This ancient temple’s vimana is similar to the one in Tirupati
By Express News Service | Published: 03rd October 2017 11:07 PM |
Last Updated: 04th October 2017 08:33 AM | A+A A- |
Kotturpuram, another of the bustling areas of Chennai, is in fact, one of the oldest in this city. The ancient territorial sub-division called Kottur-nadu mentioned in several inscriptions, even prior to the 13th Century AD, takes its name from the village of Kottur.
Here is a small, ancient temple for Vishnu dedicated to Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal. A weatherworn inscription is seen on the base of the north wall of the main sanctum. A tradition associated with this shrine is that the famous music composer Talapakka Annamacharya (1424-1503 AD) a devotee of Venkateswara of Tirumala, visited this temple.
The east-facing principal sanctum-sanctorum (called garbha-griha) enshrines the image of Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal, seen in a standing posture holding the Sankha and Chakra in the upper hands. The lower right hand is in the pose of giving boons to his devotees (varada hasta) and the lower left hand rests on his waist (kati hasta).
Above the lintel of the door of this sanctum is carved a small and beautiful image of Gajalakshmi. The vimana above the central sanctum is called the Ananda Nilaya Vimana just like the one in the world-famous Venkateshwara temple in Tirumala (Tirupati).
The mandapa in front has the sanctum of Goddess Lakshmi, worshipped here as Alarmelmangai Thayar and also one for Andal. Images of some of the Azhvars (twelve important devotees of Vishnu), Vaishnava preceptors (Acharyas), Hanuman and Sudarsana (the discus of Vishnu) are also in worship.
There is sanctum for Venugopala Svami (Krishna) with four arms, with the upper two hands holding the Sankha and Chakra and the lower hands holding the flute. This image has a bracelet (kankana) adorning his left wrist. A cow stands behind, endearingly licking Krishna’s foot. In front is a beautiful processional icon of Venugopala Svami and another of Kalinga Narthana Krishna (dancing on serpent Kalinga).
Chithra Madhavan
cityexpresschn@gmail.com
The writer is a historian who focuses on temple architecture
