ISKON Temple & Prathyankira Devi temple, Chennai

Hi all,

Again a temple visit within Chennai. 

We planned for a evening trip to the 2 temples which are close to one another.

One- Prathyankira devi temple in the IT expressway linking the OMR and ECR and 

the other- ISKON temple -in the ECR road.

Prathyankira Devi temple , Sholinganallur

The Prathyankira devi temple is situated in the IT expressway linking the OMR and ECR Road. It is very close to the Sholinganallur Signal. There are manu share autos operating from the sholinganallur Signal which will drop you in front of the temple. The temple is visible from the IT expressway. Just 1 minute walk down the street ends in the entrance of the temple. There are lots of shops on either side of the street leading to the temple. You can buy flowers, garlands, Turmeric garland, which is one of the prarthana carried on in the temple.

 

Straight in front of the temple, one can see Varahi, the devi with the face of Varaham (the boar) were people give the turmeric Garland, offer to the Devi and take it back home. Wlaking into the temple, you can see Vinayagar, Nagas, Akasha Lingam, Maha Kali's very tall statue. In the middle is the Prathyankara Devi temple. There was special pooja carried on as that was Full moon day or the Pournami. We had the darshan of the Devi. There are also sepearte shines for the Gayathri devi, Ayyapan, anchaneyar, Mahalakshmi in the praharam/ the surrounding of the Devi. 

The ISKON Temple

The Iskon temple is the temple of My favourite Lord Sri Krishna. ISKON is a renowned movement across the world. One can hear the chanting,

"Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare"

as you enter the temple premisis. The Temple has a beautiful palace like structure . There is a marble Cow and its Calf in the centre of the temple.

 There are steps on either side. Left one to enter and the right one to exit the temple. Climbing up the stairs one cannot take eyes off the most beautiful paintings on the walls and the story explaining the same below. There are pictures like this along the walls surrounding the entire big hall. In centre is Lord Krishna beautifully dressed with Radha. To the left are the idols of Krishna and Balarama posing a dance posture and to the Right is the Vittal idols

 

 

We had to wait in the centre of the hall awaiting Aarthi. Meanwhile there was a satsangam by one of the preist. He made gave a lecture on the topic of purpose of human life and made us chant the Maha Mantra 108 times giving us a Tulasi garland unitl the Aarthi Began.

We had the aarthi darshan followed by prasad. Had a peaceful evening. There was Book stall and donation stalls along before we got down the steps. It was a divine visit on the whole.

We also had the Anna Prasadam and was back home for the dinner! :)

"Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare"

Useful Links:

ISKON: http://www.iskconofchennai.org/

This Link gives you the entire details of the temple address, timings contact and other pooja details

Prathyankira devi temple: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prathyangira_Devi_Temple,_Shollinganallur