Nanganallur Hayagriva Temple

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 positioned facing the main shrine, one can observe a lofty flag staff, a bali peetha, and a sub-shrine dedicated to Garuda. Additionally, a separate shrine houses the revered figure of Vedanta Desikar, facing southward.

Upon entering, a niche near the entrance is adorned with an icon of Gajananan, more commonly known as Vishvaksena. He holds conch and discus in his arms. Due to his elephant head, people mistake him as Ganesha.

The temple's prakara, or outer courtyard, is adorned with several sub-shrines dedicated to other deities. These include Hanuman, Andal, Sudarshana with Narasimha on his back, along with bronze images representing the revered Alwars and Ramanuja.

Happy travelling.