Is there a place where part of Ganapathy merges with part of Anjaneya? That place is right here at Madhya Kailash. This Hindu temple stands in South Chennai. It is positioned at the intersection of Sardar Patel Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai in Adyar. Madhya Kailash is opposite the Central Leather Research Institute. It is also near the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai.
Madhya Kailash is also known as Nadukkayilai in Tamil. It bridges North Kailash and South Kailash. These are Kasi and Rameshwaram. The temple’s history goes back to the 1970s. People know it for ancestor worship. This is also known as Pithru Pooja. Priests perform this ritual daily. They make offerings at the Anandavinayaka idol.
The priest takes the offering to Lord Vishnu’s shrine. Then he takes it to Lord Shiva’s shrine. There it becomes Pindam. This Pindam then goes to the shrine of God Sun. Finally, it is offered to the crows.
Venkata Ananda Vinayakar is the main deity at Madhya Kailash. Shrines surround him. These shrines are for Lord Shiva, Surya, Devi, and Vishnu. There are also shrines for Anjaneya and Swarna Bhairavar.
A special deity is Adhyantha Prabhu. The right side is Ganesh. The left side is Hanuman. A temple official envisioned this form. In Maharashtra style, you can light camphor to this deity. It gives great satisfaction.
Vinayaka Chaturthi is a special day. The sun’s rays fall directly on the deity. Vinayaka is the form of the first sound “Om”. Eight bells have been installed. They stand for the seven notes. These are Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, and Ni. The eighth bell signifies the Sa that follows. Muruga’s shrine is in the Mandapam. It is before the sanctum sanctorum. Muruga is Vinayaka’s brother.
Madhya Kailash welcomes everyone. There is no entry fee. It is open from 5:30 AM to 12:00 PM. It reopens from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. You can visit anytime. But November to February is best. The weather avoids the city’s heat.
Other temples are near Madhya Kailash. These include Ashtalakshmi Temple and Kapaleeswarar Temple. You can also visit Parthasarathy Temple. Marundeeswarar Temple is another option.
When you leave Madhya Kailash, remember the unique idol. The deity is both Ganapathy and Hanuman. It is a reminder of unity. It embodies the spirit of Chennai.