The visit to this Sri Kalahastheeswarar Temple Coral Merchant Street, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, George Town, was a part of “Shiva and Amman Temples Visit”, in Park Town and George Town areas, on 22nd March 2015. Many Shiva and Amman temples are spread in these areas. Some of the temples are 500 years old and has a long history. Thanks to the donors, who donated the land, properties and money for constructing these temples and ensuring continuous poojas.
During my first visit & Uzhavaram to this temple, the temple was under renovation, so I could not take good photos. The place was in a mesh due to construction activities. This temple is squeezed between concrete buildings.
Moolavar : Sri Kalahastheeswarar
Consort : Sri Prasunannambigai/ Sri Gnanaprasunnambigai.
Some of the salient features of this temple are....
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco dwarapalakas are in front of Sanctum sanctorum. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai.
Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing east. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
In praharam Suriyan, Chandran, Nalvar, Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar, Nagars, A Shiva lingam with Ambal, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Hanuman, Ayyappan, Naga Devadas ( Pathanchali & Vyaghrapada ), Bairavar and Navagrahas.
ARCHITECTURE
The main temple consists of sanctum sanctorum and ardha mandapam. The temple was reconstructed completely and the inscription tablet is missing now. From adhistanam to prastaram built with stone. A two tier dravida Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum.
Stucco images of Ambal, Kannappar puranam, Ekapada thirumurthy, Kalahasti Kalahasteeswara Temple sthala puranam, Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar Sthala puranam, Kalahasti Shiva Lingam are on the side walls of mandapam and praharam.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Happened to see an inscription on the south side wall of sanctum Sanctorum, dated 21-1-1926 by Naga Siva Chidambaram Chettiar's son of Subbaraya Chettiar about the donation of a house and a go-down given to the temple for conducting the functions from the income after deducting the tax to be paid to Government and maintenance charges. During my second Visit this inscription is not found.
Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 23rd January 1984, 08th July 2001 and 06th July 2022.
LEGENDS
This Kalahastheeswaraar temple is one of the Pancha Bootha sthalams of Chennai. Sri Kalahasti is the name derived from SRI = Spider, KALA = Serpent ( Snake) and Hasti = Elephant. It is believed that all the three worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and attained mukti. The story goes like this.. The Spider weaved a shade to avoid leaves falling on Lord Shiva. This was destroyed by wind with fire and Lord Shiva gave mukthi to Spider. The snake used to worship Lord Shiva by offering precious gems which it brought from its naga land. This was cleaned and worshiped by the elephant with water which it brought water through it’s trunk from the river. On seeing this, the snake got angry and went inside the trunk and killed the elephant through bite and injected it’s poison. The elephant hits it’s head on the rock to killed the snake and died. Lord Shiva gave mukti to both snake and elephant for their devotion and bhakti. Hence Shri Shiva is called as Sri Kalahastheeswarar.
It is believed that this temple is very much similar to Kalahasti Sri Kalahastheeswarar temple and those who cannot go to Kalahasti, can offer their prayers at this temple. Ambal is very powerful and a varaprasadhi, grants child boon.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Panguni uthiram, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Navaratri, Sankatahara Chaturthi, New year days etc,.
Navaratri 2002 Kozhu
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The temple is on 155/ 50 – Pavalakara Street ( Coral merchant Street), Chennai -1 Mannady area. North end of the street.
On town bus routes Ibrahim Sahib Road Get down at Thambu Chetty Street and Pavalakara street is very near. ( 6D, 8B, 11 a, 38 A,G ,H,S, 44, 56B, 57D etc,. ).
Nearest railway station is Rayapuram / Royapuram, and 4.2 KM from Chennai Central.
The old Photographs of the temple before Renovation
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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