R.A. Puram Ayyappan Temple

Ayyappan Koil is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Ayyappa which is located at Raja Annamalaipuram, a coastal neighbourhood of Chennai.The temple is built as an exact replica of the original Ayyappan Temple at Sabarimala in Kerala hence known as Vada(North) Sabarimala.

The temple was built by M. A. M. Ramaswamy belonging to the Chettinad Royal family and a noted industrialist.He once following all the rigid rules took a pilgrimage to Sabarimala.Reaching the sanctum sanctorum of the temple he lost himself in the handsomeness of Lord Ayyappa and envisioned building a similar temple at Chennai.

The temple was established in 1981 and constructed and congregated in 1982 on the land donated to the temple by Raja Sir Muthiah Chettiar. The Ayyappa idol, made of Panchaloha (five precious metals representing the five elements of nature), was made by Sri Bhattanachariar, a sculptor from Nagercoil. It was taken in a procession from the Krishnan Temple in Nagercoil to various places of religious importance in Tamil Nadu before it was installed in the Raja Annamalaipuram temple on 25 January 1982. The first kumbabishekam (renovative ablution) was performed on 29th January 1982 and the second one was performed on 27th March 1994.1175]

The temple is built as an exact replica of the original Ayyappan Temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. The temple was constructed in three floors presumably to lend the feeling of being atop a hill similar to the Sabarimala hill.The architecture follows the Kerala style and tradition with 18 steps to the main shrine and the sanctum sanctorum. The temple is known as Vada Sabari or North Sabarimala. Methods of worship is similar to the Sabarimala temple, whereby devotees observe all fasting, carry Irumudi (the sacred twin baggage) and sing bhajans as they do for a pilgrimage to Sabarimala. There is a separate passage for other devotees coming to the temple without the Irumudi.The temple has all the features of Sabarimala with sub-shrines of Kannimoola Maha Ganapathy, Maaligaipurathu Amman, Nagaraja and other “Parivara Devatas”. The single piece Dhwajasthamba or kodimaram (the flag post) of the temple is 40 feet tall. A meditation hall measuring 125 feet by 100 feet below the temple is where pilgrims are made to stay during the Mandala Pooja and the main festival.1173]

The temple has a golden and a silver chariots taken on procession during festival days.The festivals at the temple begin from Karthikai first day (in November) with Mandala Pujas and Brahmotsavam.The temple is open to devotees throughout the year unlike Sabarimala which is open only on specific days in a year.