Kasi Viswanathar Temple, West Mambalam, Chennai
Kasi Viswanathar Temple is a Hindu
temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the neighbourhood
of West Mambalam in Chennai
City in Tamilnadu. The temple is named after the Vishwanathar Temple at Varanasi.
The Temple is believed to be constructed in the 17th century. The
temple is also known as "Mahabilva Kshetra". Presiding Deity is called as Kasi Viswanathar and Mother is called as
Kasi Visalakshi.
Legends
Mambalam:
Mambalam
is believed to have derived its name from the existence of Maha Vilvam trees in the locality, which in due course
become Mavilam and then Mambalam.
Mylai Mel Ambalam:
In
ancient times it was known as Mylai Mel Ambalam (place located on the west of
Mylai). Then it changed to Mel-Ambalam. Then Mel (top) changed into west and
Ambalam changed into Mambalam. Therefore, now it is known as West Mambalam.
Swayambu
Lingam:
When a Swayambu lingam appeared in Mahabilam, people
built a temple for it. Researchers say that the temple might have been built by
a Nayaka king of Vijayanagar Empire. The God appeared in the dream of a Nayaka
king after he worshipped him in Kasi and told him to build a temple for him. Accordingly,
Kasi Viswanatha temple was built in Tenkasi. The Sthala purana says that the
temple at Mambalam in Chennai was also built during this same period by the Nayaka
king. Usually, at the temples built during the Nayaka regimes, an emblem of
fish will be seen. At the granite roof of this temple also, figures of fishes
are seen. Researchers say that this is a proof for the claim that the temple
was built by a Nayaka king.
History
The original temple is said to be of 400 years old
Vijayanagara Nayak Period (17th Century) and reconstructed during
2003. It was learnt that the Nayak King who built the Tenkasi Shiva temple also
built this temple.
The Temple
The temple is facing east with a 7 tier
Rajagopuram and 3 tier Gopuram on the south. Balipeedam, Dwajastambam and
Nandhi are immediately after the east side Rajagopuram. Presiding Deity is
called as Kasi Viswanathar. Sanctum houses the presiding deity in the form of a
small Shiva Linga along with the Nandi idol in front of him. The wall
surrounding the main shrine has the small niche images of Ganesha, Dakshina
Murti, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durga.
The temple is constructed with Sanctum and a
Mahamandapam. Mother is called as Kasi Visalakshi and she is housed in a south
facing shrine on the same mandapam. Beautiful stucco reliefs of design and
flowers are made on the ceiling of the mandapam. Stucco images of Shiva’s dance
as Nataraja & Urdhava Thandavar on both sides of Shiva & Parvathy
Kalyana Kolam can be seen on the north wall of the mandapam.
Sculptures of Nandhi, Sankaranarayana, Sarabeswarar, Prathiyangara
Devi seated on Lion, Yoga Narasimhar, Sanjeeviraayar (Hanuman), Garudalwar,
Kamakshi Amman and Artha Nareeshwarar can be seen on the pillars of this
Mandapam. There are shrines of Ganesha, 63 Nayanmars, Naalvar, Arunagirinathar,
Sekkizhar, Pattinathar, Vallalar, Ramalinga Adigalar, Kala Bairavar, Chandikeswarar,
Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli Devasena, Navagrahas and Ganesha & Nagas
under a Bodhi tree in the Temple premises. The Temple’s Chariot is kept in a
shed at the end of the temple street.
Temple Opening Time
The temple remains open from 06.30 AM to 11.00 AM and 05.00
PM to 09.00 PM.
Pooja Timings
·
Kaala
Shanthi Pooja – 8.00 a.m.
·
Sayaratchai
Pooja – 5.30 p.m.
Festivals
Pradhosham, Chitra Pournami, Aadi Thirumanjanam, Aadi
Pooram, Navarathri, Aippasi Annabishekam, Karthikai Deepam, Arudra
Dharisanam and Maha Sivarathiri are the festivals celebrated here with much
fanfare.
Prayers
Those, who are unable to go to Kasi for darshan of God
can visit this temple and pray to the deity and be blessed by the Lord with all
prosperity.
Contact
Kasi Viswanathar Temple,
Eswaran Koil Street,
West Mambalam,
Chennai – 600 033
Phone: +91 44 2370 0243 / 2489 0018
Connectivity
The temple is located at the end of the Madley road
bridge on the right side while going from T. Nagar bus stand. The Temple
is located at about 800 meters from Ayodhya Mandapam, 2 Kms from Ashok Pillar,
2 Kms from Saidapet Railway Station, 600 meters from Mambalam Railway Station,
2 Kms from Ashok Nagar Metro Station, 650 meters from T Nagar Bus Terminus, 1.5
Kms from T Nagar, 11 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station, 8 Kms from
Koyambedu Mofussil Bus Terminus, 8 Kms from Egmore Railway Station and 11 Kms
from Chennai Airport.
West Mambalam is served by Mambalam Railway station (the
busiest station after Chennai Central, Egmore and Tambaram), providing access
to Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore and Tambaram. The nearest bus terminus is T.
Nagar. The bus service connects the area to K.K. Nagar, Vadapalani,
Iyappanthangal, Poonamallee, T. Nagar and Broadway (via Postal Colony),
Mylapore and Vallalar Nagar (via Rangarajapuram) and Saligramam (via Brindavan
Street), West Saidapet and Besant Nagar (via Mettupalayam). Other less frequent
services connect the area to Taramani, Guindy Industrial Estate, Pattabiram,
Tollgate and Kundrathur. Addition to that Small bus operated between Ashok
Pillar to Liberty via 4th and 7th avenue of Ashok Nagar, Ayodhya Mandapam,
Rangarajapuram. Nearest Metro Rail Station is Ashok Nagar.