Saturday, May 30, 2020

Muthalamman Temple, West Mambalam, Chennai

Muthalamman Temple, West Mambalam, Chennai
Muthalamman Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi located in the neighbourhood of West Mambalam in Chennai City in Tamil Nadu. The Temple is believed to be 300 years old and situated on the south end of Lake View Road. This is one of the Ashta Kaval Theivams (Patron Deities) of yesteryear Mambalam. The temple is associated with Poosam Nakshathra.


Legends
There is an interesting story that the Amman statue was made for a Singapore temple and somehow stayed at harbor. Later got installed at this temple. It was also learnt that some devotees from Singapore visits this temple even now.  

The Temple
The temple is facing east without any entrance arch or Rajagopuram. The Sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala and Arthamandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Muthalamman. She is housed in the sanctum. She is seated on a 4 feet pedestal under Cobra snake hood. Mother is holding Damaru, Soolam, Sword and Kapala in four hands. An Idol of Amman’s head can be found at the base. It is believed that it has been found from the nearby Lake. Lion Vehicle and Palipeedam are in the mandapam.

Gaumari, Maheswari, Vaishnavi, Brahmi and Durgai are the niche idols located around the sanctum walls. Ganapathy and Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devasena can be found at the entrance of the sanctum on both sides. There are shrines for Kathavarayan and Veerabhadra at the entrance Gate of the Temple. There are also shrines for Bala Ganapathy, Balamurugan, Anjaneyar, Hero stone and Navagrahas in the prakaram.  Naga Idols can be found under the peepal tree.

The Temple also houses a Hero Stone (Nadukal) at the backside of the sanctum. Hero Stones. Hero Stone is a memorial commemorating the honorable death of a hero in battle.  In the hero stone, the hero is riding on a horse with a sword on his hand.  Another Panel with Mother face can also be found at the backside of sanctum. It is believed that the temple might have been built for the person in the hero stone. But later converted to Amman Temple with Muthalamman as presiding deity. There is a Kanthu (believed to be the male consort of Amman) and a stone at the entrance of the Temple.

Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 07.00 AM to 11.00 AM and 05.30 PM to 08.30 PM. Timings may change during festival and Fridays.
Festivals
Kruthikai, Shashti, Navarathri. Annual Koozh Festival on 4th Sunday of Adi month are the festivals celebrated here with much fanfare.
Contact
Muthalamman Temple,
Nallan Kuppam, West Mambalam,
Chennai – 600 033
Mobile: +91 94444 62116 / 94441 17798
Connectivity
This Temple is situated on the south end of Lake view street, in West Mambalam. The Temple is located at about 400 meters from Mettupalayam Bus Stop, 600 meters from Ram Colony, 300 meters from Postal Colony Bus Stop, 1.5 Kms from T Nagar Bus Terminus, 2 Kms from T Nagar, 2 Kms from Mambalam Railway Station, 1.5 Kms from Saidapet Railway Station, 2 Kms from Ashok Nagar Metro Station, 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.

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