19th January 2020.
It was a long wish to explore the congested streets of George Town and Sowcarpet areas of the old black town of Madras City. Many temples were existed before the British came to Madras and many temples constructed during their periods also. One of the temple, which existed before British, is the Bairagi Mutt Thiruvenkadamudiyan Venkatesa Perumal Thirukoil on the General Muthiah Street / NSC Bose Road.
I was little curious to know more about this Bairagi mutt and its connection to this temple. Bairagi is a cult of worship of Vishnu in Vaishnavism. It is believed that Bairagi Cult was started by the Saint Ramananda in 14th Century CE. The 4 Cult of Vaishnavism are Ramanujias, Nimanandi, Vishnu Bairagi and Tyagi Bairagi. Bairagis are still found in North India, in and around Nagpur and Allahabad.
Moolavar : Sri Venkatesa Perumal, Sri Tiruvenkadamaiyan
Thayar : Sri Padmavathy.
Some of the Salient features of this temple are....
The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Deepa Sthamba, Balipedam, Dwajasthambam and Garudan are after the Rajagopuram. There is also a 3 tier Rajagopuram on the south Side. About 8 feet high Moolavar is in standing position like Tirupati Venkatachalapathy. Poojas are done similar to Tirupati. During Utsavam the Lakshmi hara is taken out and put on Utsavar. During that time the worship of moolavar will be stopped.
Sri Ranganathar is in the arthamandpam. Brahma is from his naval and Sridevi and Bhudevi are sitting on this leg side. The Sanctum sanctorum Koshtas are empty. Dwarapalakas Jayan and Vijayan are at the entrance of arthamandapam ( in Mukha mandapam ). On the right side is Thayar Sannadhi is with a mukha mandapam. The Thayar Sannadhi is consists of 3 parts. Thayar Sri Alarmelmangai is at the centre and on the right is Varadharaja Perumal and on the left is the Ramar Sannadhi Ramar, Sita and Lakshmanar are in the sannadhi. Hanuman is in the mandapam opposite to ramar Sannadhi. The processional deity of Thayar is taken out every day on different vahanas in side the praharam. The interesting feature of the processional deity is, She wears a nose ring for which there is a hole on the nose. During Brahmotsavam Thayar will be taken out in procession on a Garudi ( female form of Garuda ) vahana.
In prakaram Andal sannadhi is on the left side of the moolavar sannadhi. In addition to this sannadhis for Manavala mamunikal, Puri Jaganathar, Lakshmi Narasimhar, Patha mandapam and Alwars.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple complex consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, arthamandapam and Mukha mandapam. In addition to this, there are 2 nos of 4 pillar mandapa and a 24 pillar mandapa. Mukha mandapa was constructed like a chariot with Wheels. The 6 nos of Vijayangara style pillars supports the Mukha mandapa. The Pillars has the images of various deities and Horse rider and pulikuthi hero. On the top of the mukha mandapa stucco images of Vishnu’s incarnations.
The Sanctum sanctorum is on a pathabandha adhisthana and only pattikai is visible now. The Sanctum sanctorum was built with stone up to prastharam. Lotus pedals are in the valabi. The Vimana is of 2 tiers with stucco images of Vishnava deities. The temple tank is on the north side of the temple which shares with Bairagi mutt’s other temple, where north Indian does the poojas. Mural paintings of Vishnus various lilas / leelas/ actions are done on the walls of mandapam and prakaram walls.
HISTORY
In British period map this temple was mentioned as Lorraine Pagoda. From the architecture the temple, this temple may be built during 16th to 17th Century CE, Vijayanagara / Nayak period. It is Ramananda who popularized Bairagi Cult in North India. In early 1600’s Lal Das Ji, a Bairagi saint a follower of Ramanuja’s Visistadvaita cult, from Lahore ( presently in Pakistan ) started this mutt. He once cured stomach pain of a Muslim lady, as a token of thanks giving the Muslim lady gave him some gold coins, which he used to expand his mutt and built this Sri Venkatesa Perumal temple. After the saint, this temple is being maintained by Bairagi mutt successors.
From another version Sri Venkatesa Perumal came in one of the Bairagi Saint’s, who was from North India, dream to construct a Temple for him. Initially the locals didn’t believe him and latter they helped to construct this temple.
There are Telegu and a Sanskrit inscriptions found in the temple. Mahasamprokshanam was conducted in 1991 and 2007.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
The land line number +91 44 25382142 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
This temple is on No.1, General Muthiah Street, George Town, Chennai and about 300 meters from Pookadai Police station.
2 KM from MGR Central Railway station.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Paintings on the sanctum walls
Vijayanagara Nayak period Mukha mandapam Yazhi and Horse Pillars
Viajayanagara Nayak period Mukha mandapam like Chariot with wheels
Vijayanagara Nayak period Mandapa Pillars
Bas-reliefs over the inscription
Sri Patha mandapam
Temple tank
Telegu inscription tablet
Telegu inscription tablet
Bairagi mutt temple
Bairagi mutt Anjaneyar temple
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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