The Kalikambal Temple is located in the Thambu Chetty Street, Parrys, Chennai. The temple can be reached from either the Broadway bus terminus or the Chennai Beach railway station. It is around 2 km away from either of these places.
About Kaligambal Temple :
Kalikambal Temple in Chennai is glorious with its historic significance, its tradition of festivals and the visit of thousands of devotees throughout the year. One of the most visited temples in the metropolis, this temple enshrines Kalikambal and Kamateswarar and a host of other deities. It is said that the original location of this temple was closer to the sea shore and later, it was relocated to its present location during the period of British rule in India. The fierce form of the Goddess was held in worship earlier and this form was replaced with the benign form of Kamakshi.
Attraction Kaligambal Temple In Cheenai :
The Kalikambal temple located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is famed for both Shiva and Parvathi. This temple was built ages ago, and stands as a piece of extra ordinary monument. The temple was visited by the great Maratha emperor Chatrapathi Shivaji who stopped in the premises to offer his prayers to the lord.Maratta ruler Chtrapathi Sivaji is believed to have worshipped the deity. Thus a scene depicting Sivaji propitiating the Goddess has been chiseled on the wall. An attractive scene depicting Subramanya Bharathiar and Adi Shankarar worshipping the goddess is also engraved on the walls.
Features of Kalikambal Temple in Chennai :
- The history of the temple goes back to a few hundred years.
- The great Maratha ruler Shivaji is said to have visited the Kalikambal shrine during his tour of the southern region of the Indian subcontinent.
- The entrance to the temple is through a modern Rajagopuram built and in the early 1980s.
- An inner mandapam leads to the east facing shrine to the festival image of Kalikambal, Utsava Periya Nayaki.
- A flag staff is situated directly across from the sanctum in the western section of the outer prakaram which also features shrines to Ganesha and Subramanyar.
- There is a cluster of shrines to Vinayakar, Veerabhadrar and Kali facing south in the northwestern corner of the outer prakaram.
- There are a few other shrines in the northern portion of the prakaram where the yagasalai is situated.
- The Kinnitter or the Chariot lined with metal cymbals is unique to this temple and the Kinnitter procession in the month of Vaikasi attracts huge number of devotees from all over the country.
- This temple has emerged as a famous religious site over the last two decades. Large crowds flock to the neighborhood on Fridays and during special celebrations.
- This temple boasts of a rich tradition of festivals which are celebrated amidst pomp and grandeur even today.
- The Navaratri and the Vasanta Navaratri festivals are other occasions here which draw huge crowd.
History Of Kaligambal Temple In Cheenai :
The port cities of Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai are named after the Goddess who is consecrated in a temple on the sea shore.
Chennamman lent her name to the capital city of Tamil Nadu which we now call Chennai. She was the presiding deity of Chennaikuppam, an old settlement in
the 17th century. The area where the temple now exists was called Maratta town.Later it came to be called as Muthialpet and Pavazhakaratheru – coral merchant street. This area was also called Chennamman Kuppam. The presiding deity of Chennammankuppam was Kali and now she is called Kalikambal.
For more than 500 years Viswakarmargal worshipped her as their family deity.
How to Reach Kalikambal Temple in Chennai :
By Air : The Kamaraj Domestic Airport and the Anna International Airport are located at Tirusulam at a distance of 20 km from the city.
By Rail : Chennai is also well connected to all the major cities in India through a wide network of railways. The rail service connects to all the main cities of the neighboring state and the country.
By Road : The excellent road network of Chennai makes it easily accessible from other important cities of Tamil Nadu and the neighboring states.