Chennai: Sri Devi Karumariamman temple, located at Kamaraj Nagar, near Thiruvanmiyur, is a temple that was constructed only a few years ago with the help of the residents of the area.
For more than 25 years, people living at Kamaraj Nagar were worshipping an Amman idol placed under a pupil tree. They then wanted a temple to be built for the deity and contributed money to facilitate the construction of the temple.
Speaking about it, Selvam, a long-time resident of the area says, “The Amman idol is believed to be our kaaval deivam. I was looking after the temple. Whenever it rains, water used to enter the land making it very difficult for the devotees to worship. So in 2014, the people here mooted the idea of building temple and soon they contributed as much money as they could and the construction began,” he says.
“With the help from donors, the temple construction was completed in 2016. During the same year, the first consecration was done,” Selvam adds.
In the main sanctum, Devi Karumariamman is present. On either side of the main sanctum’s entrance, Sri Selva Vinayagar on the left and Sri Balamurugan on the right are placed. On the left wall of the main sanctum, Sri Dakshinamoorthi is placed, on the back wall, Sri Vaishnavi and on the right wall, Sri Durgai are placed.
On the extreme right corner of the temple, there is a separate sanctum for Lord Kaala Bhairavar, adjacent to it is the Navagraha. On the other side, there is a sanctum for Lord Jalakandeswarar, facing east and adjacent to it is Lord Anjaneyar in a separate shrine.
Placed very close to the main sanctum, just in front of Lord Muruga is the sthala vriksha of the temple, which is the pupil tree. “This tree is more than 50 years old and now the temple has been built around it so that it looks like the whole temple is under this tree,” says Shekar, the temple’s priest.
Speaking about the special poojas in the temple, the priest says, “For Amman during Navaratri, special decorations and poojas takes place and members of the Aram Valartha Nayagi Iyakkam, an Amman devotees group give Kolu bommai and with that Kolu will also be kept. Pournami pooja also take place,” he adds.
“Apart from that, special abhishekam are done for Lord Siva during Pradhosham, for Lord Vinayaga during Sangada Hara Chathurthi, for Lord Muruga during Shashti and Krithigai and for Lord Kaala Bairavar during Ashtami,” says the priest adding that during the month of Margazhi, every morning special abhishekam and archanai is done.
The temple is open every day from 8 am to 10 am and from 6 pm to 8 pm.