Sunday, August 21, 2011

Temple Trails: A trip to the famed temples of Chennai and Kanchipuram

For those who revel in visiting temples there never need be an occasion, an ideal season or a valid reason – so despite summer’s heat and aging knees my octogenarian mum and I headed out to visit some of the famed temples of Chennai and Kanchipuram over a week in April.

Our maiden visit was to the Marundheeswara Temple (Lord of Medicines) in Tiruvanmiyur so called because the story goes that Shiva and Parvathi appeared before Agastya here and initiated him into medicinal cures. The Swayambhu Linga is said to have been found by Sage Valmiki under a Vanni tree giving the area the name Tiruvanmiyur. A typical Salivate temple with all the subsidiary deities normally associated with Siva yet compact in size, an hour and a half could do justice to this temple. The temple complex also houses a Goshala as a mark of respect to Kamadhenu the divine cow who anointed this Linga and responsible for its white hue.

MYLAPORE TEMPLE TANK

About two kilometers away is the historic Kalakshetra Foundation- for those who have a passion for Bharatanatyam this qualifies as an important shrine. Besides the Kalashetra is the very humble Jiva Samadhi of Kumara Guru Swamigal a highly revered saint of Tamil Nadu. A quiet place where one will find devotees doing their individual prayers and ever willing to share their stories of faith with first time visitors.

A modern spiritual enthusiast can spend a whole day at the Theosophical Society and The Adyar Library which is in the same vicinity – a storehouse of spiritual science and esoteric wisdom. Be prepared to walk within the sprawling campus and check timings and holidays to avoid disappointment.

DANDAYUDHAPANI TEMPLE GOPURAM

Day two was dedicated to one of the most important temples of Chennai Kapaleshwarar temple located at Mylapore. For a feel of authentic Tamil spiritual fervor one has to arrive here by 6.30am. You will be confronted by devout ladies dressed in Kanchivaram sarees bedecked with Jasmines and the men folk in traditional dhotis, freshly made garlands and pooja items line the entrance and morning ‘abhishakams’ will be in progress. You may even spot the peahens or 'Myali' once inside the temple premises after which Mylapore gets its name. Here the Lingam is known as Kapaleeshwarar and his consort is Karpagavalli. On the Kapaleeshwarar Sannadi Street is the famous Giri Traders a store for traditional pooja paraphernalia and a wide range of books/CDs on Hinduism both for the casual reader and for research students.

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Readers' comments

be seen
USA
02/21/2012
07:38 am

Nice to read this concept and also pretty much satisfied to know about something a trip in Chennai and Kanchipuram. Thanks mate.

Mani
Minneapolis
11/08/2011
10:56 pm

Thanks for an informative writeup. I have visited several of these temples and your account transported me back to these wonderful places of worship and art.

Alex Reynolds
Millwaukee
08/07/2011
03:07 am

A well written article to make most of us eager to see some of the great temples in the south of India.This would surely inspire many others to make a beeline to visit some of the places mentioned.Hope more such temple trails will come from Ms.Patells prolific pen! Keep up the good work!