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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
|name = Chennai Om Sri Skandhashramam
|image =
|alt =
|caption =
|map_type = India Chennai#Tamil Nadu
|coordinates = {{coord|12.9206|80.1485|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates_footnotes=
|map_caption = Skandashramam Temple, [[Rajakilpakkam]], [[Tambaram]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
|country = {{flag|India}}
|state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
|district = [[Chennai]]
|locale = 1 Kambar Street, Mahalakshmi Nagar, [[Rajakilpakkam]], [[Selaiyur]]
|elevation_m = 31.53
|elevation_footnotes =
|deity = Swaminatha Swami (Lord [[Murugan]])
|festivals = Skanda Sashti in October–November; Tirukarthikai in November–December; monthly Sankatahara Chaturthi; Vinayaka Chaturthi in August–September; Amavasya (the new moon days) and Hanuman Jayanthi<ref name="DinamalarTemples_SriSwaminathaswamiTemple">{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| title = Sri Swaminathaswami temple
| work =
| publisher = Dinamalar Temples
| date = n.d.
| url = https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=453
| format =
| doi =
| access-date = 18 May 2014}}</ref>
|architecture = [[Hindu architecture|Hindu temple architecture]]
|temple_quantity = One
|monument_quantity =
|inscriptions =
|established = 
|year_completed = 1999 
|creator =
|temple_board =
|website = http://www.skandasramam.com/
}}

'''Chennai Om Sri Skandashramam''' is a [[Hindu]] temple dedicated to the deity [[Murugan]] (Swaminatha Swami) in [[Chennai]], [[India]]. It is located at [[Selaiyur]], [[Tambaram]], a southern neighbourhood of Chennai. The temple is known of its huge idols of several deities, including Kamala Siddhi [[Ganesha|Vinayakar]], Panchamukha [[Heramba|Heramba Ganapathy]], [[Dattatreya]], [[Panchamukha|Panchamukha Hanuman]], [[Shani]]swara, [[Ayyappa|Ayyapan]], goddess Ashtadashabhuja Durga Parameswari, [[Sharabha|Sarabeswara]] (form of Shiva), goddess [[Pratyangira|Prathiyankira]], goddess [[Bhuvaneshwari]], Swaminathaswamy (chief deity at the temple), [[Sudarshana Chakra|Sudarshanachakathalwar]], [[Narasimha|Lakshmi Narasimhar]], Maha Sahasralingamurthy (1008 lingams), [[Nandi (mythology)|Nandikeswarar]], goddess [[Annapurna (goddess)|Annapurani]] and Chakra Poorna Maha Meru. There is also an idol of Saint Sathguru Santhananda Swamigal, who built the temple.

==History==
Chennai Om Sri Skandhashramam temple was consecrated by Saint Swami Santhananda on 24 June 1999.<ref name="OSS_Skandhashramam_Chennai"/> Before building the temple at Chennai, Shanthananda Swamigal also built the Judge Swamigal Adhishtanam at [[Pudukkottai]], Om Sri Skandasramam at [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]] and Dattagiri at [[Sendamangalam]].<ref name="IndianHeritage_SkandhashramamChennai"/> The temple is dedicated to goddess Ugraprathyangira Devi and god Sarabheswara. This is said to be the first temple in India to have been dedicated to goddess Ugraprathyangira Devi. It is also said to be the first temple of god Sarabheswara constructed in modern times. There is an old [[Chola]] temple dedicated to Lord Sarabheswara at [[Thribhuvanam]] near [[Thanjavur]], also in [[Tamil Nadu]]. Swami Santhananda died before the completion of the temple.<ref name="OSS_Skandhashramam_Chennai">{{cite web| title =Skandhashramam, Chennai| work =Life and Times of Swami Santhananda| publisher =Omskandhashramam.org| date =n.d.| url =http://www.omsriskandhashramam.org/swlife6.htm| accessdate =8 May 2014| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20131211113929/http://omsriskandhashramam.org/swlife6.htm| archivedate =11 December 2013}}</ref>

==Idols==
There are life-size idols of various gods and goddesses in the temple, some of them larger-than-life sized. The most imposing of all is the Sahasralingam, a huge stone ''lingam'' (form of God Shiva) measuring 9.5 feet in height and weighing 20 tons, which has 1007 lingams carved within, with a ''Nandhi'' (the bull) measuring 5 feet long and 4 feet high facing the lingam. Other deities in the temple are Panchamukha Heramba Ganapathy, Kamala Siddhi Vinayakar, Bhuvaneshwari Amman, Panchamukha Aanjaneyar, Veera Sarabeswarar, Saniswarar, Swaminathaswamy (Skanda), Dattatreyar, Prathyankara Devi, Sri Chakra Maha Meru, Ayyapan, Ashtadasabhuja Durga Parameswari, Sudarshana Chakrathazhwar, Lakshmi Narasimhar.<ref name="IndianHeritage_SkandhashramamChennai">{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| title = Sahasralingam, Skandhashramam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
| work = Temples
| publisher = Indian Heritage
| date = n.d.
| url = http://www.indian-heritage.org/temple/selaiyur.html
| doi =
| accessdate = 18 May 2014}}</ref>

The meditation hall is located at the forecourt in front of the sanctums (Sannidhies) of the four main deities. The hall accommodates the Maha Meru (Sri Chakra) at its centre.<ref name="OSS_Skandhashramam_Chennai"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%" width=align=
|+ '''Idols at the temple'''<ref name="IndianHeritage_SkandhashramamChennai"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Om Sri Skandasramam|url=http://kaumaram.com/aalayam/index_skandasramam2.html|publisher=Kaumaram.com|accessdate=18 May 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140518064437/http://kaumaram.com/aalayam/index_skandasramam2.html|archivedate=18 May 2014}}</ref>
|-
! S.No. !! Idol !! Material !! Height !! Gopuram (dome) architecture !! Description
|-
|1 || God Panchamukha Heramba Ganapathi || [[Stone]] || 12 feet || [[Orissa architecture|Orissa type]] || Idol of God Ganesha, seated on a lion vaahanam (mount). Has five elephant heads, with four faces facing the four directions and the fifth one facing the sky, and ten arms holding the noose, goad, ''rudraksha'' garland, pownder, battle axe and cord. Sanctums of Bala Ganapathy and Lakshmi Ganapathy are situated nearby.
|-
|2 || God Kamala Siddhi Vinayagar || Stone || 6.5 feet || [[Tamil architecture|Tamil Nadu type]] || Idol of God Ganesha, seated on a lotus with a flower, mango, sugarcane and ''parasu'' in his four arms and the ''kalasam'' in his trunk. Situated to the right of Goddess Bhuvaneswari. Idols of Yoga Ganapathy and Uchchista Ganapathy are installed around this sanctum.
|-
|3 || Goddess Bhuvaneshwari || Stone || 6 feet || Tamil Nadu type || Idol of Goddess Parvathi. With two arms in ''abhaya'' and ''varada'' postures, the goddess holds the noose and ''angusam'' in the upper arms. The idols of other ''Dasamahavidya'' deities, namely, Kali, Tara, Shodasi, Tripurabhairavi, Cinnamastha, Dhumavati, Bagalamuki, Rajamathangi, and Kamalathmika are installed around the sanctum.
|-
|4 || Saint Shantanada Swamigal || [[Marble]] || 4.5 feet || Tamil Nadu type || Idol of the saint who built the temple. Located on the left of Goddess Bhuvaneswari.
|-
|5 || God Panchamukha Anjaneya || Stone || 14 feet || Orissa type || Idol of God Hanuman. Located at the ''vaayu moolai'' (northwest corner) opposite God Sanishwara. The idol has five faces that are the embodiment of God Hanuman facing the east, God Narasimha facing the south, Garuda facing the west, God Varahaa facing the north and God Hayagriva at the top. Idols of Bhakta Hanuman and Veera Hanuman are installed around this sanctum.
|-
|6 || God Veera Sarabeswarar || || 12 feet || Tamil Nadu type || Idol of God Sarabeshwara with a lion's face and bird's wings, with the two wings bearing Goddess Prathiyankara and Goddess Soolini. The arms of the idol hold a deer, battle axe, snake and fire, and Gods Bhairava and Agni are found in his abdomen. Installed around the sanctum are idols of Ashta Bhairavars—Achithanga, Ruru, Chanda, Krodana, Kabala, Unmatha, Bheeshana, Samkara, and svarnakarshana.
|-
|7 || God Sanishwara || Stone || 14 feet || Orissa type || Idol of the God of planet [[Saturn]] in the standing posture with one leg on his mount, the crow, and the other on the ground. Located in the ''easanya moolai'' (northeast corner), opposite God Panchamukha Hanuman. Idols of different forms of God Sanishwara are installed around this sanctum.
|-
|8 || God Swaminatha Swamy || Stone || 12 feet || Tamil Nadu type || Idol of God Murugan. Located facing the Bhuvaneshwari sannadhi. Idols of various forms of God Murugan in the ''Arupadai veedu'' (Swamimalai, Tirutani, Tiruparankundram, Palani, Pazhamudircholai, Tiruchendur) and the one at Kadirkamam, in addition to Lord Balamurugan and Lord Subramanyaswami, are installed around this sanctum.
|-
|9 || God Dattatreya || Stone || 15 feet || Orissa type || Idol of God Dattatreya with three heads and six hands holding a trident, rosary, lotus, discus, conch and a water pot. Installed in the ''agni moolai'' (southeast corner) opposite Panchamukha Heramba Ganapathy. Idols of Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are installed around this sanctum.
|-
|10 || Goddess Ugra Prathiyankara || [[Panchaloha]] || 12 feet || Tamil Nadu type || Idol of Goddess Atharvana Bhadrakali, a lion-faced goddess seated on a lion, with her four hands bearing a noose in the form of a snake, trident, hand-drum and bowl (''kabaala paathram'') and wearing a garland of skulls. Located facing the sanctum of God Veera Sarabeswara. Idols of ''Navadurgas'', namely, Sailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandrakande, Kushmande, Skandamatha, Kathayayini, Kalarathri, Mahagauri and Sidhithathri are installed around this sanctum.<ref name="IndianHeritage_SkandhashramamChennai"/> The idol of Soolini Durga, installed at the feet of Ugra Prathiyankara Devi idol, is three feet tall and also made of panchaloha. This idol depicts Goddess Durga with eight arms riding her lion.<ref name="OSS_Skandhashramam_Chennai"/>
|-
|11 || Goddess Chakra Poorna Maha Meru || || 5.5 feet || Tamil Nadu type || Personification of Goddess Sakthi. Installed at the centre.
|-
|12 || God Ayyappa || Panchaloha || 7 feet || [[Kerala architecture|Kerala type]] || Idol of God Ayyappa in a sitting posture, with the right hand showing the ''gnana mudra'' and the left one showing the ''vara mudra''. The sanctum is towards the east, facing the Astadasabhuja Durga. The idol of Kanni Moolai Ganapathy is installed to the right.
|-
|13 || Goddess Ashtadasabuja Durga Parameswari || || 6 feet || Tamil Nadu type || Idol of Goddess Parvathi's incarnation mounted on a lion, with her 18 hands holding various weapons, including the trident of God Shiva, the discus of God Vishnu, the conch of Varuna, the bow and arrows of Vayu, and the ''vajra'' of Indra. Installed in the southern part of the temple, behind the Sahasralingam, facing the north.
|-
|14 || God Maha Sudarshana Murthy (Chakarathazhwar) with Lakshmi Narasimhar || Panchaloha || 18 feet || || This idol is unique in the sense that it has God Sudarshana Murthy on the obverse and God Lakshmi Narasimhar (along with his consort Goddess Lakshmi) on the reverse, with Bhaktha Prahlada standing in its right side, for it is generally Yoga Narasimhar who is found in the reverse. Installed around this sanctum are the images of the 10 avatars of God Vishnu.<ref name="IndianHeritage_SkandhashramamChennai"/> Five-feet tall idol of God Venkatachalapathy appears opposite the Chakra.<ref name="DinamalarTemples_SriSwaminathaswamiTemple"/>
|-
|15 || Sahasralingam || Stone || 9.5 feet || || Idol of God Shiva in ''lingam'' form. Weighing 20 tons, the idol has 53 lingams in each of the 19 lines making a total of 1,007 lingams carved within the main lingam and is accompanied by a ''Nandhi'' (the bull) measuring 5 feet long and 4 feet high.<ref name="IndianHeritage_SkandhashramamChennai"/> Around this sanctum are the idols of God Dakshinamurthy, God Venkatachalapathy with Goddess Alarmel Mangai and God Brahmma.<ref name="DinamalarTemples_SriSwaminathaswamiTemple"/>
|}

==Developments==
In June 2012, the temple started the Guru Vyasa Veda Patasala, a centre to learn [[Vedas]].<ref>{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| title = Veda Patalasala at the Skandasramam
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = The Hindu
| date = 23 June 2012
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/veda-patalasala-at-skandasramam/article3562604.ece
| accessdate = 8 May 2014}}</ref>

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

==External links==
* [http://www.skandasramam.com/ Official website of Chennai Om Sri Skandhashramam]
* [http://www.omsriskandhashramam.org/ Life and Times of Swami Santhananda]

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

[[Category:1999 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Chennai]]
[[Category:Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu]]

Skandhashramam Temple, Chennai - Revision history

JewelWoodcock19: adding new location