Chennai: There are many temples in Chennai, mentioned in the hymns of the 63 Nayanmars. These temples are called as Paadal Petra Sthalam and the Arthanareeswarar temple at Egmore is one that comes under the category.
“The temple was mentioned by Thirunavukkarasar in the 6th century in his Thevaram. He mentions this place as Ezhum Oor and that is how the place got its name as Egmore,” says Madhan, the temple priest.
Located close to the Poonamallee High Road, the temple is very special for the deity Arthanareeswarar. Inside the main sanctum, Lord Siva is in the linga form and behind that, the main deity Arthanareeswarar is placed.
“Two hundred years ago, the Sivalinga was unearthed from a dry lake bed nearby. Since the linga was under water it bears the name Jalakandeshwarar,” says the priest.
“The deity is very powerful as both Siva and Parvathi share equal powers. It is believed that if married couples who are having disputes between them, worship the deity and all their problems get solved, helping them reconcile and lead a happy life,” says the priest.
“Apart from that if those people whose marriage is getting delayed, worshipping the Lord every Monday continuously for 11 weeks by lighting a ghee lamp and going around the sanctum 11 times, they will soon get married,” he adds.
On both the sides of the main sanctum small sannadhi for Lord Vinayaga and Lord Senthilnathan is placed. Lord Dakshinamoorthi, Vishnu and Siva Durgai are placed on the walls of the main sanctum. There is a separate sanctum for Lakshminarayana Perumal on the left side of the main sanctum where Laksmi is seen on the lap of Lord Narayana. On the
right side, there is a separate sanctum for Thirupurasundari, facing south. Adjacent to it is the Navagraha and Lord Bairava.
“Every year during the third week of the Tamil month ‘Karthigai‘, 1008 sangabhishekam is performed in a grand manner. During Sivarathri four kaala poojas are performed,” says the priest.
Other special occasions include ‘Panguni Uthram Thirukalyana Utsavam, pradosham, pournami and krithigai‘.
The temple is open every day from 7 am to 11 am and between 5 pm and 8 30 pm.