Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sri Lakshmi Kubera Temple, Rathinamangalam

Diwali is the time when Lord Kubera, the God of Wealth is worshipped. This Diwali fell on a friday and therefore, two additional holidays were available. After all the busy work on Diwali day, we decided to go to the Lakshmi Kubera temple at Rathinamangalam near Vandalur on saturday evening. Special Poojas were performed at this temple for Diwali when Lord Kubera is decorated in Currency notes. Several people throng here to worship the Lord and pray for wealth and prosperity for the whole year following.
A view of the entrance of the temple
We entered the temple and joined the serpentine queue as you can see in the picture. Kubera was looking magnificient in Silver Kavasam and the whole sanctum sanctorium was decorated with currency notes. We paid Rs. 100/- and took the "muram"which had a green cloth, pooja materials a small picture, and a lamp.
The line slowly moved towards the tank which had an idol of Sri Adhi Sankara placed on it. Inside the tank are Arawana fish ( Vaastu fish). Unfortunately, people are throwing flowers and other stuff into the tank. Hope this does not cause any discomfort to the fish and the tank is cleaned regularly.
Idol of Sri Adi Sankara over the fish tank
The queue moves slowly towards the Kan Dhristi Ganapathy - the Ganesha who removes the impact of the Ëvil Eye. We pray to Lord Ganesha and move towards the navagraha. There is a Pathala Kubera lingam at the extreme left end of the temple where people bend down and touch the top of the lingam and pray. After praying to the Lingam and performing nine circumambulations around the navagraha we move towards the anjaneya sannadhi. After praying to him, there is an alcove where the lamp that was provided as part of the Pooja kit is to be lit. Near the anjaneya sannadhi, several yantras and sacred ropes, tailor made for each zodiac sign are being sold.
The fish tank

Kan Dhristi Ganapathy
 We now move to the Sanctum Sanctorium. The Lord looks magnificient but we are only given a few seconds to take a look as the crowd is jostling behind us. The pujari asks us to do pooja with Rs 5 coins kept in a plate. We pick up the coins with heaped hands and offer to him thrice. We are then given a small laughing buddha idol and five Re.1 coins as prasad. Reluctantly we move forward. There is an idol of Lord Venkateshwara on the outer wall of the sanctum sanctorium. He is said to have borrowed 141 lakh gold coins from Kubera for his wedding for which he is still paying interest. By offering rice, dhall or other ingredients here, one is said to be contributing towards setting off the interest on Lord Venkateshwara's loan.

Pathala Kubera Lingam
Right behind the Sanctum Sanctorium is an idol of Swarna Akarshana Bhairava, a manifestation of Shiva who is said to aid accumulation of gold. We spend a few minutes before him in meditation seeking his blessings.
The Glorious Lakshmi Kubera decorated in currency notes
As we move around the temple, we find idols of Lord Brahma with Saraswathi a rather rare sight which I do not know if exists anywhere else, Lord Ayyappa and Lord Muruga.


Swarnaakarshanabhairava
 Very close to the temple are three other temples - one of Goddess Bhavadharani or Chakrakali, the other of Shirdi Sai Baba. Opposite to the Lakshmi Kubera temple, is the temple of Goddess Arai Kaasu Amman, the Goddess who restores lost or misplaced belongings. The original temple of Goddess Arai Kaasu Amman ( the Goddess Brahadambigai of Pudukkottai was worshipped by the King of Pudhukottai and he had inscribed her picture in the 1/2 paise coins issued by him which is why she is called Arai Kaasu Amman) is in Pudukottai. A gold ornament belonging to the Lakshmi Kubera temple got lost and the trustees had prayed to her to restore the same promising to build a temple for her once their prayer was answered. The chain was soon found and the temple along with 108 other goddesses around her was soon built. It is a beautiful sight to watch the replicas of various goddesses from different places in the world around the shrine along with 18 padi karuppa swamy as the guardian angel of the temple.

Arai Kaasu Amman
The goddess is a delight to watch and looks at us smilingly. We also had the fortune of performing Kumkuma archana to her and the other 107 goddesses at the temple. I have had several instances in the past where I have prayed to her and recovered important misplaced items and therefore it was a time of gratitude and thanksgiving.

All the temples are clean, well maintained and crowded. The only annoying factor was that the Pujaris seem extremely callous and rude. In fact, the one at the Arai Kaasu amman temple kept shouting over our head throughout the archana at the person who was supposed to have brought him his evening tea.

Location of the temple: If you are going from Chennai, take the left at Crescent Engineering College, just after the Vandalur Zoological Park. Proceed for about 7 kms. You will reach Tagore Engineering College. Take an immediate left and proceed for about half a km and turn right. If you are coming from outside Chennai take a right at the Team Sangeetha Restaurant at Vandalur and follow the same instructions. There are also several buses plying from Tambaram to Rathnamangalam. Buses proceeding towards Thiruporur from Tambaram stop here. One could also take the EMU train service on the Beach - Chingleput route and get down at Vandalur. There are several share autos available from the station to the temple.

50 comments:

  1. Unique temple indeed. I stay quite close to Vandalur at Chromepet. But did not know about this temple. Will visit one day. Thanks for the nice post Priya

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  2. Thanks there are two other temples one of Chakrakali and the other of Shirdi Sai Baba alongside this temple. So you can visit four temples in one here....hope u do so soon!

    Regards
    Priya

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  3. Hi I was just searching for this today morning, Thank you for your info, it would have been more useful if you could have mentioned the timings of the temple.

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  4. Thanks for your feedback. As I have mentioned in my post it was extremely crowded at the time of my visit so could not enquire specifically about the timing nor did I see a visible board. Will definitely update the post once I have the info. We went there around 5.15 pm in the evening.

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  5. Hi Priya, thank you for your information. I had a chance today to fulfil my last 6 months' desire to visit Lord Kubera there.

    Temple timing:
    6:30 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

    there are 3 temples around this Lord Kubera temple and each has their own opening timing in the evening.
    4:00 pm - Lord Kubera temple
    4:15 pm - Araikasu Amman temple
    4:30 pm - Chakrakali temple
    5:00 pm - Sai Baba temple

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  6. Thanks for adding this valuable information Andy!

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  7. thanks for telling about this temple,i am in st thomas mount only and i travelled through that route several times, but i have not known about this temple, i ll surely go this temple soon

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  8. Great Work Priya mam, Today I saw Arai Kaasu Amman temple in Captain TV this morning, so wanted to know the where abouts of the temple... Thank you for the valuable information.. The other temple and Shirdi Sai Temple is an additional treat for me... Thank you Very mUch for the information..
    SaiLakshmi

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  9. Thank you so much, I am glad you found the post useful. Do check out the blog whenever you find time.Regards
    Priya

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  10. Hi Everyone,


    We have already visited this temple thrice.

    Again we planned to go to that temple coming Sunday morning.

    If possible, we will meet there.

    Regards,
    Dillip Kumar

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  11. I am residing near Kumbakonam. In Kumbakonam there are several big temples and Navagraga temple at Aduthurai very near to my house. But very glad to know about Kubera Lakshmi temple at Vandalur. I need to visit this. Let me know the way please
    R. RAVICHANDRAN 9843226317

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  12. Dear Mr. Ravichandran, The location is clearly mentioned in the blog post itself.For a detailed map of the temple, log on to http://www.srilakshmikuberartemple.org/location.html
    Regards
    Priya

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  13. God is within you. Please search with in you through Sadhana (Meditation). Temple worship is like learning alphabet, it is required but it is not enough. Move on and progress in spirituality.

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  14. Definitely...everyone starts with alphabets before learning sentences. Regards Priya

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  15. The problem is most of them dies before learning sentences. They think that alphabet is whole world. How you change this scenario?

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  16. Who are we to change anything? Each person is responsible for his individual, financial and spiritual growth and they only reach as far as they want to. This is definitely not a forum for debate nor am I an expert. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  17. Ms. Priya Thank you for the info about these wonderful temples. It really helps people like me to plan a religious vacation with my parents and family. Thank you and God bless you.

    Regards:
    SAIKIRAN

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  18. Thank you Mr Saikiran. I am happy you found this blog useful

    Regards
    Priya

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  19. Good work priya.. Really we enjoyed the whole visit of all the four temples. Thanks for your post and keep up the good job.

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  20. Thanks Mr. Sundar. Glad to receive your feedback.

    Regards, Priya

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  21. Hi Priya,

    I wish to use this space to share one of my Youtube channel loaded with Full of Hindu devotional songs. Hope will be a useful link to the others too..in case if you find it as a violation.. please remove it.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/SUNDARUTB

    Regards
    Sundar

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  22. Mr. Sundar, The channel shared by you can be useful for several people for daily prayers. So your sharing is welcome.

    Regards, Priya

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  23. This information is really awesome and useful!! We went yesterday and visited all 4 temples. This info is really useful for all devotees.

    Thanks
    Viswanadh

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  24. I am so glad you found the information useful and were able to visit all the temples. Thank you Mr. Viswanadh Regards Priya

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  25. Dear Priya, the information good, i have read in a paper. but with the photographs this is good but u can add some more about swarnaagarshana bairavar. i have read about this bairavar who have separate temple in Erode district
    regards.
    lakshmi

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  26. Thanks for the feedback Ms Lakshmi Regards Priya

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  27. Somebody has commented in one of their comments that "God is within us". Definitely god is within us and there is not an iota of doubt on the score. Going to temple and worshipping is part of discipline. Can we find a single muslim or a christian commenting against going to Mosque or a Church. Mr Anonymous Please look into yourself rather than preaching others'.

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  28. I have just started reading this blog. I have enjoyed whatever I have read so far. Glad to see your focus on the lesser 'known' temples, they are 'hard to find elsewhere' and so the value of what your are doing is tremendous.
    God bless you in your effort, leading His people towards Him..

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  29. Thanks so much for your feedback and wishes Regards
    Priya

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    Replies
    1. Hi priya mam, Thank u for ur information today i visited by temple

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  30. Subha Said...
    Hi Priya thank you for your information. i stay in Chennai. will visit one day.

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  31. RAJA AYYAPAA said from chennai
    Hi Priya, your job is very nice and god bless you always. pls describe all god's and yoga's easiest way to attain our soul to surrender infeet of GODS.

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  32. visited the temples yesterday with my family..........so reverberating it was

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  33. hai madam,
    enn neenda nall kanavu inru ungalal palithathu
    mikka nanri

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  34. Wonderful post on the temple. Visited the temple immediately on the next day after reading the post and had darshan at the temple. The directions and timings of the temple were very useful. Thanks so much, Madam.

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  35. good job, thank you.

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  36. To
    The trust Manager

    In this temple have any pooja or abishagam shall i want to do can u pl tell me sir.

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    Replies
    1. Yes you can contact the temple at 9444020084 or check out the temple website http://srilakshmikuberartemple.org/home.html

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  37. I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and, I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.

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  38. Hi Priya,

    My name is Venkat. It was very useful information that you provided. If I have to travel to chennai from Hyderabad by train and reach the temple how do i go about it. This will be my first trip to chennai.

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    1. Dear Mr Venkat,

      The temple is on the outskirts of Chennai, near Tambaram. You could take a local train from Central to Tambaram and then you could take an auto from the Tambaram Railway station. All parts of the city (wherever you may choose to stay in Chennai) are well connected to Tambaram by bus and suburban trains.

      Regards
      Priya

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  39. Clear, concise & detailed info. Thanks Priya!!! Planning to visit ASAP!!! BTW have you visited the Nava Sakthi Kamakshi Amman Temple, in Madipakkam. That's also a must visit temple. :-)

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  40. Thiru Kalyanam will take place on July 6th and there after the Utsava Moorthy will be taken to desiring devotees' places from 7th July to 24th August. Desirous devotees can contact the temple authorities in this regard.

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  41. Kubera Kalyanam takes place on 6th July at Sri LakshmiKubera Temple. From 7th July to 24th August Kubera can be invited to visit your places of stay or business, and you can perform pooja to Kubera. The temple authorities can be contacted for further details.

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  42. That was very informative. Thank you. I hope the lord soon blesses me so that I may visit these wondrous temples soon.

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  43. The temple management is not adhering to the time schedule. Though they are supposed to open by 4 pm in the evening they do not open by that time. Similarly they close the temple earlier to the scheduled time of 8 30 pm which causes lot of difficulties to the devotees. Yesterday though we went there in time we could not have dharshan due to the adamant attitude of the temple management.

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  44. Hi Priya,

    Well described the temple, very useful information....... I was searching this temple in net & found ur blog..... really nice.. I am planning to visit this temple along with my family. Thnx for ur information..........

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  45. Hi Priya,
    I want to know Kali temple in and around tambaram as I am residing in chrompet. How to go chakrakali temple from chrompet?

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    Replies
    1. The Chakra Kali amman temple temple is walking distance from the Kuberan temple. Please follow instructions above.

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  46. Is any special day to visit Kuberar temple

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