ARULMIGUPARASURAMA LINGESWAR TEMPLE, AYNAVARAM, CHENNAI- COMPILED Dear friends,
Arulmigu Parasurama Lingeswarar Temple, Aynavaram, Chennai .This ancient Hindu temple features Shiva as the presiding deity, ParasuramaLingeswarar, and Parvati as the goddess Parvathambigai. The temple issignificant as it's believed to be the place where Parasurama worshipped LordShiva to absolve himself of the sin of killing his mother, leading to his nameand the naming of the temple. A unique feature is the Shiva Lingam, whose colour is said tochange with the seasons. This is the only famousParasurama temple in Tamilnadu. Today my posting is about this temple. Hope a divinereading. Gopalakrishnan 19-09-2025 Introduction The temple is known as the Parasurama Easwara Temple (also calledParasurama Lingeswarar Temple), located in Ayanavaram, Chennai. This ancienttemple features a unique ShivaLinga with a square base and a well-known idol of Lord Murugan inthe sanctum, and it is considered historically famous and a significantspiritual site in the region. Thistemple is the only famous Parasurama temple in Tamilnadu. Key Details Temple Name: Arulmigu Parasurama Lingeswarar Temple Location: Parasuraman Lingeswar Street, Ayanavaram, Chennai -600023 Deity: Lord Shiva (Parasurama Lingeswarar) and GoddessParvati (Parvathambigai) Historical Significance The temple is named afterParasurama, who is said to have built a Shiva Lingam and worshipped Lord Shivahere to atone for the sin of killing his mother, Renuka. Etymology: It is also believed that the area got its name,"Ayanavaram," from the god Brahma (called "Ayan" in Tamil)being saved by Lord Shiva in the temple's tank. Unique Aspects Colour-Changing Lingam: The Shiva Lingam is said to change colour with the seasons;it is black from Aavani to Margazhi (August to December) and golden fromPanguni to Aadi (March to July). Ablutions: Due to the Lingam being a theenda thirumeni (adivine idol that cannot be touched), it is washed only with water, tendercoconut water, and panchamirtham. Historical Significance: The temple has ancient origins andis associated with Lord Parasurama. Unique Shiva Linga: The Shiva Linga in the temple has asquare base, a distinctive feature compared to most other Shiva temples. Lord Murugan: A life-size and blissful idol of Lord Muruganis present in the sanctum to the left of the Shiva Linga. Spiritual Atmosphere: It is known to be a peaceful andcharming place for worship, offering a pleasant experience for devotees. Legends There are many legends behind Parasurama, and one such legendis given below. As per legend, Parasuramar, one of the incarnations of MahaVishnu, was born to Sage Jamadkini and Kshatriya's wife Renuka. Renuka used tomake new pots daily out of river sand and bring water for Jamadgini’s pooja.One day while making a pot, Renuka happened to see a Yaksha flying across theriver and admired the beauty of Yaksha. After she had seen the Yaksha, shecouldn’t make the pot. Jamadagini ordered hisson Parasurama to kill his mother. Parasurama got a boon from his father, Jamadagini after theincident, and he asked to give back lifeto his mother after killing. The Sin Caused by the killing of his mother,Parasurama made a Shiva Lingam and worshiped Lord Shiva. Shri Shiva and Parvati appeared asRishabaroodar and blessed Parasuramar. Hence, Lord Shiva of thistemple is called ParasuramaLingeswarar. In another legend, Brahma, also called Ayan, waswashed in the temple tank, and Shri Shiva saved him. Brahma worshiped LordShiva in this temple. Hence this place is called Ayan Puram, and the same hasbeen corrupted to the present name of Ayanavaram. But Still, the latter periodinscriptions mention this place as Ayan Puram. History andinscriptions Most of the Gajabirushta Vimanam temples in Thondai Nadu werebuilt during the Pallava period, hence, we may consider that this temple wasalso constructed during the 8thto 9th Century Pallava period and later reconstructed with bricksduring recent years. The Pallava period Murugan, aka Brahma Sastha, belongs tothe Pallava period and confirms the same. Some Historians claim that thistemple was constructed during the Chozha period. Ardha mandapam and maha mandapam might have been constructedduring the Chozha period, and the pillars are square and octagonal and Vettupothyal. A piece of broken Pillar is installed on the left side of the mahamandapam east side entrance. This pillar may belong to the Vijayanagara period. This temple, Noothana Dwajasthamba Jeernotharana AshtaBandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam, was conducted from 20th August 1961 to 27th August 1961. Yagawas initiated by Ma Bakthavatchalam, the then Minister for Temples' welfare. Rs 301, the maximum contribution tothis endowment was made by K Narasimhalu Naidu, the Managing Trustee. Ashta Bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 09th September 1990. TheJeernotharana Ashta Bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam and Durgai mandapam openingceremony was conducted on 03rd May 1996. A New flagstaff /kodimaram/Dwajasthambam was installed, andAshta Bandhana Samarpana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 26th March 1997. Kanchi mutt Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal visited thistemple on 09th December 2002. Rajagopuram Jeernotharana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conductedin Rajagopuram on 03rd May2006 Punaravarthana Jeernotharana Ashta Bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on21st February 2022. Architecture The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The templetank is on the opposite side of the road and is kept neat and clean. The tankis about 6 feet below ground level. The 5-tier Rajagopuram is on the east side.Kodimaram, Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. The temple was rebuilt with bricks. The Gajabirushta Vimanamwas built on a pada bandha adhistanam with threepatta kumudam Deities Moolavar : SriParasurama Lingeswarar Consort : SriParvathambigai. Ambal is in a separate temple like Sannidhi facing east withSanctum Sanctorum, A Srichakra was installed in Ambal Sannidhi by Jagath Guru MounaNanda Theertha Mahaswamigal, with the blessings of Kanchi mutt JayendraSaraswati Swamigal on 12th September 1976, for the same Kanchi muttSankarachariyar donated Rs 51.00 and the rest of the contributions receivedfrom the public. Sub deities Sannidhis of Maha Ganapathi and Sri ValliDevasena Subramaniar are on both sides of the east side entrance tothe maha mandapam after the Rishabam. In the outer praharam, Nagars, Swayambhu, Chandikeswarar, Patteeswarar, KalaBairavar, Navagrahas, Saneeswarar, Chandran and Suriyan are installed. In ardha / maha mandapam Natarajar, Balasubramaniar and Utsava Murtis are there.Balasubramaniar is in standing posture with 4 hands. The upper hands areholding accamala and Kendy/ kamandalam and lower right hand in abhaya hastamand left hand is kadi hastam. Hence Bala Subramaniyar is Brahma Sastha. Dakshinamurthy, MahaVishnu, and Brahma areon the two levels and greevam. Swayambhu and Patteeswarar Sannidhis are alittle below Ground level (the outside ground level was raised later) A lizard and two tortoisebas-reliefs are on the maha mandapam ceiling. Poojas andcelebrations Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Pournami, Ashtami Theipirai,Vinayagar Chaturthi, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, etc, Temple timings The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrsand 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs. contact details For Tamil Archana, M Muruganatha Sivam Gurukkal may becontacted on his mobile number +91 8124763613. How to reach The temple is 450 meters from Railway Quarters, 900 metersfrom RTO Office Bus Stop, and 2.4 km from Perambur Railway Station The temple is 8 km from Koyambedu and 7.7 km from ChennaiCentral Railway Station. Frequent city buses plyfrom Chennai- Parrys to Ayanavaram itself Administration The temple is under the management of HR&CE Government ofTamilnadu -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1369631900.3434679.1758253750546%40mail.yahoo.com.
