West Mambalam Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Chennai

Address

West Mambalam Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Eswaran Koil Street, West Mambalam, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu 600033 Phone: +91 44 2370 0243 / 2489 0018

Diety

Kasi Vishwanathar Amman: Kasi Visalakshi.

Introduction

Kasi Viswanathar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the neighborhood 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.

Puranic Significance

The original temple is said to be built by 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. 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.

Beliefs

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…,

Special Features

The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram and 3 tiers 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, and 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.

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.