Mallikeswarar Ashok Nagar

Saivite Temples, Chennai District

God

Mallikeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Maheswari, facing south

Other Gods

Shakti Ganapati, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Chandikeswara, Saraswathi, Vishnu Durga, Mahalakshmi, Navagraha, Saneeswara, Anjaneya, Rama with seetha and Lakshmana, Krishna Garuda, Sathyanarayana Perumal with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi, Surya, Chandran

Mallikeswarar Ashok Nagar is small east facing temple with a 3 tier newly constructed Rajagopuram at the east entrance. The old temple which is said to have been about 400 years old was visited by a Siddhar Thopa Swamykal whose monument (jeevasamadhi) is at a place near Vellore. However the new constructions has made the temple into a more or less modern looking structure. At the entrance before the main shrines are Ganesha and Muruga. there are three shrines in an east facing line with Lord Mallikeswara in the center with Sakthi Ganapati to his right and Kasi Viswanathar to his left. The inner prakaram’s roof is all covered up. The original temple was supposedly buried underground, discovered during some excavation work and reinstated.

Holy water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Mallikeswarar Ashok Nagar Temple is believed to be about 700 years old and is also referred to as Thoppaswamy temple, as this temple was worshiped by a Siddhar named Thoppaswamy who lived between 1780 – 1830 CE. It is said that he has mentioned in his writing that this temple was constructed during the Pallava period.

Legend

It is believed that when the buried temple was discovered the main deity was found adorned with fresh jasmine flowers (Malli) and hence his name became Mallikeswara. It is also said that in the ancient days this place was filled with jasmine plants and hence the name of the lord.

Directions

Mallikeswarar Ashok Nagar is on the main ring road near the Ashok Pillar adjacent to the Police Training Institute and the Metro Railway Station.

Stay and Food

Chennai has many excellent restaurants and hotels to stay. Right opposite to the temple is Hotel Saravana Bhavan and a few yards down is Hot Chips, a popular and economical joint.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples