The Twin Temple of Kalatheeswarar and Varadaraja – The Chetti Kovil of Mission Street
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Located on Mission Street, this grand temple, with its towering five-tiered Raja Gopuram, is locally known as Chetti Kovil. Built in the second half of the 19th century by the Chettiar community (Arya Vyasa Sangam), this temple is unique as it enshrines both Shiva and Vishnu within the same complex. Kalatheeswarar, the presiding deity, is worshipped in the form of a Shiva Linga, enshrined in an east-facing sanctum. In the Ardha Mandapa, a Nandi faces him, while the outer corridor features a flagstaff, bali peetha, and Nandi Mandapa, all aligned towards the sanctum. The Antarala (the space between the sanctum and the Ardha Mandapa) houses a metal image of the Goddess along with Ganesha. The Goddess of the temple, Gnanambikai, resides in a south-facing shrine within the Maha Mandapa, with a separate Nandi placed in front of her shrine. Ganesha is placed at the entrance of her shrine. The Koshta murtis (niche deities) of Kalatheeswarar include Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhava, Bra...