Hello Friends,
Apart from the Arupadai Veedu Murugan Temple in Besant Nagar there is the Ashtalakshmi Temple as well, just by the sea. Very beautiful and so different from the other Goddess Lakshmi temples you may have seen. The approach to the temple is not as clean as its counterpart, as it’s a tad crowded and busy but once inside you can’t help admiring the different and big statues of Lakshmis awaiting you.
The main deity is Lord Vishnu known here as Lakshmi Narayanan who looks tall and magnificent along with his consort. Once done with the darshan of Lord Lakshmi Narayanan Long a very narrow staircases lead you very in and around the temple to the different Godess Lakshmis. Adhi Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Vidhya Lakshmi, Santhana Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Dhayraya Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi are the eight different forms of Godess Lakshmi. At different levels of the temple these temples for these deities exist. Additionally there are other smaller temples for Lord Hanuman and Lord Krishna as well.
Once you reach the top of the temple the view of the sea is breath taking and beautiful. The temple architecture adds to the beauty of the place, the sea, the breeze, the different and beautiful statues of the Goddess Lakshmis, the long narrow staircase meandering up and down make this temple stand out from the other regular temples of Chennai.
Indeed a must visit, and you come back feeling renewed and revitalized after having sought the blessing of the eight different Lakshmis.
Colourful architecture of the temple
Inner view of the temple
The central place of worship within the temple
The long and narrow staircases leading to the different Goddess Lakshmis
Useful Links:
http://ashtalakshmitemple.tnhrce.in/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtalakshmi_Temple,_Chennai
Address:
Arulmigu Mahalakshmi Temple,
Timings:
Mornings – 06.30 A.M to 12.00 Noon.
Evenings – 04.00 P.M to 9.00 P.M.
Cheers
Bhuvana Rajaram
