Murugashramam, West Mambalam, Chennai
Murugashramam is a Hindu
Temple dedicated to Lord Murugan located in the neighbourhood
of West Mambalam in Chennai
City in Tamil Nadu. The Temple is more like a Ashramam which was run
by Late Sri Shankaranda Swamiji,
disciple of Santhananda Swamiji of Skandashramam, Salem. Ashramam
celebrates every function in a grand manner, without expecting any
monitory benefits in cash.
History
Shankaranda Swamiji was born on 1924 – 1925. His birth
name was Shankaran. In 12/10/1971, Lord Murugan appeared in his dreams and
instructed him to build a shrine for him. He built a small shrine with Lord
Murugan photo outside his home in a shed. This was the starting point of Om Murugashramam.
Annadhanam and restoration of temples became one of the most important
activities of the ashram. Santhananda Swamiji performed the Mahakumbabishekam
of temple in 1984. On 10/2/2002, Swamiji entered sainthood, henceforth referred
to as Sri Shankaranda Swamiji a disciple of Sri Santhananda Swamiji. On 14th
Jan 2017 Swamiji attained samadhi. As per his instructions, his mortal remains
were taken and a samadhi is being constructed at Arumkundram. Also mud
from that place had been taken and small sannidhi has also been constructed at Om
Murugashramam.
The Temple
The temple is small, but it is quite vibrant and
peaceful. Lord Muruga is very lively to look at this temple. Ashram people
perform pooja in such a grand manner that he looks entirely different in every Alankaram.
Many idols of saints could be found in the daises in front of Lord Muruga.
Before Swamiji attained samadhi, he made a statue of himself and had instructed
that his samadhi should be at Arumkundram. There is a small Thulasi Maadam
towards the left of the entrance.
Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 05.00 am to 11:30 am and 04.00
pm till 08:30 pm.
Festivals
Ashram celebrates all functions in a grand manner,
especially Skanda Shashti, Ekadasi, Rama Navami, Magam, Mahasivarathri,
Hanumanth Jayanti, Veda Jataparayanam, and Vinayaka Chathurthi. Every Tuesday
and Shashti, there would be Abishekam and Alankaram for Lord Muruga.
Connectivity
Om Murugashramam is located at No 12, Srinivasa Pillai
Street, West Mambalam, Chennai 33. It is located at a walkable distance from
Ayodhya Mandapam and Sri Sathya Narayana Temple. The temple is on the road
opposite to the Vinayagar temple bus stop in Arya Gowda Road. The Temple is
located at about 100 meters from Ayodhya Mandapam, 100 meters from Ayodhya
Mandapam Bus Stop, 2 Kms from Ashok Pillar, 3 Kms from Saidapet Railway
Station, 2 Kms from Mambalam Railway Station, 2 Kms from Ashok Nagar Metro
Station, 2 Kms 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 10 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.
Location