 16 km from Chennai Central Railway Station.
The nearest Railway Station is Ambattur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE







--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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