Tuesday, 24 September 2024

Sri Pathala Ponniamman Temple / ஸ்ரீபாதாள பொன்னிஅம்மன் கோயில், Purasawalkam, Kilpauk, Chennai. Tamil Nadu.

வாழ்வு ஆனவள் துர்கா வாக்குமானவள்
வானில் நின்றவள் இந்த மண்ணில் வந்தனள்
தாழ்வு அற்றவள் துர்கா தாயுமானவள்
தாபம் நீக்கியே என்னைத் தாங்கும் துர்க்கையே
தேவி துர்க்கையே ஜெய தேவி துர்க்கையே
தேவி துர்க்கையே ஜெய தேவி துர்க்கையே

The Visit to this Sri Pathala Ponniamman Temple was missed during my earlier visit to the Temples in the Choolai area. This temple is also one of the temples built on the banks of the Holy River Cooum. Had the chance to visit this Temple on 25th August 2024, after visiting Sri Nagalingeswarar Temple, a Private Temple on the South side of Poonamallee Road.


Main Deity       : Sri Pathala Ponniamman

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The temple is a little lower than the road level. Sapta Matrikas, and Ashta Lakshmi images are painted on the Mukha mandapam Ceiling. In Sanctum Sanctorum Ponniamman is in a sitting posture holding a Trishul and Akshaya pathra. The lower hands are in abhaya varada hastam. Ponniamman is in in peaceful mood. In koshtams, Dakshina Murthy, Narayani, Brahmi, and Durga. Utsavar are in the antarala. Thulabaram is in the mukha mandapam.

In praharam, Vinayagar, Nagars, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Sapta Annanmars ( holding Shield in the left hand and Knife, Kodari Thandam, Sword, Aruva, Trishul, and Gadha in right hands each). Two Shiva Lingas under the Peepal tree and Navagrahas.

ARCHITECTURE
The whole temple was built with bricks and cement concrete. The Temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. There are three openings to access the ardha mandapam. A two-tier Salakara Vimanam is on the Sanctum Sanctorum. Stucco images of Amman are on the tala and greeva koshtams.



Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniam’s temple vimana was built in Dravida style.

Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar Sannidhi - Dravida Style Vimanam 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the original temple maybe 200 – 300 years old and reconstructed in the 20th century. Sri Pathala Ponniamman was considered a Grama Thevathai Temple ( Village guarding deity Temple ) of Purasaivakkam & Kilpauk.

Maha Kumbhabhishekams was conducted on 30th August 1976, 31st March 1997, 17th March 2008, and 1st May 2017. The 5-Tier Rajagopuram was consecrated during the 2017 Maha Kumbhabhishekam.


LEGENDS
It is believed that the Amman and Utsavar are got while digging a well for irrigation purposes. Amman came on a devotee and said that She stayed for a long time under this Pathala and waiting for the time to Come out. Hence Amman is called Pathala Ponniamman.

It was said that the Aadi month procession would take 6 months to complete, 100 years before, since it has to go to 70 villages around this area. During that time, the procession will start with the offerings from the descendants, who unearthed the idols from Pathala (Well). The Sthala Purana bas reliefs are on the pillars of the mandapam. In addition to this, Shiva Parvati, Dakshinamurthy, Natarajar, Durgai, Hanuman, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Kala Bairavar are also on the pillars.  
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Tuesdays, Amavasya, Pournami, Kiruthigai, Pradosham, Sankadahara Chaturthi, Rahu Kala Pooja, and Sashti, etc.


TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will kept open between 06.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The landline number +91 4426612161 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
The temple is on Barnaby Road, in Kilpauk.
The temple is about 1.4 KM from Kilpauk Metro Station, 2 KM from Nehru Park Metro Station, 1.5 KM from Chetpet Sub Urban Railway Station, 7 KM from Koyambedu Bus Terminus, and 4 KM from Chennai Central Railway Station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE



--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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