Arunachaleswarar Temple, Sowcarpet, George Town, Chennai
Arunachaleswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple
dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Sowcarpet in George Town area of Chennai, the capital of the South
Indian state of Tamil
Nadu. Presiding
Diety is called as Arunachaleswarar / Annamalaiyar and Mother is called as Abithakusambigai
/ Unnamulai Amman / Abidakujambal. Both the Lingam and Ambal are huge.
The Temple is believed to be 250 Years Old. Vallalar Sri Ramalinga Swamigal
worshipped the Lord here. This temple is situated at Palliappan street in Mint
Area.
This Temple is considered as one of the Pancha Bootha Sthalams
of Chennai. This Temple represents Fire Element. The Pancha Boodha Sthalam
equivalents in Chennai are located at the heart of the city in the Flower
Bazaar / Sowcarpet area. They are:
1) Sri Kalatheeswarar temple at Pavalakara (Coral
Merchant) street, Mannady representing Air,
2) Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple at Annapillai street
representing Fire,
3) Sri Gangadareswarar Temple, Purasaiwakam representing
Water,
4) Sri Chidambaranatha (Nataraja) Temple near Choolai
Post office representing Sky,
5) Sri Ekambareswarar Temple at Mint representing Earth.
Legends
There lived in this place a staunch devotee of Lord
Arunachaleswara of Tiruvannamalai. He never failed to visit the place during
the Karthikai Deepam festival and to worship Lord Shiva. Age began to stop his
Tiruvannamalai visit leaving him only to shed tears. Merciful Lord gave darshan
to him as a Jyoti and said through a voice to build a temple with a Shivalinga
he may get then. The aged devotee got a Shivalinga from Kasi through his friend
and installed it as Lord Annamalaiyar in this place. Since then the Karthikai
festival is celebrated in this temple as in Tiruvannamalai. Devotees worship
Lord Shiva in the form of Jyoti. The presiding deity in the temple is from
Kasi.
The
Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Temple
Opening Time
The temple remains open from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and
from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Karthikai Deepam in November-December, Shivarathri in
February-March, Skanda Sashti in October-November and Navarathri in
September-October are the festivals celebrated in the temple. Karthikai Deepam
festival is celebrated in the temple as in famous Tiruvannamalai.
Prayers
People pray for wedding and child boons, for prosperity,
education and job opportunities. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother
and offer vastras.
Connectivity
This temple is situated at Palliappan street in Mint
Area near Sowcarpet. The Temple is located at about 600 meters from Elephant
Gate Bus Stop, 750 meters from Thirupalli Bus Stop, 1 Km from Lone Square Bus
Stop, 1.5 Kms from Broadway Bus Stop, 1.5 Kms from Parrys Corner Bus Stop, 2
Kms from Chennai Beach Railway Station, 2 Kms from Basin Bridge Junction, 1.5
Kms from Mannady Metro Station, 2 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station, 5
Kms from Egmore Railway Station, 12 Kms from Koyambedu Chennai Mofussil Bus
Terminus and 20 Kms from Chennai Airport. The Temple is located very close to
the Mannady Metro Station and Chennai Central Railway Station. You can proceed
on foot to this Temple from the station. From other parts of the city, you can
take a Cabs, Auto Rickshaw, Bus, Local Trains and Metro Trains to reach the
Temple.
Location
References