Nanganallur Ayyappa Temple

Sri Sabarigirisan Ayyappan Temple, Nanganallur

Mention Nanganallur and the first temple that comes to mind for most people is the famous Anjaneyar Temple with its towering Hanuman.

But just behind it is another temple that can easily escape attention.

This is the Sri Sabarigirisan Ayyappan Temple, a Kerala-style shrine dedicated to Ayyappa. The setting, architecture and arrangement of the shrines are quite different from the neighbouring Anjaneyar Temple, even though the two stand so close to each other.

A Kerala-Style Ayyappan Temple in Chennai

The Kerala influence becomes apparent as soon as you look at the temple.

The sanctum follows the familiar Kerala architectural form, with a sloping conical roof rather than the tall vimanas more commonly associated with Tamil Nadu temples. A copper-covered kodimaram, or flagstaff, stands in front of the shrine.

Ayyappa is enshrined as the principal deity, facing east.

One interesting arrangement helps devotees during crowded periods. Mirrors placed near the shrine allow the murti to be viewed from the sides as well.

The relatively subdued lighting and Kerala-style setting also give the sanctum a character quite different from many other Chennai temples.

The Other Shrines

Several deities closely associated with the Sabarimala tradition are represented around the prakara.

There are shrines for Kannimoola Ganapati, Nagaraja, Malikappurathamma and Kochu Kadutha Swami.

Valiya Kadutha Swami, Karuppaswami and Karuppayi are also worshipped within the temple complex.

Their presence is important because this is not merely a Chennai temple with an Ayyappa shrine added to it. The arrangement consciously recalls the religious traditions associated with Sabarimala.

That connection extends to some of the festivals and rituals observed here as well.

A Temple Easy to Miss

The location is what I find particularly interesting.

Thousands of devotees visit the Nanganallur Anjaneyar Temple. Yet someone unfamiliar with the neighbourhood could visit the famous Hanuman shrine and leave without realising that an Ayyappan temple following Kerala traditions stands just behind it.

Nanganallur has several such temples packed into a relatively small area, each belonging to a different architectural and religious tradition.

The Sri Sabarigirisan Ayyappan Temple deserves to be noticed as one of them.

Happy travelling.