Kumaran Kundram

Last updated

Kumaran Kundram
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
District Chennai
Deity Sri Swaminathaswamy
Location
Location Chennai
State Tamil Nadu
Country India
Kumaran Kundram Chromepet Kumaran Kundram Chromepet.jpg
Kumaran Kundram Chromepet

Kumaran Kundram is a hillrock located at Chromepet, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. It houses an about 40-year-old temple dedicated to the Hindu God Murugan. The temple can be reached by road from Chromepet en route to Hasthinapuram. The presiding deity is Sri Swaminathaswamy. The presiding deity in Kumaran Kundram is believed to be equivalent to the one in Swamimalai and stands atop the hillock facing north. It can be reached by a flight of about 80 steps.

Contents

History

In 1956, Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal, a twentieth-century saint and seer of the Kanchi Mutt, visited Chromepet. On looking at the hill, he proposed that a temple be built for Murugan. The temple for Siddhi Vinayagar was built in the same year. Twenty years later, while clearing the hillside for a path, a lance, the prime weapon of Lord Muruga, was found. This inspired the devotees to speed up work. [1] The consecration of the Sri Swaminathaswamy temple was performed in 1979. Slowly, more shrines were added for Shiva, Sarabeshwara, Ambal and the Navagrahas. The temple is run by a group of trustees.

The newly constructed and consecrated 5-tier Raja Gopuram of Kumaran Kundram Kumaran Kundram-RajaGopuram.jpg
The newly constructed and consecrated 5-tier Raja Gopuram of Kumaran Kundram

A five tier Rajagopuram has been constructed recently. Though the spade work had commenced long ago, the actual construction work on the Rajagopuram commenced in 2011-12 and concluded in January 2014. Renovation and painting works have also been carried out in the temple in connection with the Mahakumbhabhishekam (consecration ceremony). A new Artha mandapam adjoining the Rajagopuram has been constructed. A few civil works remain to be completed(February 2014). A new Dwajasthambam (Flag Mast) has also been erected. Cultural and religious events like music, dance and discourses were held at the Arunagirinathar Hall inside the temple precincts every day for over a year in 2013-14 as a part of the Rajagopuram construction and temple renovation.

Religious ceremonies connected to the consecration commenced on 3 February 2014 and the consecration was conducted between 9.00 AM and 10.30 AM IST on 9 February 2014 (Sunday) in the presence of Swami Brahmayogananda, Founder, Acharya Yoga Shanthi Gurukulam, West Mambalam, Chennai and Niranjanandagiri Swamy of Gnananandagiri Peetam, Dakshina Halasyam, Thennangur.

On the day of consecration, thousands of devotees visited the shrine and took part in the full-day festivities. Shri Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the junior seer of the Kanchi Mutt visited the shrine in the evening and offered prayers to the deities.

The presiding deity was taken in a procession in a magnificent floral palanquin in the night to the accompaniment of temple music and chants of devotees.

The monthly circumambulation of the small hill temple on the night of full moon day (Girivalam) attracts hundreds of devotees every month. The annual Soorasamhaaram festival (in October/November) is the prime festival in this temple along with Karthigai Deepam celebrations (in November/December).

A large group of devotees by the name of "Sri Padam" are rendering regular service at the temple on voluntary basis.

Prasanna Yoga Anjaneya Temple

Prasanna Yoga Hanuman Prasanna yoga hanuman chromepet.jpg
Prasanna Yoga Hanuman

Opposite to the Sri Swaminathaswamy Temple (Kumaran Kundram) is a small vaishnavite temple run by a hereditary trust. The presiding deity is Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal and the goddess is Alarmel Mangai Thayar. To the left of the presiding deity is Sri Yoga Narisimha Swamy. There are separate shrines for Prasanna Yoga Anjaneyar (Hanuman)and Ramanujar. [1] The ground where this temple is built belonged to Shri. Srinivasan Thiagarajan, who gave it in exchange for another piece of land in the same locality. The temple attracts large crowds on Saturdays, New Year Eve and Vaikunta Ekadasi. Circumambulation is performed by hundreds of devotees in the month of Karthigai (November–December).

See also

Related Research Articles

Ashtalakshmi Temple, Chennai Hindu temple of Ashtalakshmi in Chennai, India

The Ashtalakshmi Kovil is a Hindu temple, which lies on the shorelines near the Elliot's beach, in Chennai, India. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi, and her eight primary forms – the Ashtalakshmi – the giver of all eight forms of wealth, namely, offspring, success, prosperity, wealth, courage, bravery, food, and knowledge. The sanctorums are depicted on a multi-tier complex in such a way that visitors could visit all the shrines without stepping over any of the sanctorums.

Jayendra Saraswathi Hindu pontiff

Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya was the 69th Shankaracharya Guru and head or pontiff (Pïțhādhipati) of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Subramanyam Mahadeva Iyer was nominated by his predecessor, Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, as his successor and was given the pontifical title Sri Jayendra Saraswathi on 22 March 1954.

Hayagriva horse-headed Hindu god

Hayagriva, also spelled Hayagreeva, is a Horse headed avtar of Lord Vishnu.

Temple car

Temple cars are chariots that are used to carry representations of Hindu gods. The car is usually used on festival days, when many people pull the cart.

Vayalur Murugan Temple

The Vayalur Murugan Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Muruga, son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, located in the village of Kumaravayalur in Tiruchirapalli district, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is believed to have been initiated during the period of Medieval Cholas during the 9th century. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Though the presiding deity is Shiva, the temple is known for the Murugan shrine. The temple is associated with Hindu savant, Kirupanandha Variyar.

Govindavadi village in Tamil Nadu, India

Govindavadi is a small village near Kancheepuram temple town in Kancheepuram district in Tamil Nadu, India. Kancheepuram is about 100 km from Chennai and is also famous for its world famous silk sarees. It is also near Agaram.

Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram Hindu temple of the god Murugan in Thiruparankundram, India

Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram is a Hindu temple and one of the Six Abodes of Murugan, located at Thiruparankundram. The temple is built in rock-cut architecture and believed to have been built by the Pandyas during the 6th century. According to the legend it is where Murugan slayed the demon Surapadman and married Deivayanai, the divine daughter of the king of heaven, Indra, and he is said to have worshipped Shiva here as Parangirinathar.

Thirukkadigai

Thirukkadigai or Sholingapuram in Sholinghur, a village in Vellore district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Lakshmi Narasimhar and his consort Lakshmi as Thirumamagal. There are three separate shrines in the form of Narsimha, Bhaktavatsala Perumal and Hanuman (Anjaneya). They are situated on the larger hill, at the base of the larger hill and on the smaller hill respectively.

Veeraraghava Swamy Temple, Tiruvallur Hindu temple of Vishnu in Thiruvallur, India

Thiruvallur Veeraraghava Swamy Temple is a temple dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu, located in Thiruvallur, Chennai Metropolitan City, an area and headquarters in Tiruvallur district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is counted as one among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu. Vishnu is worshipped as Veeraraghava Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Kanakavalli Thayar.

The Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu India is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Prasanna Yoga Anjaneyar Temple is a Hindu temple devoted to Hanuman located near Madras Institute of Technology, Chromepet, Chennai, India.

Thiruparkadal

Thiruparkadal has a rarest among the rare, temple in the country, where Thirumal stands on God Siva to show the world, the amalgamation of Vaishnavism with Saivism and to enlight both of them are one and the same.

The Kasi Visalakshi Viswanathar temple is in the village of Kunnuvarankottai. This village is served by three rivers — Vaigai, Maruda and Manjalaru — called the Triveni Sangam. The river Vaigai takes a slightly northern course near this village, like the Ganges takes at Varanasi.

Garbharakshambigai Temple

Garbharakshambigai Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thirukarukavoor, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is located 6 km (3.7 mi) east of Papanasam, 20 km (12 mi) south east of Kumbakonam, 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Saliyamangalam, 20 km (12 mi) north east of Thanjavur and on the southern bank of Vettar River. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during the Cholas period in the 7th century. Shiva is worshipped as Mullaivananathar and his consort Parvathi as Garbharakshambigai.

Kandaswami Temple, Georgetown

Kandaswami Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, located in the Parry's corner neighbourhood of Chennai city, in Tamil Nadu, India. It is also called 'Mutthu Kumāra Swāmi deva sthānam' and popularly known as Kandha kottam. It is managed by the Tamil Nadu Hindu religious and charitable endowments department of the government of Tamil Nadu. The Kandha kottam temple has associated educational institutions for music and dance classes; primary and high schools; and a college, in various locations. The Kandha kottam temple also performs social welfare initiatives like free medical clinics and free pharmacies.

Kaveri Pushkaram

Kaveri Pushkaram is a festival of River Kaveri that normally occurs once in 12 years.

Thiruporur Kandaswamy temple

Thiruporur Kandaswamy temple in Thiruporur, a panchayat town in Chengalpattu district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been expanded during the 18th century with the images excavated from Thiruporur.

Shanmughanathar Temple, Kunnakudi

Kunnakudi Shanmughanathar temple in Kundrakudi, a village in the outskirts of Karaikudi in Sivaganga district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is located in the Tirupattur - Karaikudi Road, around 14 km (14,000 m) from Karaikudi. There are three caves located on the western side of the lower rock, that has rock-cut shrines from the Pandyan Empire from the 8th century. The caves have the earliest sculptural representation of Dvarapalas, the guardian deities, for any South Indian temple.

Govindaraja Temple, Tirupati

Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple is an ancient Hindhu-vaishnavite temple situated at the heart of the Tirupati city in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh state in India. The temple was built during 12 century and was consecrated in the year 1130 AD by Saint Ramanujacharya. The temple is one of the earliest structures in Tirupati and also one of the biggest temple complex in Chittoor district. The Tirupati(down hill) city is built around this temple. The temple at current is being administered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

Veerateeswarar Temple, Thirukovilur Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Veerateeswarar Temple in Tirukoilur, a panchayat town in Villupuram district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during the Cholas period in the 10th century. Shiva is worshipped as Veerateeswarar and his consort Parvathi as Periyanayagi.

References

  1. 1 2 Geetha Venkatraman (28 July 2011). "Hill temple in Chennai city". The Hindu, Chennai. Retrieved 21 April 2012.