Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Pudupet (Komaleeswaranpet), Chennai

Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Pudupet (Komaleeswaranpet), Chennai (அரங்கநாதஸ்வாமி கோவில், புதுப்பேட்டை (கோமளீஸ்வரன்பேட்டை), சென்னை 

Temple 3 Tier Rajagopuram

Temple Viewed from Street

Temple

In Komaleeswaranpet, popularly known as Pudupet,  there is a beautiful temple dedicated to Ranganatha Swamy located in the Naicken Street near automobile spares and scrap market. From Komaleeswarar temple Ranganatha Swamy temple is just 1 km away. The area around the Komaleeswarar temple is known as Komaleeswaranpet. Chennai Photo walk participants covered this 500 years old Vaishnavite shrine walking down the lanes of Pudupet during their Retro-walk #19 (photo walk) : Pudupet on 28th June2015, Sunday, at 08.30am.

Dasavatara Door Panel

Kirtimukha

Main Sanctum

The north facing temple is entered through the three tiered rajagopuram. The presiding deity Lord Ranganatha Swamy with four hands, upper hands holding Shankha, Chakra and lower hands in in abhaya and varada hastas, appear reclining on Ananta Sesha, the celestial serpent. Laksmi Devi is sitting on a lotus flower on his chest. Lord Brahma is sitting on the lotus of creation, rising from the Lord's navel. Sitting at the Lord's feet are Sridevi and Bhudevi. 

Main Sanctum

Lord Parthasarathy

Dwarapalakas Jaya-Vijaya are guarding the sanctum. Also there are flagstaff and balipeeta before the sanctum.The single stone sanctum door frame is sculpted with bas reliefs madanikas (Salabhanjika–celestial damsels) and Dashavatara (ten incarnations) on side frame slabs and Kirtimukha decoration (demon faces) on the roof slab. The vimana under which the Lord enshrined is eka tala (single tier) vesara vimana. The base vimana structure (from adishtana to prastara) is made out of hard granite stones and with griva having mahanasika, shikara and four finials or kalasas. There is a pillared pavilion before the sanctum. The flight of three steps leading to  raised level fllooring. The floor are paved with modern tiles. The pillars are coated with paint. The bottom of the pillars have square base and the octogonal shape at the top. The Potika is the pushpa-potika (lotus-bud), characteristic of the Vijayanagar style. The pillars and prastara are coated with paint. All the pillar bases bear bas reliefs of incarnations of Lord Vishnu including Lord Parthasarathy of Tirualliekni. Garudazhvar appear in a small sanctum before the Lord Ranganathaswamy. 

Goddes Ranganayaki Shrine

Holy Feet

Goddess Sanctum

On the right side of the main sanctum goddess Ranganayaki appear in separate east facing shrine. The vimana under which the goddess enshrined is eka tala (single tier) Dravida vimana. The base vimana structure (from adishtana to prastara) is made out of hard granite stones and with square tala and octogonal griva having mahanasika, octogonal shikara and single finial or kalasa. There is a 16 pillared pavilion before the sanctum. The bottom and top of the pillars have square base and the octogonal shape at the middle. The Potika is the

Vaikundavasal

pushpa-potika (lotus-bud), characteristic of the Vijayanagar style.

Tirupati Venkatachalapati

At  the western corridor there are shrines for Lord Tirupati Venkatachalapathi (facing the rajagopuram), Sri Thumbikai Alavar (Vinayagar) (on the left) and Sri Gnana Anjaneyar and there are also shrines  for Chakrathalvar and Sri Yoga Narasimhar in the eastern corridor. At the southern corridor you can see the holy feet of Lord Ranganatha Swamy in the Sri Vaikundavasal Pavilion. Also there are shrines for Sri Annal (Soodikodutha Sudarkodi) and Sri Vikanasar and Sri Visvakenar as well as for 12 Alvars and 12 Acharyas. 

Sukra Sthalam

Main Sanctum Vimana

The prime deity Lord Ranganathaswamy is considered as the Lord for planet Venus (Sukra) and therefore shrine is known as the Sukra (Venus) Sthala. It is auspicious to offer prayers to the Lord on Fridays during Sukra Hora (6 am - 7 am) as well a on Wednesdays. The Pooja rituals follow the Agamic Sri Vaikasana Samprathaya.

Festivals

Goddess Sanctum Vimana

The annual Bramotsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month Panguni (Mar - Apr) for 10 days with Garudavaga seva and celestial wedding festivals. The Vaikunda Ekadasi is also celebrated with Lord's solemn procession through Parapathavasal. There are special poojas on all Saturdays in the Tamil month Purattasi (15 Aug - 15 Sep) and Laksharchana to Lord Ranganathaswami. The friday pooja rituals in the Tamil months Adi and Thai are auspicious for goddess Ranganayaki and Margazhi Neeradal festival for goddess Sri Andal.  

The temple is well maintained by Sri Loganatha Nayakkar family over the past five generations. 

Reference

1. Namadhu Arasu Year 8 Malar 11, May 2015. Page 2.
2. Retro-walk No19 : Pudupet – “Chor Bazaar” https://chennaiphotowalk.wordpress.com/2015/06/23/retro-walk-19-pudupet-chor-bazaar/