Testimony to faith

The Lakshmi Vinayakar temple in Valsaravakkam attracts devotees from far and near. A look at its special features...

A LITTLE away from the panchayat bus stop in Kamakoti Nagar, Valsaravakkam, is a little shrine to which throng devotees from the remotest corners of Chennai. One may feel that it is not different from any other temple. The Lord who wards off all obstacles is addressed here as "Lakshmi" Vinayaka, the goddess as "Durga"Lakshmi, Muruga as "Vallidevayanaisameta" Subramanya and Anjaneya as "Karyasiddhi" Hanuman. The deity of special significance in this temple is Anjaneya.

Devotees desirous of getting their wishes fulfilled adopt a unique mode of worship in this temple. They tie a mattai coconut (the one with the fibres intact) in the temple precincts. Jayaraman and his team who are actively involved in the rituals and maintenance of the temple say that this mode of worship may be traced to a similar method followed at Thekkaliyammankoil, Tiruchi.

Having offered the coconut, the devotee circumambulates Anjaneya 11 times and returns exactly after a week to collect it, for which a token is already issued. People throng the temple on Sundays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It is believed that one's desires are fulfilled in about 48 days. The shrine may be only three decades old but it infuses faith with as much conviction as temples of yore.

There are plans to perform the Kumbabhishekam of the temple in January next. Devotees interested in contributing can contact the Executive Officer, Lakshmi Vinayakar Temple, Kamakoti Nagar, Chennai-87.

R.P.Pankaja

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Features
Previous : In search of solace