|
 As one proceeds on Sardar Patel Road in South Madras from
Adyar towards Guindy, a pleasant white structure strikes the eye on the left at the
Taramani turn-off. The carvings are more akin to the marble temples of North India than
the stone structures of the South. The recently built "Madhya Kailash" temple
has many novelties. This is the only temple in Tamil Nadu established according to the
cult of Ganapatyam, which is one of the five cults Adi Shankara talks of and is very
popular in Maharashtra.
The "Moolavar" or main deity, Venkata Ananda
Vinayakar, is surrounded by shrines to Lord Siva, Surya, Devi and Vishnu. In response to
the wishes of the people, there are also "Sannidhis" to Anjaneya, Swarna
Bhairavar and Onpankol, though these fall outside Ganapatyam practices.
On Vinayaka Chaturthi day, the rays of the sun fall on the
presiding deity, striking an auspicious note. Since Vinayaka is the form of the first
sound "Om", eight bells
|
have been installed. They represent the seven notes Sa,
Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni, with the eighth bell signifying the Sa that follows. In the
"Mandapam" before the sanctum sanctorum is a shrine to Vinayaka’s brother
Muruga.
The temple has become famous for its unique idol of "Adhyantha Prabhu",
which is part Ganapathy and part Anjaneya. The right side is Ganesh and the left Hanuman.
The idol was crafted after a vision of such a form was seen by one of the temple
officials. In  Maharashtra style, one can light the camphor to this deity himself, giving a
great sense of satisfaction. Lord Vinayaka himself takes on the onus of propitiating the
ancestors. Every afternoon, the priest has a bath and in his wet clothes begins the rites.
He takes the Darba garb, earlier placed at the Anandavinayaka idol’s feet and goes to
the shrine of Lord Vishnu. From there he takes the white rice offered to the Lord and
comes to the Siva shrine. There the rice transforms into the "Pindam". The rice
"Pindam" is taken from the Surya shrine and offered to the crows on a platform.
People of all caste and creed can avail of this service.
|
