Sri Mundaka Kanniamman temple, Mylapore, Chennai

This Temple is around 1000 years old. In the olden days there was a lotus pond in this place. Under the Banyan tree in the banks of this pond, Ambal manifested herself in swayambu form.  In the beginning, the devotees erected a small hut as sanctum for Ambal and worshipped her.  Later, an elaborate temple was structured.  Since there has been no sanction from Ambal, the Prime sanctum continues to be the hut.  It is said that Ambal in order to indicate simplicity lives in the hut and graces us. Ambal’s swayambu form of this holy place looks like a lotus bud. Hence, she is called ‘Mundaka Kanniamman”.  ‘Mundakam’ means ‘lotus’. The significant feature is of the trident, the primary weapon of Devi, seen at the center of the swayambu form. 

The swayumbu Goddess Sri Munda KanniAmman

The Naga (sacred snake of the temple)

A portrait of the Amman

Uchava Murthi

Temple Tree

The traditional belief is that Mundaka Kanniamman holds the power of the Trinity – Siva, Vishnu and Brahma.  The Banyan tree is behind Ambal’s sanctum.  Within the tree is the snake-cove and beside the tree is the sanctum of Naaga Devathai. Those with serpent-curse, worship the Naaga Devathai by offering milk, rose-water, turmeric abishekam and by lighting ghee-lamp.  On the left of the Prime sanctum, the procession Ambal graces us seated on the throne, flanked in both sides with Simha Vahanam – lion carriers.  In the prakaaram are the sapta kannikas appearing in the linga form. Jamadagni Maharishi and his son Parasuramar are seen as security gods on both their sides.  In front of the temple is Lord Vinayaka under the pipal tree.  Those with serpent-curse install Nagar (serpent) images under this tree.  This is the holy place where Vaayilaar, one of the Nayanmar and Peyaalvaar, one of the aalvaars were born.  Around this temple are the famous  Kapaleeswarar temple,  Parthasarathy and Madhavap Perumal temples.  By having the darshan of Mundaka Kanniamman, we can also go to these temples.

The Ambal is swayambu and appear with twin arms and donned with serpent crown.  There is a small vimanam constructed above her, in which are the female doorkeepers.  During the abishekam  performed from morning 6.00 to 11.30 we can worship the swayambu form of the Amman.  A fee of Rs.150/- is collected from the devotees to participate in the abishekam function.

Those who pray to her offer turmeric, sandal, saffron powder, kaappu and also annabishekam.  Generally, only in the Siva temples, the Lord is worshipped performing annabishekam.  Since the Ambal here is an aspect of Parvati Devi, she is worshipped by performing annaabishekam.  To prepare the Pongal offering to her, the temple uses only the dried cowdung.  The residue ashes are distributed as prasaadam.

1008 flower-basket Abishekam   :  The main prasaadma in this temple are the neem leaves, lime fruits, turmeric and holy water that are offered toAmman during prayer.

At the frontage of the Ambigai’s sanctum are the saptakannikas (the seven virgins) Brahmi, Maheswari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Kaumari, Indirani and Chamundi in the sculpture forms.  The whole of Aaadi and Thai months festivals are celebrated.  The ‘Porridge distribution’ festival in the month of Aadi and the ‘Pongal offering’ in the month of Thai are very famous festivals.  The 1008 Flower-basket abishekam on the last Friday of Aadi, the 108 Lamp Pooja on the last Friday of Thai and on the Chithira Pournami day, the 1008 Milk-pot abishekam are important features.  On the ninth day of the Navarathiri festival, Ambal in the guise of Mahishasuramarthini goes in procession along the streets.   There is also a practice amidst the devotees who take vow to her of going round the sanctum wearing neem leaves attire. Every evening Ambal goes in procession in her golden chariot.  The fee to participate in this is Rs.1000/-.

Those afflicted with chickenpox, by praying to her gets relief is the stern belief.  Devotees who confront impediments in getting married and those affected with eye diseases also pray to her.  By lighting 23 lamps, people pray to her to attain rank in studies.

When their prayers are fulfilled, the devotees perform abhishekam to Ambal and do ‘angaprathakshinam’ (body-rolling around the sanctum).

Text courtesy : dinamalar.com

Image Courtesy: dinamalar.com

Kengal Anjeneya Swamy Temple, Chennapattana

The following temple is located in Vandaraguppe village,Channapatna dist, Karnataka. The presiding deity here is Swayambu Hanuman, which is a five & half feet long, and the idol sprouts a mustache.  It is very seldom for a ''swayumbu lord hanuman'' to sprout a mustache. Swayambhu (also spelled Svayambhu) means Self-manifested or that which is created by its own accord. Hanuman idol emerged from the red rocks, and to this date it is still emerging. ''Kengal'' in Kannada means 'redstone' from which the idol is emerging from, hence the lord is  called here as ''Kengal Hunumantha'' also know as Kengal Anjeneya Swamy'' It is to be noted that the idol is usually decorated with bright orange paint, called sindhoor. This idol is naturally bright orange-red!    


Few 1,000 years ago, Vyasa (sage) was passing by a bright red boulder. Upon discovering this, he was all excited and visualized an Hanuman etched from those rocks. The omni present lord Hanuman, full filled Vyasa's wish by slowly emerging from the rocks, with crisp details as vyasa imagined. This also included a very rare yet a perfect mustache. The temple was build by ''Hoysala kings''. After Hoysalas, no one cared to maintain the temple and as a result the temple almost reduced to rumble. A Karnataka Cheif Minister who goes by the same name as that of the lord, renovated the temple. He was building vidhansaudha, and used the same rocks and granites to renovate the temple. He was a staunch devotee of this Hanuman,  so he was buried closer to the temple. His Samadhi is at a stone throw's distance. Thanks to the ex CM, the temple is well maintained by the devotees and the temple trustees. the temple sees more devotees year after year! 



This temple, like any other ancient temples, is quite unique. Lord came here to please Vysa. The sage who wrote Hindu epic Mahabaratha. The idol is very powerful and vested with a lot of energy. Hence people with ill intentions cannot withstand the idol; it triggers vibes that can be harmful. The lord is merciless in punishing the mean & bad. The lord also does not fail to bless the good ones. Good and bad is not necessarily decided by our actions, but how much guilt we acquire from it. This is a famous hindu piligrimage site for childless couples and people with other illnesses.  


There are other fascinating phenomenon associated with this temple. This temple never ceases to surprise its devotees. Few decades ago, the idol's face was facing north, and over the years it now looks east! As the face moving from one direction to the other, the hidden eye is also evolving. When the idol was facing north, devotees could see only the right-side mustache and a right eye, now both the eyes are visible and so is complete mustache.    One of the architectural marvel of this temple is that, the first (sun) rays on Makara Shankranthi Day (jan 14/15) i.e the first day of Uttarayana falls directly on the idol. This does not happen on other days! 





The difference between this temple and other temples is that prayers are answered on your first visit to the temple. Standing in front of this idol, absorbing powerful vibes, will make a commoner into a physic there by knowing the answer to the individual's prayers. It does not matter which part of the world you are in, nor the religion, praying to Hanuman in silence will make wonders!   


May lord Hanuman bless us all!