Indian Columbus

Alwar Tirunagari, nestled near Tirunelveli city in the Tamil Nadu state of India, is a picturesque village that boasts proximity to the renowned Srivaikundam. This village is home to a prominent Vishnu temple known as the Adinathar Temple, which holds the distinction of being the 98th Divya Desam within the Pandya region. Situated along the sacred banks of the Tamraparni River, it is among the revered Nava Tirupatis, a group of nine Vishnu temples along this revered river. This temple, in particular, is the fifth among the Nava Tirupatis, each of which holds profound significance in the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur route. In this article, let us embark on a journey to explore the rich heritage of this temple. Highlights: Nammalwar  has composed 11 Pasurams about this site in his verses. It is considered as the   98th Divya Desam temple . It is located in Pandya region. It is considered as the 5th Nava Tirupati temple . It is the birthplace of Nammalwar. God  - Adin...

Nanganallur, situated on the outskirts of Chennai, is a renowned locality that has gained popularity due to the city's expansion and improved connectivity. However, this wasn't the case during the 1960s and 1970s when it was considered a remote area. Amman temples like Tiruvottriyur, Mangadu, and Tiruverkadu in Chennai are well-known today. In the 1970s, the Raja Rajeswari Temple in Thillai Ganga Nagar, Nanganallur, enjoyed similar popularity, with devotees forming long queues to visit. In fact, the area derived its name, "Nangai Nallur," from this temple, as "Nangai" means female. (There is also a claim that Sri Kanchi Paramacharya named the locality as Nangai Nallur.) Presently, this temple's fame remains limited to the local residents, with fewer visitors. Interestingly, discussions about Nanganallur temples tend to focus on the Hanuman temple rather than this once-prominent Raja Rajeswari Temple. Let's delve into this temple's deta...

Nanganallur, situated on the outskirts of Chennai city, is a renowned locality known for its temple-centric character. The area boasts numerous significant temples despite most of them being relatively recent constructions. Among these, the focus of this discussion is the village temple named Devi Karumari Amman Temple. Positioned on the 24th street within the Thillai Ganga Nagar locality of Nanganallur, the Devi Karumari Amman Temple has its roots as a village shrine. Over time, several additional sub-shrines have been incorporated, and a prominent gopura (tower) was erected at a later stage. The entrance is graced by a modest gopura, leading to the inner sanctum. Within, the main sanctum houses the idol of Mari Amman, featuring the Goddess with only her head. Adjacent to this depiction, another icon of Mari Amman is seated in a full-body posture. A distinct shrine is dedicated to the stucco image of Tirupati Balaji, with the figure of Garuda facing towards Balaji. The temple comp...

Nanganallur stands as a renowned locality on the fringes of Chennai city, often hailed as a temple haven due to its plethora of significant temples. Although the majority of these temples have been constructed relatively recently, one temple, in particular, holds our focus in this discourse: the Sarva Mangala Narasimha temple. Within Nanganallur, there are two distinct Narasimha temples. This specific temple is distinguished as the "New Narasimha Temple" and finds its abode on the 24th Street of Thillai Ganga Nagar. Rising on the edifice's first floor, the temple features the presiding deity, Shanta Narasimha, with Lakshmi gracefully seated on his left thigh. Serenely nestled beneath the protective embrace of the five-hooded serpent, Sesha, the exquisite and sizeable icon of Narasimha commands attention. At his feet, a miniature sculpture of Garuda stands, palms folded in reverence towards the devotees. The sanctum also houses the processional depictions of Vishnu alon...

Nanganallur stands as a renowned locality nestled on the fringes of Chennai city, characterized by its distinction as a temple town. Within this compact expanse, numerous significant temples hold their presence, although most have sprung up relatively recently. In this discourse, our focus rests on the Ardhanareeswarar Temple, a celebrated sanctuary within this area. During the 1960s, Kanchi Maha Periyava conducted his rituals within an abandoned temple tank situated in the Nanganallur vicinity. It was during these moments that he chanced upon a Shiv Linga within the tank's depths, which he christened as Ardhanareeswarar. Guided by his vision, devotees arranged for the installation of this Linga beneath a temporary thatched shelter on the banks of the tank along 4th Main Road. Gradually, this humble beginning evolved into a fully-fledged temple complex, encompassing not only the Ardhanareeswarar shrine but also other sanctuaries. Despite being a contemporary structure, this ...

Nanganallur stands as a prominent locality on the fringes of Chennai city, renowned for its distinction as a temple town. Within this compact expanse, numerous significant temples grace the landscape, although most of them have been erected relatively recently. This discourse shall delve into the Uttara Guruvayurappan Temple, an exemplary edifice of religious significance. Originating in the early 1970s, the Uttara Guruvayurappan Temple finds its establishment in the Ram Nagar vicinity of Nanganallur. Commencing as a modest structure, the temple has since undergone substantial expansions, mirroring its growth over the years. Reflecting the quintessential architectural style of Kerala, the temple is illuminated primarily by the gentle glow of natural lamps. A nightly ritual sees the entire premises adorned with the radiance of these lamps, evoking a palpable sense of the divine. Central to the temple's sanctum is the divine deity Guruvayurappan, presented in an upright posture and...

Nanganallur, situated on the outskirts of Chennai, is renowned for being a temple town with numerous significant temples. Among these temples, one stands out  - the Vara Siddhi Vinayaka Temple. Located on 2nd Main Road and adjacent to the Hayagriva temple, the Nanganallur Vara Siddhi Vinayak Temple has been a well-known religious landmark for the locals. Constructed in the mid-1970s, it holds the distinction of being one of the oldest temples in this locality. The temple's design is modest yet elegant, featuring a small gopura as its main entrance. Within its sanctum lies the revered deity, Vara Siddhi Vinayaka (Ganesha), who is the primary focus of worship. Apart from the main deity, the temple boasts sub-shrines dedicated to other deities, including Kodanda Rama with Sita and Lakshmana, Hanuman, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena, and Navagraha. On the exterior wall of the sanctum, visitors can find niche images of Dakshinamurti and Durga, adding to the temple's artistic beauty ...

Nanganallur, situated on the outskirts of Chennai city, is a renowned locality characterized by its temple-centric ambiance. Among the plethora of significant temples gracing this quaint area, our focus in this article will be the Nanganallur Hayagriva Temple—a sacred abode dedicated to the deity Hayagriva, the unique incarnation of Vishnu with a horse's head. Nestled along the 2nd Main Road, the Nanganallur Hayagriva Temple holds a special place in the hearts of the local residents. This temple stands as a rarity, being exclusively devoted to Hayagriva. The temple faces eastward and boasts a modest tower that adorns its entrance. Inside the sanctum, one can behold the divine form of Lakshmi Hayagriva. Hayagriva is depicted seated, with his left leg elegantly folded and his right leg gracefully suspended. On his left lap rests the Goddess Lakshmi. His divine form features four arms, with his upper limbs holding the conch and discus emblematic of his stature. Prominently position...

Nanganallur, a locality on the outskirts of Chennai city, has earned the reputation of being a temple town, owing to its numerous significant temples. Among them, one stands out as the most popular and prominent in the area. Officially known as Aadi Vyadi Hara Bhakta Anjaneya and more commonly referred to as the Nanganallur Anjaneya Temple, it boasts the second largest Hanuman icon made from a single piece of granite in Tamil Nadu. The magnificent 32 feet tall image of Hanuman, depicted in the Anjali mudra (folded hands), is enshrined within a 90 feet tall vimana facing the west. Inside the temple complex, there is an east-facing shrine dedicated to Kodanda Rama, accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana, with the devoted Hanuman by their side. Separate shrines are dedicated to Venu Gopala, along with his consorts Rukmini and Bhama, as well as Ganesha and Nagas. Saint Raghavendra is honored with a stucco image. The Nanganallur Hanuman Temple attracts a large number of visitors due to its sign...

In South India, there was a time when the mention of an amusement park would invariably lead to VGP Golden Beach in Chennai. However, in the past 15-20 years (as of the writing of this blog in 2016 CE), numerous amusement and theme parks have sprung up in towns and cities across South India. Even in Chennai, there are now several amusement parks, and EVP World is one of them. While EVP World may not enjoy the same level of popularity as VGP Golden Beach, MGM, or Kishkinta (yes, that's the correct spelling!), its location may be a contributing factor. Situated on the outskirts of Chennai, near Chembarampakkam, EVP World offers a unique experience for visitors. The European-inspired entrances create the illusion of stepping into a foreign country, and the exclusive European-style shopping area known as Downing Street enhances this ambiance. Approximately half of the amusement park is dedicated to water-based games and rides. While it may not reach the standards of foreign count...

Tiruneermalai  is a small area located near Pallavaram, which in turn is located near Chennai city in the Tamil Nadu state of India. The village has a prominent temple for Vishnu called  Neervanna Perumal Temple . It is considered the  61st Divya Desam,  located in the Thondai region.  You need not to be a devotee to love this place. The hilltop temple gives an excellent aerial view of Tambaram and the adjoining areas. On a winter day, you can enjoy the pleasant weather if you visit the site in the early morning or late evening.  Let us explore this temple in this article. Highlights: Tirumangai Alwar  and Bhootatalwar have composed about this site in their verses. It is considered as the   61st Divya Desam temple . It is located in the Thondai region. Vishnu is found in four different forms and postures in four separate shrines in this temple. God  -  Neervanna Perumal, Narasimha, Ranganath, Tri Vikrama Goddess  - A...