Friday, November 2, 2018

Kachaleeswarar Temple, George Town, Chennai

Kachaleeswarar Temple, George Town, Chennai
Kachaleeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in George Town area of Chennai, the capital of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Temple is also known as the Great Kachali Pagoda during British Period. The Temple is located in Armenian Street, in the neighbourhood of Parrys Corner. The temple is modelled on the Kachaleeswarar Temple at Kancheepuram.


The Temple was constructed on land belonging to Dubash Kalavai Chetty in 1725, the temple belonged to the left-hand castes and was the site of the first major conflict between left and right-handed castes in the then Madras city. Presiding Deity is called as Kachaleeswarar / Kachabeswarar and Mother is called as Soundarambikai / Azhakambigai.


Legends
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History
The temple was built in 1725 by Kalavai Chetty, a Dubash working for the British East India Company, on a land belonging to him. A huge retinue of dancing girls were attached to the temple in the earlier days. These dancing girls resided in a quarter adjoining the temple. A plaque in the temple records the year of the first Kumbabishekam (consecration) as 1728. Post-Independence, a Mahakumbabishekam (great consecration) was held on 8 July 1962. A major renovation of the temple began on 20 February 1984 and another great consecration was held on 9 July 1989.


The Temple
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Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 6.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Pooja Timings
·        Kalasanthi (8:00 A.M)
·        Uchikala Pooja (11:00 A.M)
·        Sayaratchai Pooja (6:00 P.M)
·        Arthajamam Pooja (8:30 P.M)
Festivals
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Prayers
This is a holy place worshipped by those who face impediments in getting married and those with no issues. By performing Rudrabhishekam to the Lord, hurdles in marriage will be eased and the wishes will be fulfilled. Worshipping Ambal by smearing oil on her, the person is blessed with an offspring is the belief. Devotees who have Sarpa Dosham (snake malfeasance) and those who are afraid of poisonous creatures perform abishekam to Lord Kachaleeswarar. Behind the lingam on the sanctum wall is Sadasivamurthy.
The belief is when this form of Lord Siva and the formless Linga are worshiped together in the same sanctum, it will help alleviate all sins and give Mukti (salvation) from rebirth. Devotees with planetary afflictions come to pray and find relief for their misery. People celebrate their sixtieth birthday (a century in the Hindu calendar) before the Navagrahas or nine planets and pray for good health and happiness.
Contact
Kachaleeswarar Temple,
Armenian Street, George Town,
Chennai – 600 001
Phone: +91 44 - 2522 7177
Connectivity
Kachaleeswarar Temple is located at Armenian Street in the George Town area of Chennai, South India. The Temple is located at about 400 meters from Loyer Square Bus Stop, 700 meters from Parrys Corner Bus Stop, 800 meters from Chennai Beach Railway Station, 1 Km from Mannady Metro Station, 3 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station, 5 Kms from Egmore Railway Station, 13 Kms from Koyambedu Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus and 21 Kms from Chennai Airport. The Temple is located very close to the Mannady Metro 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