ETTESHWARAR TEMPLE - AYANAMBAKKAM

ETTESHWARAR TEMPLE - AYANAMBAKKAM - CHENNAI

Etteswarar Temple – Ayanambakkam.

The name of the area Ayanamabakkam is derived from the word Ayan, which is another name of Brahma. Brahma and Surya worshipped lord Etteswarar in this Temple in Chennai, small but elegant temple, just about three Km’s from Mugappair. The temple is more than a 1000 years and seems to have been consecrated by the Chola's and by the later kingdom including Vijayanagara.

The main deity is Lord Shiva known as  Etteshwarar ETTU = EIGHT, ESHWARAR = LORD. Lord Shiva is the Adhipathi of the eight Cardinal directions. His consort Parvathi is known as Karpagambal. The lord is also known as tirupurandeeshwarar.
 In and around the temple there are supposed to be eight lingams, which has been either lost in time, or the plots where the lingam are, are illegally occupied and hence not accesscible. 

The Temple has no Vimana or the Vimana has fallen down and was never reconstructed. The entrance is through a Gate facing south, with a fairly Large compound. In the compound on the south western side is a small lingam made out of mud, on a granite Platform in a lowered base. This lingam looks like a stone one. The lingam has seen a lot of seasons and has not withered except for a dent on its top. 

The Compound leads to a common Mukhamandapam for both the Sanctum of the Lord and the Goddess. On entrance into this Mandapam you come straight face to face with the Goddess KARPAGAMBAL who is facing south. Towards her right and facing east is the Lord  ETTESHWARAR in the form of a Shiva Lingam of about 4 feet from the ground having a square Avudayar or Pindika.

Inside the Garbha Griha the ceiling is in the shape of Shatakonam or Octogonal. Facing the lord outside the Mukhamandapa is a Nandi facing the lord from the Nandi Mandapam through a Square window.

In the Mukha mandapam there is also an Idol of ADI GANAPATHY – (Lord Ganesha in a Human form without his elephant head. 

The square Avudayar signifies the supremacy of the Goddess over the lord and secondly when a Shiva Linga is installed by a Rishi or Siddhar, generally the Avudayar is square. This lingam was installed by a Siddhar known as Shri Balarama Mesar who is from Tiruverkadu. In one of the pillars of the Nandi Mandapam is the sculpture of this siddhar.

Since Surya himself has worshipped the lord, hence there is no Navagraha in the temple.

For further details please contact Anand Gurukkal 8939525630.

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