Aathu Kovil Muneeswaran — Attraction in St.Thomas Mount-Pallavaram Cantonment Board

Life is a long pilgrimage from fear to love. Paulo Coelho

It was fine evening, bored up so decided to take the bike wheels for some spin. Out for random decided to trace the road running parallel to the river — after some 30 minutes I came across this surreal local community temple [which I guess isn't directly under States' HRCE].

Though I have seen many Munishwaran temples in villages, but here's a one right at the heart of the city; and from the moment I saw it there was something odd about it.

Only after entering the temple I came to know that, this area was occupied by the exodus of Bruma return Tamils, and this very feature is reflected in the design of the sculptures (you can notice the South Asian Crown on top of the horse & the deity).

The architecture itself a fine blend modern and traditional — I could spot the replica of famous bull-elephant optical illusion from Airawateshwara temple & saw Hindu angels dropping from the ceilings (absorbing Christian mythos). Plus Peepal trees are common site in Hindu temples, but here we have a Buddha carved into it (possibly in Varada mudra form) — the Burma connect!

But the pristine river view gets damaged due to sewage let out into the river; hope the Adayar gets a complete restoration soon!

Pilgrimage to me, isn't going to the holiest of the holy places, it can happen anywhere anytime, any sudden journey by chance; in that sense it's not about the religion or purification — it should be all about, Self Discovery.

PS. It is also featured in SK starer...

If you are foreigner and happen to visit this place, if they see that you are old and vulnerable, they too try somewhat to loot you.

When you distribute food, the priests themselves take and eat a lot (at least 6 servings on average). Random people start running in bringing kids and asking for food and senselessly fighting away over portion size, no. of servings and what was given.

So, foreigners beware of this place. Dont innocently go ask the priests for anything like doing prayers and so on.

We ended up there because of our silly driver and my old parents who lacked knowledge.

In these places, just pray and come back and that is good enough. The priests do approach you to 'recommend' you to cut goat for them to pray even after gobbling down numerous plates of whatever you have served.

Men entering this temple seem drunk and try making friends with younger women (foreigners).

Lastly, do not buy any archanai thattu from the temple. They are overpriced. Maybe higher for foreigners.

According to one of the priests, the Muneeswaran is also Ayyanar.

What we liked about this temple? That huge Ayyanar/Muneeswarar...

Famous Muneeswaran temple in ekkattuthangal burma colony managed by people in burma colony itself. You can find Goddess Angala parameswari in separate sannidhi. You can see this temple in dance master Raghava Lawrence's muni first movie and till now most of the film industry people come here before starting their new film project. Whatever you are going through, when you enter this temple you can feel your mind calming down. Its sad the surrounding places aren't maintained properly by government. Lots of garbage. When it comes to lord Muneeswaran or Karuppasamy you can't give fake promises or play with the God. If he promises to take care of your family and reaches out to you, trust your life will change and breakthrough will happen....