Sri Chenna Malleeswarar Temple and Sri Kesava Perumal Temple
The temple is located between DevarajaMudali street on the east, NSC Bose Road on the North, Nainiappa Naicken street on the west and Rasappa Chetty street on the South.
This is one of the three temples that were popular even before the arrival of the British. This Shiva-Vaishnav twin temple was initially located near St George fort but the British demolished it to expand their army. Due to the public outcry, the temple was then shifted to the Devaraja Mudali street. In the process, the Vigraha of this Perumal temple got mixed up with the 4 idols of the Thiruneermalai Perumal temple and the idol of Thiruneermalai temple was brought here by a mistaken identity but remains here since then. There will always be a good fragrance of jasmine at the Malleeswarar temple. All the 63 Nayanmars are present in a separate shrine.
Sri Kandaswamy Temple or Kandakottam Sri Muthukumara Swamy Temple
This temple is located at the Rasappa Chetty Street.
When Mari Chettiar and Kandappa Achari were going to Thirupporur Murugan temple by walk, they rested at a place and a dream came to both of them simultaneously that there is a Murugan idol below the earth there. The idol was unearthed, brought here and a temple was built during 1670s. The main deity here is Thirupporur Kandaswamy and the Urchava idol is Muthukumara Swamy. Inside the temple, the ‘Saravana Poihai’ temple tank is present and surprisingly the water is at the same level as when the temple was built many hundred years ago, in spite of being located in the city’s densest commercial place.
Sri Ekambareswarar Temple
This 500 year old temple is located at the Thangasalai street (Mint street), Parktown and is one of the three temples that were popular even before the arrival of the British. A big, beautiful and well maintained temple with a temple tank (with water as well). In almost all the (ancient) temple tanks in this area, it is quite heartening to see water in spite of being in the densest commercial place. JJ’s water harvesting has paid off??.
The temple is considered equivalent to Kanchi Ekambareswarar temple, one of Pancha bootha sthalangal representing land. Lingams of all the other Panchabootha sthalams (Kalahasthi, Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvanaikaval and Chidambaram) and all the 63 Nayanmars are also present. There are 300 years old Ashwatha Tree and Kallala tree and there is a lingam shrine under the Ashwatha tree, the speciality of which being that people can do pooja to the lingam themselves. In a single sculpture, Panchamuha Vinayahar is on one side and Murugar is on the other side with a five headed Snake. The Navagraha shrine here is considered one of the most sacred shrines in the city.
Pancha Bootha Sthalams:
There are Pancha boodha sthalam equivalents in Chennai at the heart of the city which are considered very powerful and they are:
1) Kalahasthi temple at Pavalakara (Coral Merchant) street, near Mallikeswarar temple, Mannady representing Air
2) Arunachaleswara temple near Lakshmi Amman Koil stop in Thiruvotriyur bus route representing Fire. There is one more Arunachaleswarar temple at the end of Palliappan street (George town).
3) Gangadareswarar Temple, Purasawalkam representing Water
4) Chidambaranatha (Nataraja) temple near Choolai Post office representing Sky and
5) Ekambareswara Koil at Mint representing Earth
Chinnakadai Sri Mariamman or Renuka Parameswari Temple
Located at the NSC Bose road in the Mint street junction at Sowcarpet, the highlights of this tiny temple being:
•More than 200 years old, artistically done temple
•In the sanctum sanctorum, the goddess is present in two forms – as Seethala Devi in full human form and as Renuka Parameswari with her whole body below the earth and only the head above the earth.
•Kasi Viswanathar in linga form along with Kasi Visalakshi is also present
•Camphor burns always in front of the temple – It is believed that the Goddess gives dharshan in the form of light (deepam). It is believed that lighting camphor in front of the temple for Rs 5.25 during the Brahma Muhurtham (4:30 AM to 5:30 AM) will get one’s wish fulfilled within 11 days.
•The steps to the ambal shrine are very powerful since the Goddess was initially present here and later shifted backwards to accommodate more crowd.
•During Fridays, the temple will be kept open till 12 midnight
•Worshipped by Vallalar and Vivekanandhar
•Hanging a garland of a lemon with 7 green chillies at house entrance after the pooja here will remove all the dhrishties and bad vibrations.
Bairahi Madam Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple
This beautiful and cleanly maintained temple is located at the NSC Bose road, near the Waltax road and Kumarakottam. Thirupathi Venkatesa perumal appeared in the dream of a devotee to build a temple here so that he can be present here for him in order to avoid the difficulty of coming all the way to Thirupathi. It will be surprising for the South Indians to see the Perumal in a strange (but beautiful) dressing . The highlight of the temple being that three important Perumals – Sriranganathar, Venkatesa Perumal and Kanchi Varadharaja Perumal – are all present here. Also Lakshmi Narasimhar, Puri Jagannathar, Kannabiran and Varahamoorthy are present. Here also a clean temple tank with water as well (in the month of Jan).
Kumarakottam Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple
Located at the NSC Bose Road, the Subramanyar here was worshipped by Sage Agasthiar. Though this is a Murugan temple, Lord Shiva as Arunachaleswarar with Abitha Kuchalambal and Sarabeswarar are also present. The Rahuhala (4:30 PM to 6:00PM) Sarabeswara Pooja during every Sunday is very special here.
Sri Venugopala Krishna Swamy Temple
Located at Pavalakara Street, Muthialupet, 1 km north of Broadway bus stand, this is a many hundred years old temple and is the only ancient Krishnan temple within Chennai city. Srinivasa Perumal and Ramar shrines are also present. Thirumazhisai Azhwar stayed here for many years and has done Mangalasasanam.
Sri Marahathambal Sametha Sri Mallikeswarar Temple
Located at the Lingi Chetty Street of Seethakathi Nagar, the temple is 700 years old. Once this temple was completely buried under the ground and the temple Kalasam just showed up during a digging. On further digging, the complete temple came into light and now the temple is present 2 meters below the ground level. When the temple was uncovered, fresh jasmine flowers were found on the Shivalingam and so the deity is called Mallikeswarar. Goddess is considered to bless devotees with boons. The temple Gopuram is very artistic and attracts foreigners. All the Navagrahas are present with their respective vahanas. Aswametha and Neem tree are grown together as a single tree. During the first Sunday of Chithirai month, 63 Nayanmars festival is being conducted in a big way, during which many Thevara groups sing Thevarams together as in the famous Thyagaraja Aradhanai at Thiruvaiyaru.
Sri Kalikambal Temple
The temple is located at Thambu Chetty Street. Chennai city was once called Chennamman Kuppam in the name of Goddess Chennaman and later Chenna pattinam. The Kali of the erstwhile Chennamman Kuppam is today’s Kalikambal. The temple was once located inside the St George fort and later shifted here during the British regime. The temple has the sanctity of the two Pancha bootha Sthalams – Kanchipuram and Thiruvannamalai.
At the foot of the Goddess is present the Arthameru installed by Aadhi Shankarar. Kamadeswarar is present in a separate shrine. Many sages Vyasar, Parasar, Agasthiar, Ankiresar, Pulasthiar and Varunan and Celestial Gods Indhran, Guberan and Viwaakarma worshipped Kalikambal. It is said that Guberan got all his wealth only after worshipping Kalikambal here
Chathrabathi Sivaji worshipped Kalikambal in 1677. Bharathiar used to worship Kalikambal while working in Suthesamithran magazine and his verse ‘Yathumahi Ninral Kali’ was sung on Kalikambal only. The famous TMS’s song ‘Ullam Uruhuthaiya’ was sung for the first time here only, in 1952 by Sri Andavan Pichai.
Sri Kachaleeswarar Temple
The temple was built in 1720s and is located at Aranmanaikaran street. Thalavai Chettiar used to go to Kancheepuram to worship the Kachabeswarar there and on one such trip, he was held up due to heavy rain. But on return, he found all his works were completed properly and so he built this temple. The main deity is Shivalingam present on a 5 tier base, the bottom most being Mahavishnu as Tortoise (Kachabam). Mahavishnu worshipped Shiva in the form of Tortoise during the churning of Parkadal (Milky Ocean). Behind the lingam is present the Sadhasivam idol – Shiva with five heads in human form (make sure you have a dharshan of Him by requesting a Deepa Aradhanai since He is not visible normally). The Somaskanda moorthy here is said to as sacred as that of Thiruvannamalai. Polla pillaiyar, created without using sharp tools, is seen here. 63 Nayanmars are present in a beautiful exclusive mandapam.
Sri Vasavi Kanniha Parameswari Temple
Located at the Aadhiappa Naickan street this temple has a rich legend. The legend has it that along with Kanniha Parameswari, Vaisya couples from 102 Gothrams took firebath and attained salvation. The names of these 102 couples have been inscribed in the temple. Vasavi Kanniha Parameswari’s janma sthalam is Benukonda which is about 400 kms from Chennai but one can worship the same Goddess here at Chennai.
Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple
This 200 years old temple is present in the George Town Mint street.
Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple
This 250 years old temple is present in the George Town Palliappan street.
Sri Kalatheeswarar Temple at Mannady
This temple is located near Mallikeswarar Temple at Pavalakara (Coral merchant) street.
Sri Angallamman Temple at Choolai
This is a very popular, ancient and very big temple. There is a big temple tank as well. The Goddess is very powerful and people throng the temple on auspicious occasions and during mid-night poojas on Amavasai. Recently the temple is given a new look with the constructions of Gopuram.
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