Nanganallur Ardhanareeswara Temple

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 temple has been meticulously constructed in accordance with the principles of Agama Shastra. Oriented towards the east, the temple boasts a grand Raja Gopura as its entrance.

The sanctum is home to a modestly sized Shiv Linga, revered as Ardhanareeswarar. Concealed on the wall behind the Linga rests a relief depiction of Ardhanari, an embodiment merging the halves of Shiva and Uma. Often, this intricate image goes unnoticed by devotees. At the entrance, the icons of Ganesha and Subramanya greet the visitors. 

A distinct south-facing shrine enshrines Ardhanareeswari, the Goddess of the temple. It is technically a wrong name though.

The bronze images of Somaskanda and Nataraja-Shivakami are located in separate shrines within the Maha mandapa region. 

Notable niche sculptures include depictions of Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhava, Brahma, and Durga. Chandikeshwara finds his customary abode adjacent to Durga. Additionally, the temple premises house sub shrines devoted to Bhairava, Moola Linga, Nalvar, Sekkizhar and Navagraha.

The highlight of the temple materializes through a magnificent stone sculpture of Shanta Durga, standing an impressive seven feet tall. This depiction, also recognized as Ashthabuja Durga, portrays the eight-armed manifestation of Durga gracefully perched upon the buffalo-headed Mahisa. This sculpture, effectively a distinct temple in itself, stands as a testament to divine craftsmanship. The design of her shrine mirrors that of a chariot.

Adjacent to the temple complex, a meticulously maintained, sizable tank brims with water, adding to the serene ambiance of the surroundings. On its banks, the stucco sculptures of Adi Shankara with his four disciples are found.

Happy travelling.