Margazhi Musings 2019: Chennai Temples by Dr Chitra Madhavan

Date: 24^th Dec 2019  - Venue: Vani Mahal, T. Nagar

Presenter: Dr Chitra Madhavan

Music: Nisha, Smitha (Violin) & Bharadwaj (Mridangam)

Dr Chitra Madhavan has all facts at her fingertips

Dr Chitra Madhavan’s name brings images of her weekly column in the Indian Express highlighting the historical, archaeological and religious events behind a temple. I didn’t want to miss her lecture at Vani Mahal. The topic was temples in and around Chennai. She was accompanied by a music team with Nisha Rajagopalan as the vocalist.

She made 5 pit stops; explained the splendour of each; followed it up with an appropriate kriti rendered by the team.

Punnai Leaves

Stop #1: Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore

I did’t know till she showed photos of the Kapali temple architecture that it housed so many beautiful sculptures rich with history and stories. It was a brilliant portrayal of the temple. The entire Mylapore was a forest of Punnai trees. (Alexandrian Laurel trees – Botanical name Calophyllam Inophyllam)

Stop #2: Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane

The moolavar is Venkata Krishnan whilst the Utsavamoorthy is Parthasarathy. In the Garbhagriham, one can see Rukmini, Balram, Pradyumna and Satyaki. All offerings are

Parthasarathy with others

first made to Yoga Narsimha. She humorously referred to Vedavalli Thayar as “Padi Thanda Pathini” like Ranganayaki Thayar as she never steps out. There are lot of festivals associated with this temple. Festivals for Sri Ramanuja as well as Manavala Maamuni are conducted with gusto here. The doorbells of Yoga Narasimha don’t have tongue so as not to disturb his meditation. The food, made here, doesn’t have chillies but only pepper.

Nisha sang the song Sri Parathasarathy na of Dikshitar beautifully.

Stop #3: Thiruvottriyur Adipurishwarar Temple

Appar refers to this Shiva as “Otriyur Deva.” The swami is a

Magizha Tree

Swayambu Moorthy with temple constructed later during Chola times. Sambandar extolls him as “Agamachelvar” whilst Sundarar too enjoyed his stay here. Of course, he marries Sankili here and becomes blind when he steps out of the boundary of this village breaking the promise given to her under the Sthala Viruksham Magizha Tree (botanical name: Mimusops elengi). There is a special puja for the tree. Shiva taught Panini for 14 days Vyakarana, the grammar.

 A Thevaram was chosen here followed by Tiruvottiyur Pancharatnam.

Stop #4: Tiruvanmiyur Marundeeshwarar Temple

Vanni Tree

The Lingam was first worshipped by Valmiki and Kamadhenu. This is a west facing temple. The temple gopuram contains beautiful sculptures. One such depicts Dakshinamoorthy under a Kal Alamaram (Banyan tree). Sthala Virukashma is Vanni tree.

 A Thevaram followed by Thooran’s Thaye Tripurasundari was the song for this Kshetram.

Stop #5: Kovur Sundareshwarar Temple

The beautiful path leading to Kovur Temple

Kovur brings to mind Thyagaraja’s Kovur Pancharatna kritis. Very rarely do we hear these kritis. This is also the SThalam for Budha. Mahavilvam (Bael-Aegle Marmelos) is the sthala Viruksham. The Goddess is known as Soundrambigai, the beautiful one also known as Thiruvudai Nayaki. The main gopuram tower is not all that pleasing. However, the place retains its old world charm and the pathway is so neat. This temple was built by Kulothunga Chola during 7th century AD.

A Sahana kriti E Vasudha, amongst the Pancharatna, was the chosen one.

It was a pleasure to listen to Dr Chitra Madhavan’s lecture. As usual, she narrated facts, brought out the archaeological wonders and other facets of each temple. A humongous amount of work must have gone in before condensing into a 2-hour song cum lecture session. The musicians, rightly, took a back seat but did their job of complementing the understanding of the temple.

  

Ambience: **

 Lecturer: **

Accompanying artists: **

Overall: **