Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal @ Bairagi Mutt, Sowcarpet, Madras.

For a Srivaishnavaite, visiting Temples, having darshan of Sriman Narayana at various Divyadesams, Abhimana sthalams and doing kainkaryam to Him is the desired way of life.  Besides the most divine Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi Thirukovil, there are many other temples of Sriman Narayana that are centuries old and many of them are in Parrys area.

The history of Chennai, is far older than British settlements, yet British have a big place in its history. Back in Chennai, on NSC Bose Road,  a  big10 ft tall  statue of King George V stands forlorn adjacent to Flower Bazaar Police station, presented (!) by Govindoss Chathoorbhoojadoss in 1914.  The place which historically was known as blacktown came to be known as George Town thereafter. This statue was unveiled  in honour of  King George V when he was crowned,  the Emperor of India. 

From NSC Bose Road, Flower bazaar PS to Elephant gate area, there are so many narrow lanes and bylanes in what is known as Sowcarpet, a sprawling neighbourhood, far different than the other parts of North Madras, primarily because of  sizable North Indian community living here.  Ironically, dravidan parties which oppose Hindi, put up posters in Hindi seeking votes for their candidates.   This is no post on politics or history, but on an ancient temple, claimed to be more than 500 years old, and a North India connection too at that.

the southern entrance at General Muthiah St

It is stated that more than  a couple centuries ago, here lived a devotee sanyasi by name Laldas, from some distant part of Northern India (some unsubstantiated reference in web to Lahore !)  who medidated on Tirupathi Balaji everyday.  With divine interference, he installed the idol of Lord Venkateswara in standing posture and this temple of Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal in General Muthiah Street is popularly known as ‘Bairagi Mutt Balaji Mandir’.  The Mutt of Laldas reportedly more than 400 years old was a choultry with accommodation for yatris. Decades later, idols of Thiruvenkadavan with Sridevi & Bhodevi were found in the garden and they too were installed in the sanctum sanctorum.

In the sannathi, tall imposing Lord stands very much like the Balaji, Lord of Seven Hills, the holy Thirumala.  Thayar here is Alarmelmangai thayar.  Just in front of the main sannathi, there is Lord Ranganatha in reclining posture.  There are also separate sannathies for Sri Rama, Varadharaja, Kannan, Varahar, Lakshmi Narasimhar and Puri Jagannathar. 

More importantly, there are idols and sannathies for all Azhwars and Acharyars ~ Yamunaryar, Uyyakkondar, Manakkal Nambi, Udayavar, Manvala Mamunigal, Nanjeeyar, Nampillai, Vadakku Thiruveethipillai, Pillai Logachariyar and more.

On 6^th Aug 2016, had fortune of worshipping Perumals here.  It was a day of Laksharchanai for Sri Alarmelmangai thayar and photo of thayar is also here.

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.