Ratnagiriswarar Temple,
Besant Nagar, Chennai
Ratnagiriswarar Temple is a
Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Besant Nagar in the Chennai City.
Presiding Deity is called as Ratnagiriswarar and Mother is called as Aralakesi.
This temple is located close to Besant Nagar Beach and Ashta Lakshmi Temple.
For
brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
This
is a west facing Temple with five tiered small Rajagopuram. Presiding Deity is called
as Ratnagiriswarar and is facing west. He is housed in the sanctum in the form
of Lingam. It is said that the Lingam was found in the seashore of
Thiruvanmiyur, a nearby locality. Nardana Vinayaga, Dhakshina Moorthi, Vishnu,
Brahma and Durga are found as Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls, Lord Ratnagiriswarar faces West as similar to Mylapore
Kapaleeshwarar Temple and Thiruvanmiyur Marundeeswarar Temple.
Another very special
feature of this temple is that the Siva Linga is installed exactly opposite to
the Rudra Bhoomi (the cremation ground in Besant Nagar). Mother is called as Aralakesi. She is housed
in a separate shrine. There are shrines for Ratna Vinayaga (this
Vinayaka Idol was originally worshipped by Ramana Maharishi at Thiruvannamalai), Adi Sankara, Ratna Subramanya with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Nalvar (Tirugnanasambandar,
Appar, Sundarar and Manikkavacakar), Nataraja with his consort Shiva Kama
Sundari, Kothanda Rama, Anjaneya, Chandikeswara and Navagraha in the Temple
premises.
The
Vimanams in this temple are unique in their appearance – the Swami Vimanam
consists of five tiers, the Ambal Vimanam consists of 3 tiers, Sri Ramar
Sannadhi Vimanam of 2 tiers, indicating the significance of manthra-thrishta
vimanams – Panchakshara for Sri Ratnagiriswarar Vimanam, Arthabhala mantra of
Sri Ambal and Dhvaya mantra for Vishnu (Sri Kothandaramar). Further, the
Vimanam for Sri Subramaniar is in line with that of Tiruchendur, Sri Anjaneyar
is in line with that of Maharashtra, Adi Sankara’s Vimanam similar to that of
one in Kaladi and the Vimanam of Sri Kothanda Ramar similar to the one in
Srirangam temple.
Temple Opening Time
The
Temple remains open from 6.00 AM to 11.00 AM and 5.00 PM to 9.00 PM.
Rituals & Poojas
The Rahukala Pooja in the temple conducted under the
auspices of Durga Mandali (a ladies' wing of Bhaktha Mandali) attracts a very
large number of women devotees every Tuesday during Rahukalam. Every day, the rituals in the temple
are performed with Vedic recital by a band of over 25 dedicated and well-read
Vedic scholars who had occupied distinguished positions in several walks of
life. This is a special feature of this temple. The Abhishekams etc. are
performed daily amidst chanting of Rudram, Chamaka etc.
Festivals
Maha Shivarathri, Sarada
Navarathri, Rama Navami Mahotsavam, Aashada Mahotsavam, Arudra Darshanam, Annabishekam,
Monthly Pradoshams etc. are celebrated here.
Contact
Ratnagiriswarar Temple
#1, 6th Cross Street,
Besant Nagar, Chennai – 600 090
Phone: +91 44 2491 0405
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
500 meters from Besant Nagar Bus Terminus, 1 Km from Ashtalakshmi Temple, 1 Km
from Besant Nagar Beach, 3 Kms from Indira Nagar Railway Station, 3 Kms from Thiruvanmiyur
Railway Station, 7 Kms from Little Mount Metro Station, 14 Kms from Chennai
Central Railway Station, 14 Kms from Egmore Railway Station, 17 Kms from
Koyambedu Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus and 16 Kms from Chennai Airport. Besant
Nagar is well connected to all parts of Chennai by all means of Transport. In
the main Besant Nagar M.G. Road, while traveling towards Elliot’s Beach, take a
left turn immediately after the RBI Quarters to reach this Temple.
Location
References