Mookambika Temple - Chennai

When I say Mookambika, you would definitely think about the famous Mookambika temple at Kollur. But, there is a Mookambika temple on the outskirts of Chennai city, about which this article talks about.

Mookambika's temple is located in a very peaceful locality in Santhosapuram near Tambaram. As vehicles are not allowed inside the complex, and the temple is surrounded by trees, the atmosphere is very calm and serene. This private temple is maintained very neatly and gives us good vibrations.

The east-facing temple has a two-tiered gopuram. The sanctum enshrines Mookambika, the supreme Goddess. She is seated in Padmasana. Her two upper arms hold conch and discus. This is a massive metal icon and not a stone image. The iconography is similar to that of the Kollur temple.

There are two other metal icons of Mookambika in the standing posture found in the sanctum. They are processional images. Shiv Linga is also found along with these three images.

The outside walls of the sanctum have niche images of Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu and Durga. The maha mandapam is very long.

There is a separate south-facing shrine for Vishnu Durga or Padmalochana. Her image is as per Kerala style iconography.

Other sub-shrines such as Ganesha, Adi Shankaracharya, Veerabhadra, Navagraha, Lakshmi and Saraswati are found in this temple. Adi Shankara, Lakshmi and Saraswati are marble idols.

Happy travelling.

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