There are many temples within Chennai City, which are not very popular, but they have more than hundred years of history. The available inscriptions are recorded by the Tamil Nadu archaeological Department. So decided to visit these temples also. As per the inscription this temple was called as Mariamman temple at Pazhavanthangal, a part of Alandur.
The presiding deity : Sri Thulukkanathamman
Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch and a two tier Rajagopuram. Sapta Mathas stucco images are on the parapet wall of the mukha mandapam. An arasamaram is in-front of the temple with Nagars. Trishul, Balipeedam and Simham are in the mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakis are in the mukha mandapam. Stucco image of Gajalakshmi is on the top of ardha mandapam entrance. Amman’s various forms like Bhadrakali, Durgai are in the kostam. Moolavar Amman is in sitting posture with jwala makuda, holding Soolam and Damaru in upper hands and holding Sword and kapalam in the lower hands.
Vinayagar and Murugan sannidhis are on both sides of the sanctum sanctorum. Utsavars Thulukanathamman, Karumariamman are in the ardha mandapam.
ARCHITECTURE
A mini Rajagopuram with stucco image of Thulukanathamman is on the top of the mukha mandapam entrance. Stucco image of purana of Vinayagar getting mango from Shiva in Kailash, and Shiva with Parvati, Valli Devasena Murugan, Avvaiyar and Agasthiyar are on the other side of the mukha mandapam.
The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and a open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on the pada bandha adhistanam. The temple was constructed with bricks. A three tier vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum ( a different from the salakara Vimanam in Amman Temples ), Stucco images of Amman is on the Vimana thalas and greeva Kostas.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The inscription was recorded in the Chennai Managar Kalvettukkal – சென்னை மாநகர கல்வெட்டுக்கள், published by the Tamil Nadu Archaeological department. The Original inscription consists of two parts. The upper portion is in English and lower portion is in Tamil. The inscription records that this temple was constructed by Major General Commissionaire W Morrison’s Butler, Thanappan’s son Santhiappan. As per the inscription the name of the deity was called as “Mariamman” and when the same was changed as Thulukanathamman is not known. Since the old idol which was hit by the horse’s hooves, a temple might have been existed on the spot before constructing the temple by Santhiappan. It is to be noted that this Hindu temple was also called as “Church”, as per the inscription. The original inscription reads as….
- THIS IS TO NOTICE EVERY ONE
- THAT THIS CHURCH OF MAURYAMA
- WAS BUILT BY THE SON OF
- PARINAMALAY TANAPPAN NAMELY
- SUNDYAPPEN BUTLER TO MAJOR Wm MORRISON
- COMMISSARY GENERAL
- TURO’ THE GENEROUS ASSISTANCE OF THAT GENTLEMAN
- 1st SEPTEMBER 1810
- பிறமாதூத வறுஷம் ஆவணி மீ ௰௬ உ. சகலமா(ன)
- பேருக்கும் அறியப்படுத்துகுற தென்னவென்றால் (யி)
- (ந்)த மாரியம்மன் கோவிலை பரங்கிமலையிருக்குற
- ………………………………………………………… …………… தானப்பன் கூமாரன் (சு)
- சந்தியப்பன் யெங்குறவன் கமசெரி சென(ர)ல் மேசர் வில்லி
- யம் மாரிசன் துரையிடத்தில் பொட்லெர்ராயிருந்து அந்
- த தொறையுடைய தயவுனாலேயும் தெவத்தின் நி
- ட கிருபா கடாஷத்தினாலேயும் கட்டி முடிந்தது
- யிங்கிலீஸு வருஷம் ௲அ௱௰ ளூ செப்டம்பர் மீ
A mandapam on the same street, as per the request of the ancestors, was built through the people of this place and out side this place by P Ragupathy Pillai, A Shanmugam Pillai and I.V. Ranganatham Pillai, in September 1920.
The construction ( probably reconstruction ) Vimanam, Sanctum Sanctorum, ardha mandapam, Maha mandapam and front entrance Rajagopuram was completed and ashta bandhana maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 26th January 1996.
LEGENDS
Up to 19th Century CE, the St. Thomas Mount area where our temple is situated was a part of uninhabited land, a hilly area with forest strewn around used for grazing cattle.
During the British rule one Mr Major General Commissionaire W Morrison used to perform horse riding regularly through this place. One day during a casual ride his horse stopped all of a sudden, when it’s hooves hit a stone. The horse Could not move.
The same night Major Morrison had an attack of high fever. Mr Santhiappan the Butler serving the Major had a dream. In the dream Sakthi Thulukanathamman appeared before him and informed that the horse had hit her idol whose top portion only was visible above the ground.
The butler narrated his dream to his master. Major retrieved the idol of Thulukanathamman and began worshiping her. His fever subsided as he continued worshiping. Having experienced her grace Major Morrison built a temple at the very site Housing, the idol of the universal mother Thulukanathamman. The temple was consecrated on the first day of September 1810 CE. A inscription on the Stone in the temple declares that this temple was built by Major Marrison. ( The Inscription says that the Butler had built the temple ).
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Amavasya days, 10 days annual Dussehra festival will be celebrated in a grand manner with car / ther procession ( This year 213th Dussehra festival was conducted From 26th September 2022 to 05th October 2022 ).
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
Navin kumar, a descendent of the Trustee ( Late ) P R Venkatesan, who served for about 70 years may be contacted on his mobile +916369411665 for further details. Alternatively the Trustees +919941549515 & +91 9841379436 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
The temple is on ( Co-ordinates )12.995723,80.1905291 ) Marrison Street 2, Pazhavanthangal (Alandur ).
The temple is about 850 meters from Nanganallur Metro, 1.5 KM from St Thomas Mount Metro and Sub Urban Railway Station and 17 KM from Chennai Central Railway Station.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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