Sri Dharmaraja Koil / Draupadi Amman Temple, Saidapet East, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

 06^th November 2016.

When I searched google map for the temples is  Saidapet East area along the banks of river Adyar, I came across this Dharmaraja Koil. Until  I had seen the temple I could not come to a conclusion, who is the deity. Yes the presiding deity is Draupadi Amman  and stucco images of Pancha Pandavas with Panchali ( Draupadi ) are in the mandapam connected to the epic Mahabharat.  Even though Draupadi Amman is the main deity the temple and the street are called in the name of Dharmar.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was claimed that the temple is more than 300-400 years old. Annual festival of uriyadi is conducted in a grand manner. The Arutjothi Vinayagar Sannidhi at the entrance was added in the latter period.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

There is no fixed time for the temple pooja and an old lady takes care of the temple.

HOW TO REACH:

About a KM from Saidapet bus terminus and the temple is on the Dharmaraja Koil Street.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

1951 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Kottur / Kotturpuram, Zamin Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

 01^st November 2016.

This temple’s visit was planned on 6^th November 2016. After seeing the clear sky with sun shine thought of visiting Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple at Kottur, otherwise called a varaha kshetram.  This Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple is on the banks of river  Adyar at Kottur in Zamin Adyar, Chennai. The place Kottur was called as Kottu - Idai - Konda - oor and later turned to Kottur.  In Sanskrit Kottur is also called as Rekhapuri.  The temple is on an elevated place, hence 2015 flood water didn’t entered in the temple area. 

Moolavar : Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Alarmelu mangai

Some of the important details are....

The temple is facing east  with Anjaneyar  sannadhi on the opposite side of the road. At the gate ( inside wall ) Nagar and Gajamukar. In the outer prakaram Sannadhi for Chakkarathalwar & Sudarshana Narasimhar in a single stone ( similar to Sriperumbudur temple ), Sri Venugopalaswamy  and Navagrahas. ( Navagraha sannidhi in Perumal temple is rare since,  Navagrahas will be kept ( avahanam ) at the base of the moolavar. The Navagraha shrine was built in the year 1972. On the right side of Sanctum,  Mandapam for vahanas.

Opposite to Sanctum entrance Garudalwar, balipeedam and a Garuda thoon.

The sanctum sanctorum  comprises of Sanctum and Artha mandapam. In Artha mandapam Sannadhi for Sri Alarmel mangai Thayar, Andal and Alwars. We could spot old pillars  supports the artha mandapam. It was told that Sri Venugopala Swamy  was found in the river Adyar, brought by the fishermen. Latter moolavar  with sannadhi was built.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

During 1971-72, archaeological Department  personnel inspected and estimated the age of the temple might be 970 Years. There is an inscription  in grantha  on the mandapam wall, which was not disturbed during renovation.

As per Battar Moolavar and Anjaneyar moorthams are very old. Those who could not go to Tirupathi, they can offer / pray to this  Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal at Kottur and get similar blessing. And also Perumal will appear before the devotees depends on their Karma, hence called Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal.  Also It was told that Perumal will only decide  to whom he has to give darshan on that day.

 The 16th to 17th Century inscription is in Tamil but the Battar claims that it is in grantham. 

 The Navagraha shrine was built in the year 1972- as per the inscription tablet on the wall

 The inscription of Alwars installation during the year 1978

 This inscription is about the sannadhi for Nagar and Gajamugar ( Vinayagar ) constructed during 1968

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple will be opened between 08.00 Hrs to 11.00 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Battar Sri Srinivasan may be contacted for further details  through his mobile 9381007641.

The Thiruvanmiyur office phone numbers are +914424410477 and 9841328712

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 500 meters from Kotturpuram MRTS Railway station and frequent buses are available  on Gandhi mandapam road and the temple is about 2 KM from Kotturpuram bus stop ( AMM School)

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Sri Chakkarathalwar  & Sri Sudharsana Narasimhar Sannidhi. 

  Chakkarathalwar on east side  

 Sri Sudarsana Narasimhar on the west side 

 Venugopala Swamy  - fishermen brought from Adyar River 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

The Garden of Remembrance, Theosophical Society, Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu,

22^nd October 2016

The Theosophical Society remembers it’s  Founders, Presidents and Vice Presidents  &  it’s un-known members by erecting their statues in side the  Head quarters premises and creating a Garden of remembrance.  Colonel H S Olcott’s statute of  both life size and Burst size statues are erected at Headquarters building and in front of The Adyar Library. Blavatsky and colonel H S Olcott’s statute are in the Headquarters hall. The vice president S Subramania Iyer’s statue is also erected in front of Head quarters building.

H S Olcott, Anne Besant and N SriRam are cremated here and Lead Beater’s ash is also kept in the Garden of remembrance. The Garden of remembrance was constructed in the form of TS emblem  an interlocked triangles forming a star with lotus ponds to remember 125 years of past Presidents.

In addition to this H S Olcott was fondly remembered outside T S premises too, by keeping his name to a School, a residential colony ( Olcott Kuppam ) created for the fishermen in Besant Nagar for his remarkable service to the Community. 

 N Sriram was cremated here

 H S Olcott- the place where the body was given back to elements by fire 

Blavatsky and H S Olcott

 In memory of its unknown members 

 In memory of its un-known members 

 S Subramania Iyer – a past Vice President, Vice chancellor of Madras University and Judge of madras High Court.

--- THE GOD's WISDOM ---

Sri Ponniamman Koil, Kottur / Kotturpuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

 30^th October 2016

The presiding deity is Sri Ponniamman. 

The temple is estimated to be of 500 years old.  This temple is located on Ponniamman Koil street about 250 meters distance from Kotturpuram Signal in Avvai Nagar part of Kottur in Jamin Adyar jurisdiction, on the banks of River Adyar. The temple was built to protect the Village from Adyar river flood. During mid 17th century, the Kottur came under the control of Arcot Nawab and a Zamindar was appointed to Collect Taxes. Hence Adyar was called as Zamin Adyar. During this period the temple was reconstructed from mud walls and thatched roof to Brick walls and dome type roof ( similar to muslim mosques ). From 1937 the temple is being maintained by Nagalla Rajamannar's family. For further reading on the history Click here.

Sri  Ellai Amman temple is about 200 meters distance from Sri Ponni Amman Temple.During 1940’s the Gandhi Mandapam road  and Kotturpuram Bridge across the river are not there.  The Nawab Bungalow was bought and the present Adyar House was constructed by the founder Chairman of M/s SPIC Limited. The remains of the Nawab bungalow was converted to garden in side the Adyar House. It was told that there was a Lake with Nawab’s horse stables exists in the present area. Now a street with Lake view Street reminds that there was a lake in Kottur.

HISTORY 

The TNSC tenements ( Kotturpuram )  and  the bridge was constructed  during DMK’s rule ( 1960- 70 ). The Kottur, Kottur Gardens and KotturPuram are now called as Kotturpuram. The singer MS Subbulakshmi and T K Pattammal lived in Kottur Garden and Ms Nithya Sri, the Carnatic musician now lives at Kottur Gardens.

The temple was renovated during recent years and entrance was shifted from south side to East side. The temple is facing North with a neem tree at the entrance. The temple is small with out any sub shrines. It was  strongly believed that Sri Ponni Amman will remove all hurdles and there is no other deity's shrines are required.  Soolam, Vahanam and palipedam are at front. During Adi month festival and Fridays devotees will throng in this temple to get the blessings of Sri Ponni Amman. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 10.30 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Temple address Sri Ponni Amman, Ponniamman Koil Street, Kottur, Chennai 60085.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is on the Ponniamman Koil  Street and is about 250 meters from KotturPuram Signal.  Lot of Town buses are available from various parts of the city. 

About a KM distance from Kotturpuram MRTS station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Ellaiamman Koil, Kottur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. - ON THE BANKS OF RIVER ADYAR

 30^th October 2016

The presiding deity is Sri Ellaiamman. The temple was built on the middle of the road in Kottur ( the roads on both sides may be formed at a latter stage) at an elevated level, on the banks of river Adyar.  Ellai ( எல்லை) means the end point of the Village periphery in Tamil. Sri Ellai Amman temple was once the end point of Kottur and due to urbanization it has become the centre point of Kotturpuram. Still we could spot some of the houses with handmade tiled roofs.  During 1940’s the Gandhi Mandapam road  and Kotturpuram Bridge across the river are not there. From mid 17th century, the Kottur Land was belonged to Arcot Nawab and portion of the land was bought by Dr MA Chidambaram, the founder Chairman of M/s SPIC Limited. The Nawab Bungalow was demolished and the present Adyar House was constructed. It was told that there was a lake with Nawab’s horse stables exists in the present  Kottur Garden area, where the Ponni Amman Temple exists. Now the lake view street reminds that there was a lake in that area.

The Tamil Nadu Housing Board tenements ( Kotturpuram )  and  the bridge was constructed  during DMK’s rule ( 1960 – 70 ). The Kottur, Kottur Garden and Kottur puram are now called as Kotturpuram. The carnatic music singers MS Subbulakshmi and  Nithya Sri are from Kottur Gardens. The temple was renovated recently and Kumbhabhishekam was also performed recently.  During Adi months festival will be celebrated and during Fridays it will be difficult to pass through the temple due to crowd at the temple.  The temple is estimated to be of 400 years old.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 Hrs to 10.30 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Temple address Sri Ellaiamman, Ellaiamman Koil Street, Kottur, Chennai 60085.

The Poojari Mr Swaminathan may be contacted on his mobile +919444498118

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is on the ends  meeting point of Ponniamman Koil Street and Ellaiamman Koil street and is about 500 meters from KotturPuram Signal.  Lot of Town buses are available from various parts of the city. 

About a KM distance from Kottur MRTS railway station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---