Even many campuswallahs do not know when the temple was constructed, much less about the idol. They do not think that the temple has a historical background - may be it might have been built in 1959, when the Institute authorities took over the forest area adjacent to Gandhi Mantapam for construction of a township around the Institute. No. The origin of the deity dates back to 17th century. However the temple in its present form is of recent origin and has an interesting story behind it. 

In 1959 the Superintending Engineer and the Director of the Institute were moving through the jungle to reach the work spot of first phase of building construction (though the main entrance to IIT is at Sardar Patel Road, one has to travel some 3 kms inside to reach the Administrative Block) when they came across a lovely area where there were a large number of deers frisking about a lake. And nearby they spotted a Shivalinga lying majestically. There was also a dilapidated mantapam over it.

Investigations revealed that Maharani of Bhavnagar who married the first Indian Governor of Chennai had been worshipping the idol daily. (The place is not: far off from Raj Bhavan). The Comptroller of Raj Bhavan agreed that he had read from sacred texts about the existence of an ancient place of worship en route Velachery and Thiruvanmiyur which was frequented by great saints (including the famous Appayya Dikshithar) and it is indeed this Shivalinga, which should have been main deity. Kakabujanadar Naadi describes the Shivalingam as a composite whole, fusing Lord Jalakandeshwara and Kathyayini Devi as a single expression of universal peace. The Naadi reads as under.

'There was a Ghandarva Kumaran who was flying in the sky. He spotted a lovely lake with a bewitching swan in it. He attempted to take the swan away, but as the swan was Goddess Kali herself, she cursed him that he would become a stone. The Ghandarva Kumaran prayed to the Goddess for redemption. The Goddess commanded him to build a temple and perform penance as a stone until he was trampled by the holy feet of Gnanis and saints. Thus comforted, he built a temple where the Goddess rested. He established a Shivalingam, at the foot of which he laid as stone for ages until he regained his original form in fulfilment of the prophecy. The Lingam was shifted as years passed. Once a hunter-king attained salvation by spotting it. Finally a Brahmin Yogi with great efforts lifted the Lingam and planted it at the bank of the lake where it was found in 1959'.

In addition to the presiding deities, the temple has Sannadhis for Navagrahas, Anjaneyar, Ganapathi and Subrahmanya. The idols of Rama and Krishna were installed recently. Ayyappa Bhajans are conducted every Saturday.  There is a mass chanting of Vishnu Sahasranamam every Wednesday. On every Friday morning quite a few campus ladies recite Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam. Pradosha Abhishekam is done to Sri Jalakandeswara at 5.00 p.m., followed by procession of Utsava Murthy around the temple.

Though the IIT campus is a private one, generally nobody is stopped from visiting the temple. As stated earlier the very atmosphere of the temple fills our mind with peace. What else does one need?