Mangadu Temples

Mangadu is about 6.5 Kms from Porur Junction towards Poonamalee. Mangadu is the site for three temples; the famous Kamakshi Amman Temple, Velleeswarar Temple and the Vaikunta Perumal Temple. This whole area was once a mangrove and hence it is called Mangadu; Manga is mango and kadu is forest.

 

The Velleeswarar Temple is one of the Navagraha Temples around Porur. This is a Sukran Pariharam Sthalam. As with all temples, there are a few interesting legends associated with this temple too. Velleeswarar temple and the Kamakshi amman temple together are supposed to be one temple. Hence there is no shrine for Ambigai at the Velleeswarar temple and there is no Shiva Lingam at the Kamakshi Amman temple. Velleeswarar temple is just about half a kilometre from the Kamakshi Amman temple. Vaikunth Perumal temple is stones throw from the Kamakshi Amman temple. All the three temples have a common legend.

The legend goes thus; Goddess Parvathi was in a playful mood and she closed Lord Shiva’s eyes. Suryan and Chandran are the Lord’s two eyes. Since these two were closed the whole world plunged into darkness. This angered Lord Shiva and He cursed Goddess Parvati to be born in the Earth. He also said that He would come there and marry Her. Accordingly, the Goddess was born in Mangadu as Kamakshi. She performed penance here on fire.

Around the same time, Sukracharya the Guru of the Auras was also performing pooja to regain his eyesight (The story about this follows later). Lord Shiva gave preference to His devotees first and hence went to the puja being performed by Sukracharya. He also asked Kamakshi to go to Kanchipuram where He said he would come and marry Her. She is supposed to have had a darshan of Lord Shiva before She went to Kanchipuram. There is a Kamakshi Paadham at Velleeshwarar temple from where She had Her darshan.

 

 

She and Lord Shiva were married at Kanchipuram on Panguni Uthiram day. Vaikunta Perumal is supposed to have done the kanyadhan.

The Goddess can be seen at Mangadu temple as Tapas Kamakshi who is standing on Her left leg with Her right leg raised to Her left thigh. She is seen standing on fire. She is seen holding a jabamala above Her head in Her right hand.

In Her hurry to go to Kanchipuram, the Goddess left without putting out the fire. This made the whole area very hot and the people and all life forms were affected. Adhi Sankara who visited this village during the course of a journey installed Sri Ardhameru Sri Chakram. This brought relief to the humans and other living beings in the proximity. The lowest part of the Sri Chakra is in the form of a tortoise. This was made out of Ashta Kantham and hence no abhishegam is performed. Instead, application of sandal and punugu is done. Ashishegam is done only to the Kamakshi made of Panchaloha or five metals. This idol was installed by Sankaracharya.

Now, let us come back to the story of Sukracharya. When Lord Vishnu asked Bali for 3 steps of land in Vamana Avataram, Sukracharya tried to dissuade Bali from granting the boon. He took the form of a bee and blocked the mouth of the Kamandalam (a type of Jar, usually carried by rishis) from which Bali would pour water to signify the grant of the boon. Vishnu used a dharba to clear the blockage in the Kamandalam and in the process blinded Sukracharya in one eye. Vamana then took the Vishwaroopam and covered the whole universe in two steps. The 3rd step was placed on Bali. Sukracharya prayed to Lord Shiva in various temples to get back his eyesight and this is one of them. It is believed that praying at the Velleeswarar temple here will cure one of eye related ailments.

Since Goddess Kamakshi performed penance here before getting married to Lord Shiva, it is a belief that hurdles in marriage will be eliminated by praying to Mangadu Kamakshi. Devotees must come to the Kamakshi temple here for seven consecutive weeks. They can start it on any day of the week. However, they must come on the same day of the week for the remaining six weeks too. It is said that those seeking employment should worship at the Kamkshi temple here for six consecutive Tuesdays. Childless couple are blessed with progeny upon praying at the Kamakshi temple here for seven consecutive Fridays. The childless couple also tie a toy cradle with baby opposite to the Sanctum Sanctorum. This is usually done on the first and last Fridays. People undertaking this seven week prayer procedure must inform the priest about their intention in the first week. You will be taking with you a set of things required for the puja. This set should be available at the shops outside the temple. The priest will give you one lemon from the two in the puja set. This lemon has to be kept in the puja at your home and to be brought back the subsequent week along with two more fresh lemons. You will be given one fresh lemon by the priest every week and remember to take that back to the temple the subsequent week. You will not be given a lemon by the priest only in the last week.

Temple Location:

Mangadu temple is located approximately 6.5 Kms from Porur Junction. These are the bus routes for reaching Mangadu.

 

Route	From	To
154	T.Nagar	Pattur
17B	Broadway	Mangadu
17B Cut	Koymabedu Market	Mangadu
53E	Broadway	Mangadu
53P	Broadway	Pattur
54M	High Court	Mangadu
54P	T.Nagar	Poonamallee
66	Tambaram	Poonamallee
M49B	T.Nagar	Poonamallee
M53E	Broadway	Mangadu
M66	Tambaram	Poonamallee
266 Dlx	Avadi	Tambaram
566A Dlx	Tambaram	Thiruvallur
578 Dlx	Kundrathur B.S	Sriperumpudur
PP66 Dlx	Vandaloor Zoo	Poonamallee

 

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Temple timings:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays : 6 AM – 1.30 PM
3 PM – 9.30 PM
Sunday, Tuesday and Fridays : 5 AM – 10 PM (Without Break)

Abisheka Time
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: 11 AM – 12.45 PM

Temple address:
Mangadu Sri Kamakshi Amman & Sri Vaigunda Perumal Vagayara Devasthanam
Mangadu,
Chennai – 600 122
Telephone: 91 44 26790053 / 26791883
E-mail:srikamakshimangadu@gmail.com

Temple Website: http://mangadukamakshi.com/