Ayyappan Temple, Anna Nagar, Chennai
Ayyappan Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord
Ayyappan located in Anna Nagar, a well-known locality in Chennai City, Tamil
Nadu. The Temple is located at the junction of 6th Main Road and 2nd Avenue
in Anna
Nagar. It is the most popular Ayyappa Temple in Chennai. The temple is being visited by a large
number of devotees. This Temple is about 25 years old and was built in Kerala
architecture style. In 1998, the temple won the Mylapore Academy Award for the
best maintained temple in Chennai.
History
When Anna Nagar was developed as a model town in the
late 1960s, the annual Vilakku pooja during mandala makara
Vilakku season was celebrated by Ayyappa devotees in the newly formed
Shanti Colony. The residents response to this annual celebration resulted in
the formation of the Sri Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS) in 1976, with 14 members
in its committee. In 1979, the Samajam started a charitable medical centre for
the poor and needy. The same year, a 7-ground land near the Visveswarayya Tower
was allotted to the Samajam by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board for the
construction of a temple, for which members contributed Rs 38,000 towards initial payment.
Initially, a makeshift temple was built in a thatched
shed along with a charitable medical centre in another shed. Work on the
construction of a permanent temple continued for the next five years in
consultation with temple architect Kanipayyur Krishnan Namboodri. The
construction was guided by P. N. Subramaniam, the founder-president, P.
Chandrasekhara Menon, the second president, and P. V. Nair, and financial
support was provided by R. Ratnam, then chairman of Sundaram Industries, and P.
Velayudham.
In May 1984, the typical Kerala-style temple was completed,
conforming to the traditional shastraic stipulations. The Kumbabishekam and
consecration of the idol were performed on 13 May 1984 by temple Thantri Abli
Krishna Vadhyan Namboodri and K. M. Kesava Battatripad, former chief priest of
the Sabarimala Temple. The Panchaloha
Ayyappan idol was made by Chengannur T. Rajarathinam. Idols of Ganesha, Subramanya,
Goddess Durga, and Anjaneya were also consecrated.
Later, a Navagraha (the nine planets) shrine was added
in the temple. In 1989, a unique architectural structure known as
the Natamandapam with an imposing gopuram was added. In 2005, gold
covering of the 22-paras (segments) Dwajasthambam and
27 thazhikakudams with about 6 kg of gold was
completed. A special Kumbabishekam of the gold-covered Dwajasthambam was
performed on 20 June 2005.
The Temple
The temple is built on a 40-cent land near the Visveswaraya
Tower. The main door at the entrance is covered with brass plates. The main
sanctum of Lord Ayyappa faces west with Lord Ganesha
and Lord Subramanya to
the left and Goddess Durga to the right, all facing east. The Navagraha shrine
is located on the southeast corner of the temple and the Anjaneya shrine is
located in the southwest corner, facing east.
There is an auditorium, named after Sri Adi Sankara,
covering about 3,600 sq. ft, which can accommodate about 1,000 persons, for
conducting spiritual and cultural programmes and discourses. The design of the
auditorium involves the Koothambalam style found in Kerala temples. There
is a canteen and a dining hall in the Samajam premises.
Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 05:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 04:45PM to
09:00 PM.
Festivals
The annual temple festival is celebrated during the
second week of December. Other annual celebrations include the Arrattu procession
(when the Utsava moorthy is carried from the temple to the Marina
Beach), Pradhishta Dinam, Panguni Uthiram, Navarathri, Skanda
Shasti, Vinayaka Chaturthi and Rama
Navami. Kotiarchana is performed every fourth year by
Ayyappa devotees observing Vratham (fasting).
Contact
Ayyappan Temple,
Plot No. C-45, 2nd Avenue, (New No.X 42, 6 th
Main Road),
Anna Nagar, Chennai – 600 040
Phone: +91 44 2621 3282
/ 2619 4623
Web: annanagarayyappatemple.org
Connectivity
The Temple is located on Plot no.C-45, Second Avenue
(New No.X42 6 th Main Road), Anna Nagar, Chennai. The Temple is situated
besides Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil Bus Stop. The Temple is located at about 500
meters from Anna Nagar Tower Metro Station, 600 meters from Anna Nagar East
Metro Station, 2 Kms from Thirumangalam Metro Station, 2 Kms from Thirumangalam
Junction Bus Stop, 4 Kms from Koyambedu Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, 8 Kms
from Egmore Railway Station, 9 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station and 21
Kms from Chennai Airport. The Temple can be easily reached easily either by
public transport or by auto rickshaw/taxi, as the temple is located in a prime
location of Chennai.
Location