Nanganallur Sri Ardhanareeswarar & Ashtabuja Durgai Temples

Address

Nanganallur Sri Ardhanareeswarar & Ashtabuja Durgai Temples – 4th Main Rd, Nanganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600114

Diety

Sri Ardhanareeswarar Amman: Arthanareeswari / Tripura Sundari

Introduction

Ardhanareeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Nanganallur, a well-known locality in Chennai City in Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Arthanareeswarar / Jalakandeswarar and Mother is called as Arthanareeswari / Tripura Sundari. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old. This is a unique Shiva temple with a life size Durga statue in a separate Shrine. This temple is also considered as Kethu Sthalam.

Puranic Significance

In the 1960s, the Paramacharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam discovered this ancient temple when he was performing a morning puja at the abandoned temple tank here. He spotted an ancient Lingam in the tank as Ardhanareeswarar. Since then the temple was functioning in thatched sheds and consecration took place in March 2004. The temple is facing east with a huge pond on the left side and a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Palipeedam and Nandhi are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Presiding Deity is called as Arthanareeswarar. Sanctum houses the presiding deity in the form of Lingam. The Shivalinga is big in size compared to normal Shiva temples in India, with a radius of 3.5 feet which is mounted on a platform. As the deity’s idol was under water for a long period, he is known as Jalakandeswarar (Jal standing for water). Later on, the name was changed to Arthanareeswara, the sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, Arthamandapam and Maha Mandapam. Idols of Bala Ganapathy and Balasubramanya can be found at the entrance of the sanctum. There is a sculpture of Arthanareeswarar can be found in the sanctum. Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durga are Koshta Idols located around the sanctum walls. Shrine of Natarajar, Arthanareeswarar, Somaskandar and Navagrahas can be found in the Mahamandapam. Mother is called as Arthanareeswari / Tripura Sundari. The mother goddess Tripura Sundari is found at a separate shrine, next to the lord facing south.

Special Features

A life-size idol of Ashtabuja Shanthi Durga, said to be bigger than that of ancient Patteeswaram temple near Kumbakonam is installed in a separate shrine just at the rear of the Ardhanareeswarar temple. The Idol in this temple is about 8 feet height holding various weapons as Vishnu Durga. Upper hands hold Conch and Discuss. The well sculpted Durga is a treat to the eyes of the devotees and is well known as Sarvabhishta Bala Nayaki.There is a Lion Vahana in front of her shrine.

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri Navagraha Homam, Pradosham, Pushpanjali, Sumangali Puja, Vasantha Navaratri, Agni Pradhishta on all propitious days, Navaratri, Vijayadasami Chandi Homam, Thiru Karthikai, Margazhi Utsavam, Panguni Uthiram, Arudra Dharisanam, Aippasi Annabishekam, Anusha Puja (birth star of Mahaperiyava) and Mahaperiyava Jayanthi Utsavam are the festivals celebrated here.