Ayanavaram's history stems from the legend of Lord Muruga admonishing Lord Brahma, who then prayed to Shiva in the locality, leading to the name Ayanpuram (meaning Brahma's town). The area was later built by the Gujarati community, who established significant landmarks like the Kashi Vishwanath Temple around the 18th century.
Mythological Origins Brahma's Prayer: The name Ayanpuram comes from the Tamil word 'Ayan,' meaning Brahma. A mythological belief suggests that Lord Muruga admonished Brahma, causing him to lose his creative powers. Brahma then prayed to Lord Shiva at a site in this locality, eventually getting his powers back. The area was named Ayanpuram in recognition of Brahma's worship there. Community Development Gujarati Influence: In the 16th and 17th centuries, Gujarati traders fleeing political instability in other regions settled in the area. These communities, including the Tawkers, were instrumental in developing the locality. Landmarks: The Tawker community built the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a significant landmark in Ayanavaram. The temple is located near the Ayanavaram bus stand and Medavakkam Tank Road. Temple History Chola Era Temple: Ayanavaram is home to several temples, including the Parasurameshwara temple, which is believed to date back to the Chola period. This east-facing temple features a five-tiered gopuram and enshrines a large Shiva Linga worshipped as Parashurameshwara. Kasi Vishwanatha Temple: This temple, about 200 years old, was built by the Gujarati community. It was a vital cultural hub and retains the spirit of a village festival. The temple owes its existence to the Tawkers, a clan which though of Gujarati origin, had moved South and made Trichy its base in the 1700s. In fact most members used T as their initial thereby establishing their connection with the historic town of the Rock Fort. The most famous among the Tawkwers was of course TR Tawker who later moved to Madras and had a Henry Irwin designed showroom on Mount Road. This branch of the Tawkers became insolvent in the 1920s. Those who were responsible for the temple were however of a collateral branch and an inscription on a granite slab let into the doorway of the temple mentions the name of Viswanatha Tawker. It was however two women of the family who really were the prime-movers and this was around 200 years ago (a very convenient figure for most things historical in our city). Ramkor Bai and Ratna Bai were sisters who were either directly descended from or married into the Tawker line. They were wealthy in their own right and according to family legend, at one time had even lent money to the East India Company for financing its cloth trade. They had been on a pilgrimage to Varanasi and brought back with them two Shiva lingas. One was enshrined at the Motta Utara on Mint Street, the larger of the two congregational centres for the Khedawal community of Gujaratis in Madras. The sisters planned to consecrate the second linga on land owned by them at Ayyanavaram. A vast expanse was demarcated and the shrine was duly built complete with a modest tower, a courtyard, some sub-shrines and a sanctum with two shrines in it, one for Kasi Viswanatha and the other for his consort Visalakshi. A tank was excavated across the road. It is said that the sisters had planned to build a companion shrine for Vishnu as well, probably on the lines of the Chenna Kesava and Chenna Malleeswara Temple of George Town but a burglar made off with the money earmarked for the second project and so that never materialized. he Hindu, on 23rd May 2012 carried my article on this temple – http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article3446967.ece K Rajaram IRS 19925 On Fri, 19 Sept 2025 at 09:21, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > *ARULMIGU PARASURAMA LINGESWAR TEMPLE, AYNAVARAM, CHENNAI- COMPILED* > > Dear friends, > > Arulmigu Parasurama Lingeswarar Temple, Aynavaram, Chennai . This ancient > Hindu temple features Shiva as the presiding deity, Parasurama Lingeswarar, > and Parvati as the goddess Parvathambigai. *The temple is significant as > it's believed to be the place where Parasurama worshipped Lord Shiva to > absolve himself of the sin of killing his mother, leading to his name and > the naming of the temple*. > > A unique feature is the Shiva Lingam, whose colour is said to change with > the seasons. > > This is the only famous Parasurama temple in *Tamilnadu*. Today my > posting is about this temple. Hope a divine reading. > > Gopalakrishnan 19-09-2025 > > Introduction > > The temple is known as the Parasurama Easwara Temple (also called > Parasurama Lingeswarar Temple), located in Ayanavaram, Chennai. This > ancient temple features a unique *Shiva Linga with a square base* and a > well-known idol of Lord Murugan in the sanctum, and it is considered > historically famous and a significant spiritual site in the region. This > temple 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 Goddess Parvati > (Parvathambigai) > > Historical Significance > > *The temple is named after Parasurama, who is said to have built a Shiva > Lingam and worshipped Lord Shiva here 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 from Panguni to Aadi (March to July). > > Ablutions: Due to the Lingam being a theenda thirumeni (a divine idol that > cannot be touched), it is washed only with water, tender coconut water, and > panchamirtham. > > Historical Significance: The temple has ancient origins and is associated > with Lord Parasurama. > > Unique Shiva Linga: The Shiva Linga in the temple has a square base, a > distinctive feature compared to most other Shiva temples. > > Lord Murugan: A life-size and blissful idol of Lord Murugan is present in > the sanctum to the left of the Shiva Linga. > > Spiritual Atmosphere: It is known to be a peaceful and charming place for > worship, offering a pleasant experience for devotees. > > Legends > > There are many legends behind Parasurama, and one such legend is given > below. As per legend, Parasuramar, one of the incarnations of Maha Vishnu, > was born to Sage Jamadkini and Kshatriya's wife Renuka. Renuka used to make > 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 the > river and admired the beauty of Yaksha. After she had seen the Yaksha, she > couldn’t make the pot*. Jamadagini ordered his son Parasurama to kill his > mother*. > > Parasurama got a boon from his father, Jamadagini after the incident, and > he asked to give back life to 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 as Rishabaroodar* and > blessed Parasuramar. Hence, Lord Shiva of this temple is called *Parasurama > Lingeswarar.* > > In another legend, Brahma, also called Ayan, was washed in the temple > tank, and Shri Shiva saved him. Brahma worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple. > Hence this place is called Ayan Puram, and the same has been corrupted to > the present name of Ayanavaram. But Still, the latter period inscriptions > mention this place as Ayan Puram. > > History and inscriptions > > Most of the Gajabirushta Vimanam temples in Thondai Nadu were built during > the Pallava period, hence, we may consider that this temple was also > constructed during the *8th to 9th Century* Pallava period and later > reconstructed with bricks during recent years. The Pallava period Murugan, > aka Brahma Sastha, belongs to the Pallava period and confirms the same. > Some Historians claim that this temple was constructed during the Chozha > period. > > Ardha mandapam and maha mandapam might have been constructed during the > Chozha period, and the pillars are square and octagonal and Vettu pothyal. > A piece of broken Pillar is installed on the left side of the maha mandapam > east side entrance. This pillar may belong to the Vijayanagara period. > > This temple, Noothana Dwajasthamba Jeernotharana Ashta Bandhana Maha > Kumbhabhishekam, was conducted from 20th August 1961 to *27th August > 1961.* Yaga was initiated by Ma Bakthavatchalam, the then Minister for > Temples' welfare. *Rs 301, the maximum contribution to this endowment was > made by K Narasimhalu Naidu, the Managing Trustee.* > > Ashta Bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 09th September 1990. > The Jeernotharana Ashta Bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam and Durgai mandapam > opening ceremony was conducted on 03rd May 1996. > > A New flagstaff /kodimaram/Dwajasthambam was installed, and Ashta Bandhana > Samarpana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 26th March 1997. > > Kanchi mutt Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal visited this temple on 09th > December 2002. > > Rajagopuram Jeernotharana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in > Rajagopuram on 03rd May 2006 > > Punaravarthana Jeernotharana Ashta Bandhana Maha *Kumbhabhishekam was > conducted on 21st February 2022.* > > Architecture > > The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The temple tank is on the > opposite side of the road and is kept neat and clean. The tank is 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 Vimanam was built on > a pada bandha adhistanam with threepatta kumudam > > Deities > > Moolavar : Sri Parasurama Lingeswarar > > Consort : Sri Parvathambigai. Ambal is in a separate temple like > Sannidhi facing east with Sanctum Sanctorum, A Srichakra was installed in > Ambal Sannidhi by Jagath Guru Mouna Nanda Theertha Mahaswamigal, with the > blessings of Kanchi mutt Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal on 12th September > 1976, for the same Kanchi mutt Sankarachariyar donated Rs 51.00 and the > rest of the contributions received from the public. > > Sub deities > > Sannidhis of *Maha Ganapathi and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar* are on > both sides of the east side entrance to the maha mandapam after the > Rishabam. > > In the outer praharam, Nagars, Swayambhu, Chandikeswarar, Patteeswarar, > Kala Bairavar, 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 are holding accamala and Kendy/ kamandalam and lower right hand in > abhaya hastam and left hand is kadi hastam. Hence Bala Subramaniyar is > Brahma Sastha. > > Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the two levels and > greevam. Swayambhu and Patteeswarar Sannidhis are a little below Ground > level (the outside ground level was raised later) > > *A lizard and two tortoise bas-reliefs are on the maha mandapam ceiling.* > > Poojas and celebrations > > 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 hrs and 16.00 hrs > to 20.30 hrs. > > contact details > > For Tamil Archana, M Muruganatha Sivam Gurukkal may be contacted on his > mobile number +91 8124763613. > > How to reach > > The temple is 450 meters from Railway Quarters, 900 meters from RTO Office > Bus Stop, and 2.4 km from Perambur Railway Station > > The temple is 8 km from Koyambedu and 7.7 km from Chennai Central Railway > Station. > > *Frequent city buses ply from Chennai- Parrys to Ayanavaram itself* > > Administration > > The temple is under the management of HR&CE Government of Tamilnadu > > > > > > -- > 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 > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1369631900.3434679.1758253750546%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- 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/CAL5XZoou3%2BxsVJ_eGyyb%3Do9yH_4Pq1WjfA%2BxLoQ5FvDDbt8OBw%40mail.gmail.com.
