11
Mundakanni Amman Koil Street, Chennai: History, Location, How to reach, Connectivity, Why Street Famous, Best time to visit, Interesting Fact and FAQ
Mundakanni Amman Koil Street is a street in northern Mylapore, Chennai, named after the Mundakanni Amman Temple on it. It is best known for that temple and for the MRTS railway station named after it.
Mundakanni Amman Koil Street: Detailed Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Area | Mylapore, Chennai (PIN 600004) |
| Named after | Mundakanni Amman Temple |
| Temple address | 42, Mundakakanni Amman Koil Street, Mylapore |
| Nearest rail | Mundagakanniamman Koil MRTS station (on the street, by Buckingham Canal) |
| Nearby stations | Thirumayilai MRTS, Light House MRTS |
| Nearby roads | Brindavan Street, Kutchery Road, Thiru Vi Ka Salai |
| Length | Not found |
| Toll/speed limit | None specific, it’s a local city street |
| Temple timings | Morning 6:00 AM–12:00 PM, evening 4:00 PM–9:00 PM |
History
- The street takes its name from the temple. A 2013 report says the government kept the name for the MRTS station because the station sits on the very street where the temple stands.
- One temple listing says the temple is 500–1,000 years old, with the historical name Mayilapuri for the area. I couldn’t confirm this against another source.
- The main deity is a swayambhu (self-manifested) form of the goddess, and only the head of the idol is visible. The name “Mundakam” means lotus in Tamil.
- Behind the sanctum are an anthill and a banyan tree. It is believed that a snake worships the goddess daily.
Location
- It lies in northern Mylapore near Santhome and Royapettah, along the Buckingham Canal.
- From Mylapore Tank bus stop, take Kutchery Road and turn left onto the street.
How to reach and connectivity
- MRTS: Mundagakanniamman Koil station (Line 1, between Light House and Thirumayilai) is on the street itself. It serves Mylapore, Santhome and Royapettah.
- Bus: Services run to Mylapore from all parts of the city. The nearest stops are around Mylapore Tank.
- Rail: Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore are the nearest main railway stations.
- Air: Chennai International Airport.
- Road: It is close to Thiru Vi Ka Salai, which connects Royapettah, Mylapore and Gopalapuram.
Why the street is famous
- It is home to the Mundakanni Amman Temple, a well-known Mylapore shrine. Students and artists are said to worship there to excel in their studies and craft.
- Its MRTS station is also known for carrying the street’s name.
- Shrines in the temple include Shiva, Devi, Ganesha, Aiyappan and Hanuman.
Best time to visit
- The temple has big crowds during festivals: the whole of Aadi and Thai months, Chitra Pournami, Navarathri, Aadi Pooram, Chithirai 1, Vijaya Dasami and the last Friday of Thai.
- For a quieter visit, go outside festival days. A general guide: Chennai is most pleasant from about November to February.
- Abishekam takes place from 6:00 to 11:30 AM, when devotees can see the swayambhu form.
Interesting facts
- Annabhishekam, usually done for Lord Shiva on the Aippasi full-moon day, is done for the Amman here.
- The temple offers neem leaves, lime fruits, turmeric and holy water as prasadam.
- The temple has a 1,008 flower-basket abishekam.
FAQ
Is there a toll or entry fee?
No toll. Entry to the temple is free, as far as the sources show.
Which MRTS station is on the street?
Mundagakanniamman Koil.
Which deity is worshipped?
Mundakanni Amman, a form of the Divine Mother (one source associates her with Saraswati, another with Mariamman).
What are the temple timings?
6:00 AM–12:00 PM and 4:00 PM–9:00 PM. Check locally in case they change.
How long is the street?
I couldn’t find a figure.
