Ayyappan Temple has His shrine in Lord Kachaleeswarar temple in Armenian street in Chennai near Parrys Corner. While on their pilgrimage to Sabarimala, devotees in Tamilnadu took an idol ofn Ayyappa for pujas on their way.
About Ayyappan Temple :
The Ayyappan Temple at Raja Annamalaipuram is a popular pilgrim centre of Chennai. The temple is a fine example of the Kerala style of temple architecture and is built on the lines of the revered Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. Constructed on a site donated by Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar of Chettinad and maintained by his illustrious son, M. A. M. Ramaswami, the temple has a beautiful Panchaloha idol of the presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala. Sri Guruvayurappan, Sri Devi are also enshrined here. The temple priests are Keralites who conduct puja in the traditional Keralite fashion. Like the original temple at Sabarimala, this temple also has 18 steps leading up to it.
Unlike the temple in Sabarimala, which remains closed for most of the year except during festival time, the temple at Rajah Annamalaipuram is open throughout the year. The temple has sub-shrines dedicated to Sri Maha Ganapathi, Sri Nagaraja, Sri Maligaipurathu Amman (Manja Matha), and other “Parivara Devatas”.
Mandala Puja is the main festival when devotees throng to the temple to offer prayers. The temple comes alive with music performances, religious discourses and cultural events during festivals and other important days.
Attraction Of Ayyappan Temple In Chennai :
- The Ayyappan Temple is a famous pilgrim place of Chennai. It is located at Raja Annamalaipuram.
- The temple is built with the Kerala style of architecture and resembles the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. The site to built this temple was donated by Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar of Chettinad and now maintained by his son M.A. Ramaswamy.
- The temple has a beautiful Panchaloha ( Mixture of five alloys/metals) idol of the main Deity, Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala, Sri Guruvayurappan, Sri Devi are also worshiped in separate shrines, The temple priests are keralites who perform puja in the traditional Keralite fashion.
- This temple also has 18 steps like the original temple at Sabarimala.
- This temple at Rajah Annamalaipuram is open throughout the year. The temple has separate shrines dedicated to Sri Maha Ganapathi, Sri Nagaraja, Sri Maligaipurathu Amman (Manja Matha)and other Parivara Devatas.
- Devotees visit the temple to offer prayers during the main festival ‘Mandala Puja”. The temple comes lively with performances of bhajans, music , religious discourses and cultural events during festivals and some other auspicious days also.
History Of Temple :
This temple at Rajah Annamalaipuram, built on a site donated by Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar of Chettinad, is well maintained by his illustrious son, M. A. M. Ramaswami, who is the Pro-chancellor of Annamalai University, founded by his grandfather, Rajah Sir Annamalai. When it was established in 1981, the Panchaloha idol was made by the sculptor of Nagercoil, Sri Bhattanachariar. It was taken in a procession from January 25, 1981, from the Krishnan Temple in Nagercoil to various places before it was installed in the temple at Rajah Annamalaipuram.
Diviness Of The Temple :
Unlike the temple in Sabarimala, which remains closed for most of the year after the Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku, to reopen only for Chithirai Vishu, the temple at Rajah Annamalaipuram is open throughout the year. Devotees can offer “Irumudi Kaanikkai” only for 41 days as in Sabarimala during the Mandala Pooja, which began on November 17. There are Moolavar and Utsavar idols in the temple and during the Mandala Pooja, “Irumudi Neyyabishekam” is performed to the Moolavar for 35 days and Brahmotsavam (main festival) is celebrated for six days. The temple has all sub-shrines as in Sabarimala for Sri Maha Ganapathi, Sri Nagaraja, Sri Maligaipurathu Amman (Manja Matha), and other “Parivara Devatas”.
Ausicious Days :
Mandala Pooja is the main festival. Music performances, religious discourses etc., are held here during the festival and other important days.
Pooja Types And Tariff :
Poojas listed here are applicable for this temple only.The tariff shown are not actual cost payable to the temple. It includes our service charge, cost of pooja items and Delivery charges.