How a Muslim Saint's Legacy Lives on Through an Ancient Temple

Welcome to Chintadaripet, a planned township established by the British in the 1700s. While Adipureeswara and Adikeshava, the twin temples built during the British period, are well-known, there's also an intriguing temple called Angala Parameswari that this article aims to shed light on.

Nestled on the narrow Venkata Gramani Street, this tiny temple has a unique feature: a Dargah, a fascinating amalgamation of two religions.

The four-armed Angala Parameswari, seated on a lion, is the Grama Devata or village goddess. There are assertions that this temple existed even before the Britishers formed this township.

According to legend, in the 18th century, a Muslim Sufi saint stayed in this temple and healed the ailments of the villagers. As per his wishes, he was buried in the temple complex after his demise, and today, his small Dargah can be seen on the narrow prakara or circumambulatory path around the shrine.

Devotees still visit the temple every Thursday to pray to the unnamed Muslim saint. His anniversary is celebrated grandly in the Tamil month of Aadi.

During the Shivaratri Mayana Kollai festival, thousands flock to the temple to seek blessings.

Happy travelling.