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Koils in Madras

Koils in Madras.

This (16th July 2006) evening 5 PM, we (myself and Vijaya) embarked on a minor tour of "Koils-in-Mylapore."

We went to (1) Shri Veera Anjaneyar Koil, (2) Shri Adi Kesava Perumal Koil, (3) Shri Vedhantha Desikar Koil (both near the Chitrakulam, Mylapore. The (2) and (3) are very ancient koils. On our walk back home, we went to Shri Karpaka Vinayakar Koil, near our house. We walked non-stop for over 2 hours but the experience was most satisfying. An evening well spent, in stead of couch-potatoing in front of the dumb TV.

The place, streets and lanes, the houses around these Koils must be over 200 years' ancient and is a sight to behold. Remember my earlier mail two years ago on an ancient house in Mylapore, transporting us back in the Time machine? Today, we re-visited that place, but not that house. I like to visit such places of heritage, which mirror our culture.

Day before yesterday (14th) we went to Shri Ramakrishna Mutt, and Shri Saibaba Koil in Mylapore and yesterday (15th) to Vinayakar Koil and Iyappan koil. Since coming over to Madras in end Dec 2001, Vijaya and I have explored, by walk, many places and many temples. Apart from the large koils like Shri Kapaliswarar koil, Shri Parthasarathy koil, and Vadapalani Shri Murugan Koil, we have gone to many temples, medium and small.

We started our exploration with Navasakthi Vinayakar koil in Kilpauk, then Shiva-Vishnu koil (also in Kilpauk), Paathaala Ponni Amman koil (in Ormes Road, suggested by Ramamurthy athimber), and Shri Gangadeeswarar koil, Purasaiwakkam. This is a very ancient koil, where Bhageeratha is said to have performed thavam to bring Ganga. The Amman, Shri Pankajakshi Amman looks so beautiful, you wouldn't have the heart to take away your eyes from Her, and Her most benevolent Face.

Later, we read that there is a Vellala St in Purasai where the famous Tamil writers like RK Narayan, Raa ki Rangarajan, Ja Raa Sundaresan, Punithan lived for many years (Even MS lived here for sometime) - we two went, like Columbus, in pursuit of this street of literature. We walked where they had walked years ago. (Today, Saravana Bhavan Hotel is located in RK Narayan's house !!) At the other end of this street, is an ancient koil, Shri Kesava Perumal koil, a beautiful koil. We also went to Iyappan koil at Landon's Rd, Kilpauk, apart from small Pillaiyar and Ponni amman koils.

Shri Iyappan koil, Shri Chandramouleeswarar koil (both in Anna nagar), Shri Saibaba koil (Shenoy nagar) were the other koils we used to frequent while in Kilpauk. We have also gone to Pillaiyar koil and Shri Iyappan koil (both in Mahalingapuram), Ashta Lakshmi koil, Aaru Padai Veedu (Murugan koil), Shri Ratnagireeswarar koil (all in Besant nagar), Maruntheeswarar Koil in Thiruvanmiyur, Mangadu and Thiruverkadu Amman koils, Shri Vengeeswarar koil at Vadapalany, Kali Bari Koil at Ashoknagar.

We have gone to Shri Navasakti Pillaiyar koil (Luz), Shri Anjaneyar koil (Mylapore) earlier also when visiting Madras. Now we are in Madras itself, we have added Shri Anjaneyar koil, at Alwarpet.

I could have forgotten a few, but this sums almost our Temple tour of about 32 temples in Madras in less than 5 years.

God Bless all,
Rajappa
20.35 on 16th July 2006

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