Ottiyampakkam Otteeshwarar Temple

By -
Ottiyampakkam, a serene village situated approximately 16 km from Tambaram, harbors an ancient gem—the Otteeshwarar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. In this article, we delve into the lesser-known details of this tranquil abode.


Nestled in the tranquility of Ottiyampakkam, the temple boasts the Otteeshwarar, a colossal Shiv Linga icon, often regarded as one of the largest in the vicinity of Chennai. This east-facing temple, sans a tower or flagstaff, exudes an aura of simplicity and spiritual serenity.

Within the sanctum sanctorum, Otteeshwarar takes center stage—a grand Shiv Linga. The sanctum's ceiling is adorned with intricate fish motifs, adding a touch of symbolism to the sacred space. The Maha Mandapa, an expansive hall, houses recently crafted utsav images portraying Somaskanda, Kartikeya with consorts, Ganesha, Chandrasekhara-Uma, Nataraj-Shivakami, and other revered deities.

A separate south-facing shrine is dedicated to the divine Goddess Mangalambikai. The prakara, encircling the main shrine, accommodates sub-shrines honoring Ganesha, Shiva Subramanya with Valli and Devasena, Gaja Lakshmi, Navagraha, Nagas, Kubera Lingam, Nalvar, and Bhairava.
The architectural marvel unfolds with the Vimana, showcasing the Gaja prshtha style. Niche images of Nardana Ganapati, Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhava, Brahma, and Durga grace the temple. Notably, Chandikeshwara is absent from this sacred site.

In the Maha Mandapa, Nandi reverentially faces the main shrine, amplifying the spiritual ambiance. Although historical details are elusive, local lore suggests that attempts were made to relocate the Shiva Linga in ancient times, yet it remained firmly rooted in Ottiyampakkam. Aptly named Otteeshwarar, loosely translating to the Lord enshrined at this very site, the temple carries an air of sacred significance.



The Gaja prshtha Vimana hints at a Chola-era origin. Situated in a tranquil locale, the temple invites devotees to bask in the serenity of its surroundings. A short distance away, an ancient stone sculpture of Buddha lies neglected, its historical period shrouded in mystery.

Embark on a journey to Ottiyampakkam, where spiritual tranquility and historical mystique converge.


Happy travelling. 



Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600130, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tallest Murugan of Chennai

By -
Image
Consecrated in March 2021, the 40 feet high Bala Murugan icon at Saveetha Medical College campus is the tallest image of Murugan in Chennai. Malaysia has 140 feet tall Murugan. In April 2022, the 146 feet tall image of Murugan was consecrated near Salem in Tamil Nadu. However, they are all stucco images. But, the one that we find on the college campus is a monolithic granite icon. Thus, it is the tallest stone icon of Murugan in the entire world. A stone weighing 320 tonnes was brought from Siruvambur near Wallajah, and it was carved to 140 tonnes to get this beautiful and gigantic sculpture. The entire temple complex is designed in the shape of the Devanagiri letter "Om", which can be appreciated in the aerial view.  The west-facing gigantic sculpture is located atop the star-shaped pedestal. It dominates the entire landscape. A large meditation hall is situated below the pedestal. On the open corridor in front of the presiding deity, smaller shrines are found. They enshrine
Read more

Little known Nimishamba Temple of Chennai

By -
Image
Site Name:  Nimishamba Temple Site Type:  Hindu Temple Location:   Kasi Chetty Street, Sowcarpet, Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, India Highlights:   A rare temple of Nimishamba in Chennai city Nearest Railway Station:   Chennai - well connected from the cities/towns all over India Nearest Airport:   Chennai has both national and international airports How to reach:   Easily reachable by road as this is centrally located in the city Hotel:  Many star hotels, luxury hotels/resorts, and budget hotels are available in Chennai Restaurants:  All options - vegetarian, non-vegetarian, Chinese, South Indian, Gujarati, North Indian, Punjabi,....- you can find everything in Chennai city Chennai is considered as the gateway to South India. The capital city of Tamil Nadu state of India has hundreds of tourist sites which include museum, British period monuments, temples, beach, etc. Let us explore a little known temple called Nimishamba temple located in Chennai. Nimishamba is anothe
Read more

A 17th century Dargah with healing power - Mount Road Dargah, Chennai, India

By -
Image
Mount Road or Anna Salai is one of the most happening places in  Chennai . There are two famous Islamic shrines on Mount Road – one is  Thousands Light mosque . The other one is Dargah-e-Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi (Rahmatullah Alaihi), also known as Mount Road Dargah. It is the most popular Dargah across the city. It draws devotees of all faiths and all walks of life. Especially every Thursday, a large number of devotees gather to the Dargah. A lot of city-based celebrities regularly visit the site. This Dargah is the shrine of a Muslim Saint named Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi. He was also known as Rahmatullah Alaihi. Hazrath Syed Moosa Shah Qadri Baghdadi arrived from Baghdad in the middle of the 17th Century CE. He made Chennai his home and lived here. It is believed that he had healing powers. During his time, he had so many devotees regularly visiting him. After his demise, his family buried him next to his house, which is the current Dargah. You can easily lo
Read more