Mambakkam Kariya Manicka Perumal Temple

Just 250 meters from Muruganateeswarar Temple, in the village of Mambakkam near Chennai, stands a small but charming temple dedicated to Kariya Manickam. This temple has existed for centuries, though no historical records are currently available. The temple, which had been in a dilapidated state for a long time, was recently fully rebuilt. What we see today is a newly constructed temple. The presiding deity is Kariya Manicka Perumal, depicted standing with a conch and discus in his upper arms. Bronze images of Perumal with his two consorts, along with Krishna and Ramanuja, are also enshrined here. Flanking the entrance are Visvaksena and Sudarshana, with Yoga Narasimha positioned behind Sudarshana.

Facing the main deity is Garuda, and behind him is a tall flagstaff. A separate shrine in the prakara houses a beautiful image of Lakshmi, while Andal and Hanuman are enshrined in smaller sub-shrines. Lakshmi Narasimha, Varadaraja, and Lakshmi Hayagreeva are the Koshta deities.

Next to the Andal shrine stands the original Vishnu of the temple—a stone sculpture believed to be over 300 years old.

In front of the temple lies a pond, though it’s difficult to recognize it as one today.

Happy travelling.