Sri Komaleeswarar Temple, Pudupet, Egmore, Chennai

 

Moolavar: Sri Komaleeswarar

Amman: Sri Komalavalli Ambal

A 400-year-old Shiva temple is in the busy market area of old automobile parts, at Komaleeswaranpet, Pudupet, on the banks of Vriddha Ksheera River, the earlier name for the holy river Cooum/Koovam.

The name is derived from Ko= Cow  Madi = Udder of a cow, Eshwaran = Shiva, legend has it that The cow belonged to a Chola king’s herd every day would go to the anthill and pour milk. The king’s cowherd boys chased it and saw this miracle. When the Chola king dug the anthill, he got blood instead of mud. He realized it was a Shiva Lingam and built the temple. Cow’s udder hit the anthill → broke it → Shiva Lingam appeared. So the Lingam is Suyambhu self-manifested, not installed and the Ko-Madi- Eswaran became Komaleeswarar.

The temple was constructed by King Chandragiri and later Rajagopuram was added. One of the specialties of this temple is Paavai Vilakku (Lady holding a lamp made of brass). Once upon a time there were 300 Agraharam houses here and today only 2 are remaining.

A swamini Chakkarathammal / Anandhammal or Sakkarai Ammal, a young widow, lived in a madam outside this temple and gained remarkable powers by worshiping Lord Shiva and practicing yoga. With the powers she used to fly around the temple at night. On hearing this, many people became her devotees, and one  Dr. Nanjunda Rao extended support with materials to her. She attained Jeeva Samadhi at the age of 47, and her Samadhi was built near Kalakshetra in Thiruvanmiyur.

 It is said that the swamy here protects his devotees like a cow protects its calf. People come for abhayam/protection, child boon, and relief from fear. The milk abhishekam is big here because of the cow legend.

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram.

 Dwajasthambam, Palipedam, and Rishabami are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Murugan and Vinayagar are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is swayambhu. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, and Durgai. 

In the outer praharam, Chandikeswarar, Ayyappan, Navagrahas, Bairavar, and Agasthiya Vinayagar. In the inner praharam sannadhi for Sankatahara Chaturthi Vinayagar, Naalvar, Natarajar with Sivagami and Sri Kamalambika / Komalavalli.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi in the maha mandapam. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. A balipeedam and a Rishabam are in front of the Ambal sannidhi in the praharam. 

The pillars have the relief of a cow shedding milk on Shiva Linga, the king worshiping Komaleeswara, etc. The ceiling has the reliefs of crocodiles and Solar and Lunar eclipses by showing the snakes swallowing the sun and moon. The sthala vruksham is the mahavilvam, a rare bilva / vilva tree.

The bhairava shrine and the old banyan tree inside the prakaram are also famous.

Location: Sri Komaleeswarar Temple, Pudupet, Egmore, Chennai