Gangadeeswarar Temple - Chennai

Gangadeeswarar Temple is counted among the older Shiva temples of Chennai, the city often described as the gateway to South India. Here, Shiva is worshipped as Gangadeeswarar—the Lord who bore the river Ganga upon his matted locks when it descended from the heavens. Tradition links this name to the story of King Bhagiratha, whose intense penance moved Shiva to receive the rushing Ganga and release her gently to the earth. Local belief goes a step further and identifies the present temple site as the very place where Bhagiratha performed his worship.

Another popular tradition connects the temple to Bhagiratha’s act of installing 1008 Shiva Lingas on the advice of sage Narada. It is said that the 1008th Linga was established at this spot, and that the water of the Ganga, poured here in devotion, eventually formed the temple tank. Older accounts speak of seven tanks within the complex, though only one is visible today.

Big Shiva icon  located inside Gangadeeswarar Temple

Architecturally, this is a spacious temple built in the traditional South Indian style, complete with a striking rajagopuram, dhwajastambha (flagstaff), and bali peetham. As you move inward, you will notice shrines for Siddhi Vinayakar, Bala Subramanya, and Vaideeswarar (in the form of a Shiva Linga), along with Ganesha. As expected in an old Shaiva temple, Nandi sits facing the sanctum.

The east-facing sanctum enshrines Gangadeeswarar as a small Shiva Linga. Nearby is a separate shrine for Goddess Pankajambal, which faces south. Close to the sanctum is another east-facing shrine with Somaskanda icons, adding an important devotional layer to the core triad of spaces.

The inner prakara around these shrines holds several icons and smaller sanctums. Surya and Chandra face the main shrine, while other icons in this corridor include Nalvar, Nagaraja, Bhagiratha, Kasi Viswanath, Veerabhadra, Sekkizhar, Kulachirai Nayanar, Shanmukha, Durga, Bhairava, Dakshinamurti, Chandikeshwara, and another Bhairava. You will also find compact shrines for Maha Ganapati, Subramanya with Valli and Devasena, Nataraja–Sivakami (as utsava bronzes), Ucchista Ganapati with Siddhi, and a Shiva Linga with Manonmani. The koshta images around the main shrine follow the familiar pattern: Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durga.

An additional entrance aligns with the Pankajambal side and has its own bali peetham and flagstaff. The larger outer prakara includes a shrine where the bronze icons of the 63 Nayanmars are arranged. The walls carry painted panels narrating stories of Shiva, modern additions that brighten the corridor. Under a sacred tree, a Shiva Linga worshipped as Kurunda Malleswarar appears with Nandi, and local belief associates this spot with Manikkavasagar, said to have preached here.

Recent additions also catch the eye, including a large Shiva figure shown with a Shiva Linga and Bhagiratha. Another interesting presence is a Satyanarayana shrine, rare in a predominantly Shaiva setting. The outer prakara also includes a Bana Linga shrine, Navagraha shrine, and an icon of Ramalinga Adigalar.

Happy travelling.