Sri Rathinagireeswarar Temple is located close to the Besant Nagar Reserve Bank Colony in 6th Cross Street. This is a West facing Temple with a five tiered Rajagopuram. The Temple authorities have erected a temporary roofing on the anterior side of the Temple due to which the visibility of the five tiered Rajagopuram is totally diminished. Devotees may have to climb 4 to 5 steps to reach the Temple premises. On either side of these steps are two black West facing Idols of Elephants. On entering the Temple premises there is a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam and a East facing Nandhi Vaahanam looking towards the Moolasthanam. This Temple does not have any Dwajasthambam or Kodi Maram. 

On proceeding towards the Moolasthanam there is an Arch which mentions the name of Sri Abhinava Vidhya Theertha Pravesa Dwaram. There are West facing coloured Idols of Shivan, Parvathy, Vinayagar and Murugan and others. The Moolasthana Mandapam has many Shrines and the first Sub Shrine is that of the West facing Sri Rathna Ganapathy. There is a coloured stucco Idol of the same Sri Rathna Ganapathy on the top of His Gopuram. Next is the Sanctum Sanctorum and the threshold of this Moolasthanam is fully gold plated with Divine Images embossed on it. There are two black Dwara Baalaka Idols who stand guard before the Sanctum Sanctorum. In the Moolasthanam the Presiding Deity of Sri Rathnagireeshwarar is seen West facing and in the form of a Shiva Lingam. Facing the Moolavar is another small Nandhi Vaahanam. The Urchavamoorthy Idol of Sri Rathnagireeswarar is also seen within the Moolasthanam. Next to this is a West facing Sub Shrine of Sri Subramaniyar. The Gopuram atop this Sub Shrine is seen with a coloured stucco Idol of Sri Subramaniyar flanked by His Consorts. The Sub Shrine has a West facing Sri Rathina Subramaniyar who is seen along with His Consorts Valli and Devasena. Around the Koshtam of the Moolavar are the Idols of Sri Durgai, Sri Brahmma, Sri Chandikeshwarar, Sri Maha Vishnu, Sri Dhakshinamoorthy and Sri Narthana Vinayagar. In the same Moolasthana Mandapam there is a South facing Shrine of the Ambal who is known as Sri Aralakesi and She is seen in a standing posture. The threshold of Her Shrine too is gold plated and there are two black Dwara Baalaki Idols standing guard before Her Sannadhi. Next to this is another South facing Sub Shrine pertaining to Sri Adhi Shankarar. Then there is an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Kothandaramar who is seen along with Goddess Seetha and Lakshmana. Facing the Sub Shrine of Sri Kothandaramar is another West facing Sub Shrine of His disciple Sri Anjaneya Swamy. 

On circumambulating the inner peripheral there is a South facing Sub Shrine of Sri Natarajar who is seen along with Sri Sivagami Ambal. Facing this Sub Shrine is the Naalvar Sannadhi comprising of the Idols of Appar, Sundarar, Thirugnana Sammandhar and Manikavasagar. All these four Idols are North facing. The Temple also has a Navagraha Sannadhi on an elevated podium. The Temple has a small Temple Chariot or Car which is safely secured in a glass panel. To the rear of this is a Arasa Maram and a Veppa Maram and beneath this is an Idol of Sri Vinayagar and Naaga Devathas who are all East facing. The Temple also has a mini stage like structure known as Sri Kanchi Maha Swami Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Pavala Vizha Mandapam. On it Sri Adhi Shankarar is seen along with His disciples and beneath this is an Image of Sri Maha Periyava. There are miniature Idols of Sri Krishna, Radha, Sri Rama, Goddess Seetha, Lakshmana and Anjaneya Swamy on two different glass panels on either side of this mini stage. The Temple also has a Homa Kundam meant for Diivne Rituals. The entire flooring of the Temple is neatly tessallated with black tiles. The Temple has a Madapalli and an Office functioning within the Temple Premises. The First Kumbhaabhishekam was performed in the year 1975. Festivals like Pradhosam, Sri Rama Navami, Hanumath Jayanthi, Maha Shivarathri are celebrated in a grand manner. This is not a Government Temple but a Private one. There are displays in a few places of the Temple wherein they have mentioned that Mobile Phones must not be used but it is sad to notice that most of the Gurukkals sitting next to each of the Sub Shrine have a mobile in their hand and attach more importance to them than to the first time Devotees who come here with dreams of knowing more details about the Deities and the Temple. In a nutshell the Temple though small looks very impressive and the Presiding Deity is believed to be Omnipotent. 

Contact Details: Ranjani 99529 36579, 044 24910405, Sripathi Secretary 98400 11622, 90253 55828 and Mariyamma Flower Shop 98847 49659

Temple Timing: 6 AM to 11 AM and 5 PM to 9 PM

Distance from Thiruvanmiyur to Besant Nagar is 3 Kms

Distance from Nanganallur to Besant Nagar is 13 Kms

Distance from Chromepet to Besant Nagar is 19 Kms

Distance from Vandalur to Besant Nagar is 28 Kms

Distance from Thirusoolam or Tirusulam to Besant Nagar is 19 Kms

Distance from Pozhichalur to Besant Nagar is 19 Kms

Distance from Porur to Besant Nagar is 16 Kms

Distance from Poonamallee to Besant Nagar is 22 Kms

Distance from Mangadu to Besant Nagar is 20 Kms

Distance from Thiruverkadu to Besant Nagar is 24 Kms

Distance from Aminjikarai to Besant Nagar is 14 Kms

Distance from Villivakkam to Besant Nagar is 22 Kms

Distance from Korattur to Besant Nagar is 22 Kms

Distance from Avadi to Besant Nagar is 28 Kms

Distance from Ambattur to Besant Nagar is 26 Kms

Distance from Thiruvallur or Tiruvallur to Besant Nagar is 48 Kms

Distance from Madhavaram to Besant Nagar is 24 Kms

Distance from Mannady to Besant Nagar is 15 Kms

Distance from Thiruvottiyur to Besant Nagar is 23 Kms

Distance from Minjur to Besant Nagar is 43 Kms

Distance from Ponneri to Besant Nagar is 53 Kms

Distance from Thirumullaivoyal to Besant Nagar is 30 Kms

Distance from Ayyarmalai to Besant Nagar is 344 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Besant Nagar is 13 Kms

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