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{{Short description|Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Ayyappan in Chennai, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
|name = Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil
|image = AnnaNagarAyyappanTemple OuterView.JPG
|image_size =
|alt =
|caption = The Ayyappan temple at Anna Nagar, Chennai
|map_type = India Chennai
|coordinates = {{coord|13|5|6|N|80|12|47|E|type:landmark_region:IN_scale:100|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates_footnotes=
|map_caption = Location in Chennai

|other_names =

|sanskrit_translit =

|script_name = 
|script = 
|country = [[India]]
|state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
|district = [[Chennai]]
|locale = Plot C-45, Second Avenue
|elevation_m =
|elevation_footnotes =
|deity = [[Ayyappa]]
|festivals =
|architecture = [[Hindu architecture|Hindu temple architecture]]
|temple_quantity = 1
|monument_quantity =
|inscriptions =
|established = 1979
|year_completed = 1984
|temple_board = Sri Ayyappa Seva Samajam
|website = [http://www.annanagarayyappatemple.org/home.html annanagarayyappatemple.org]<br />
Timing: 6 am–11 am and 5 pm–8.30 pm
}}

'''Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil''' is a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Hindu temple|Temple]] dedicated to the deity [[Ayyappan]] in [[Chennai]], [[India]]. It is located at the junction of 6th Main Road and 2nd Avenue in [[Anna Nagar]].

==History==
[[File:AnnaNagarAyyappan Prakaaram.JPG|thumb|190px|left|The ''prakaaram'' (corridor) near the entrance]]
[[File:AnnaNagarAyyappan Dwajasthambam.JPG|thumb|left|190px|The ''dwajasthambam'' or the sacred pillar, near the main entrance]]
[[File:AnnaNagarAyyappan Thathwamasi.JPG|thumb|190px|left|The "Thathwamasi" script in Malayalam and Tamil, at the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum]]
When Anna Nagar was developed as a model town in the late 1960s, the annual ''vilakku'' pooja during the ''mandala makaravilakku'' season was celebrated by Ayyappa devotees in the newly formed Shanti Colony. The residents' response to this annual celebration resulted in the formation of the Sri Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS) in 1976, with 14 members in its committee. In 1979, the Samajam started a charitable medical centre for the poor and needy.<ref name="Hindu_WhereServiceIsDivine">{{cite news
| last = Nair
| first = Sashi
| title = Where service is divine
| location = Chennai
| date = 17 April 2003
| url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/17/stories/2003041700320300.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040530124134/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/17/stories/2003041700320300.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 30 May 2004
| newspaper = [[The Hindu]]
| access-date = 1 May 2013}}</ref> The same year, a 7-ground land near the Visveswarayya Tower was allotted to the Samajam by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board for the construction of a temple, for which members contributed {{INR}} 38,000 towards initial payment.<ref name="Hindu_WhereServiceIsDivine"/> Initially, a makeshift temple was built in a thatched shed along with a charitable medical centre in another shed.<ref name="SASS_History">{{cite web
| title = History
| publisher = Sri Ayyappa Seva Samajam
| url = http://www.annanagarayyappatemple.org/history.html
| access-date = 1 May 2013}}</ref> Work on the construction of a permanent temple continued for the next five years in consultation with temple architect Kanipayyur Krishnan Namboodiri. The construction was guided by P. N. Subramaniam, the founder-president, P. Chandrasekhara Menon, the second president, and P. V. Nair, and financial support was provided by R. Ratnam, then chairman of Sundaram Industries, and P. Velayudham.<ref name="Hindu_WhereServiceIsDivine"/> In May 1984, the typical [[Kerala architecture|Kerala-style]] temple was completed, conforming to the traditional shastraic stipulations. The ''kumbabishekam'' and consecration of the idol were performed on 13 May 1984 by temple Thantri Abli Krishna Vadhyan Namboodiri and K. M. Kesva Battatripad, former chief priest of the [[Sabarimala Temple]].<ref name="SASS_History"/> The [[panchaloha]] Ayyappan idol was made by Chenganur T. Rajarathinam.<ref name="Hindu_WhereServiceIsDivine"/> Idols of Ganesha, Subramanya, Goddess Durga, and Anjenaya were also consecrated. Later, a Navagraha (the nine planets) shrine was added in the temple. In 1989, a unique architectural structure known as the ''Natamandapam'' with an imposing gopuram was added. In 2005, gold covering of the 22-''paras'' (segments) ''dwajasthambam'' and 27 ''thazhikakudams'' with about 6 kg of [[gold]] was completed. A special kumbabishekam of the gold-covered dwajasthambam was performed on 20 June 2005.<ref name="SASS_History"/>

==The temple==
[[File:AnnaNagarAyyappan Entrance.JPG|thumb|190px|Main entrance to the temple]]
[[File:AnnaNagarAyyappan AdiShankaraAuditorium.JPG|thumb|190px|left|The Adhi Shankara Auditorium]]
The temple is built on a 40-cent land near the Visveswarayya Tower.<ref name="SASS_History"/> The temple has shrines for Ganesha, Muruga, Durga, Anjaneya, Navagrahas and Nagaraja.<ref name="Hindu_WhereServiceIsDivine"/> The main sanctum of Lord Ayyappa faces west with Lord [[Ganesha]] and Lord [[Murugan|Subramanya]] to the left and Goddess [[Durga]] to the right, all facing east. The [[Navagraha]] shrine is located on the southeast corner of the temple and the Anjaneya shrine is located in the southwest corner, facing east.<ref name="SASS_History"/> The main door at the entrance is covered with brass plates. There is an auditorium, named after Sri Adisankara, covering about 3,600 sq ft,<ref name="SASS_History"/> which can accommodate about 1,000 persons,<ref name="Hindu_WhereServiceIsDivine"/> for conducting spiritual and cultural programmes and discourses. The design of the auditorium involves the ''Koothambalam'' style found in Kerala temples.<ref name="SASS_History"/>

===Poojas===
[[File:AnnaNagarAyyappan FacingTheSanctum.JPG|thumb|190px|Towards the sanctum sanctorum]]
[[File:AnnaNagarAyyappan ViewTowardsSouthEast.JPG|thumb|190px|Main view of the Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil, looking to the southeast towards the Second Avenue]]
[[Puja (Hinduism)|Poojas]] at the temple are conducted by Kerala namboodiris. Chief among the poojas are the mahaganapathy homam and the mritunjaya homam, performed as offerings by devotees throughout the year. The annual temple festival is celebrated during the second week of December. Other annual celebrations include the ''Arattu'' procession (when the ''utsavamoorthy'' is carried from the temple to the [[Marina Beach]]), ''pratishta dinam'', ''panguni uthiram'', ''Navarathri'', ''Skanda Shasti'', ''[[Vinayaka Chaturthi]]'' and ''[[Rama Navami]]''. ''Kotiarchana'' is performed every fourth year by Ayyappa devotees observing ''vritham'' (fasting).<ref name="Hindu_WhereServiceIsDivine"/>

==Awards==
In 1998, the temple won the Mylapore Academy Award for the best maintained temple in Chennai.<ref name="Hindu_WhereServiceIsDivine"/>

==References==
{{Portal|India|Hinduism}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil, Chennai}}
* [http://www.annanagarayyappatemple.org/home.html Official website of Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil, Chennai]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140618061914/http://www.ayyappa.net/ayyappa-shrines-in-tamil-nadu-68/ Ayyappa shrines in Tamil Nadu]

{{Chennai topics}}
{{Places of worship in Chennai}}
{{HinduMythology}}
{{Worship in Hinduism}}
{{List of Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:1984 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Chennai]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1984]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]
[[Category:Ayyappan temples]]

Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil, Chennai - Revision history

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