Akilanda Nayagi Mundakakanni Amman
- 11 years ago
The temple town of Mylapore is dotted with temples dedicated to several deities.
'Mundakanni Amman Temple' near Sanskrit College, Luz, Mylapore, is only one of its kind in Chennai.
Presiding deity - Mundakanni Amman (It is also believed the name Mundakakanni got corrupted to Mundakanni)
She is called the Eye Doctor as she cures people affected with eye defects.
Kaval Deivam
This temple is very old and was in a dilapidated condition. With no compound wall, the deity could be worshipped from the road. It was renovated after some years.
Mundakanni Amman is one of the kaval deivams (guardian deities) of Chennai and there is a popular belief that she might have been Ellai Amman (deity guarding the boundary) and later came to be called Mundakanni Amman.
It is believed that Mundakanni is one of the Saptha Kannigas.
Some people believe that Renuka Devi Amman is being called Mundakanni Amman here.
She is also believed to be one among the 63 grama devathas (village deities).
The temple history is replete with conjectures.
Mundakanni Amman is swayambhu -- self-manifest -- and is an incarnation of Parasakthi.
Why is she called Mundakanni Amman?
Mundakam means lotus.
Since she has beautiful, enchanting eyes -- kann - she is called Mundakanni. She has lotus- shaped eyes. The street where the temple is located is named after the deity.
Senthamaraivasini
After some years, the compound wall was built but the roof covering the sanctum sanctorum of the deity was covered with palmyrah. Since she is seated on senthamarai -- red lotus - enchanting the devout with her bewitching smile like goddess Lakshmi, she is called Senthamaraivasini.
She is omkara roopam incarnate.
Mundakanni Amman is endowed with akarshana sakthi and is fond of veppilai - neem leaves.
Sanctum Sanctorum
The sanctum sanctorum of the presiding deity faces east. Her icon resembles a trishul - tirusoolam. A five-hooded serpent covers her head as an umbrella.
Vimanam -- canopy covering the sanctum sanctorum - has five kalasams.
There are two celestial damsels guarding the sanctum sanctorum of the deity.
Is she not called Seethala Devi? The deity prefers residing in a cool atmosphere. Thus, to make her cool and comfortable, vettiver thatti decorate the inner walls.
There are icons of Saptha Kanniyar -- seven celestial virgins - consecrated on the temple premises.
'Mundakanni Amman Temple' near Sanskrit College, Luz, Mylapore, is only one of its kind in Chennai.
Presiding deity - Mundakanni Amman (It is also believed the name Mundakakanni got corrupted to Mundakanni)
She is called the Eye Doctor as she cures people affected with eye defects.
Kaval Deivam
This temple is very old and was in a dilapidated condition. With no compound wall, the deity could be worshipped from the road. It was renovated after some years.
Mundakanni Amman is one of the kaval deivams (guardian deities) of Chennai and there is a popular belief that she might have been Ellai Amman (deity guarding the boundary) and later came to be called Mundakanni Amman.
It is believed that Mundakanni is one of the Saptha Kannigas.
Some people believe that Renuka Devi Amman is being called Mundakanni Amman here.
She is also believed to be one among the 63 grama devathas (village deities).
The temple history is replete with conjectures.
Mundakanni Amman is swayambhu -- self-manifest -- and is an incarnation of Parasakthi.
Why is she called Mundakanni Amman?
Mundakam means lotus.
Since she has beautiful, enchanting eyes -- kann - she is called Mundakanni. She has lotus- shaped eyes. The street where the temple is located is named after the deity.
Senthamaraivasini
After some years, the compound wall was built but the roof covering the sanctum sanctorum of the deity was covered with palmyrah. Since she is seated on senthamarai -- red lotus - enchanting the devout with her bewitching smile like goddess Lakshmi, she is called Senthamaraivasini.
She is omkara roopam incarnate.
Mundakanni Amman is endowed with akarshana sakthi and is fond of veppilai - neem leaves.
Sanctum Sanctorum
The sanctum sanctorum of the presiding deity faces east. Her icon resembles a trishul - tirusoolam. A five-hooded serpent covers her head as an umbrella.
Vimanam -- canopy covering the sanctum sanctorum - has five kalasams.
There are two celestial damsels guarding the sanctum sanctorum of the deity.
Is she not called Seethala Devi? The deity prefers residing in a cool atmosphere. Thus, to make her cool and comfortable, vettiver thatti decorate the inner walls.
There are icons of Saptha Kanniyar -- seven celestial virgins - consecrated on the temple premises.