Guard yourself & your WHEELS FROM EVIL


On a lazy Sunday morning, while travelling from Anna Salai to Central railway station, one can easily be jolted out of slumber near the bridge on Pallavan Salai due to the sudden flurry of activity on the road. The quiet journey so far is disrupted with honking of vehicles and a crowd spilling on to the road. These people have come to offer prayers at the ‘Bodyguard’ Muneeshwaran temple and insure their vehicles against any accident.

Located around 1.5km from Central railway station, this temple isn’t anything close to the traditional temples of south India.

It has no gopuram (temple tower) or kalasam (adornment on the temple tower), and no intricate figurines or handiworks adorn the temple on the outside.

It only has an asbestos sheet as a roof with a blue board that declares it to be ‘Shri Bodyguard Munishwaran Alayam.’ Yet, this small, non-descript shrine attracts a huge crowd, especially on weekends.

Apart from regular visitors, a large number of people here are owners of new vehicles.
The popular belief is that if a vehicle is taken to the temple for puja, Lord Muneeshwaran will guard the owner and vehicle against accidents. That probably explains the ‘Bodyguard’ prefix.
There is another reason, which might have strengthened this belief. Since both Met cles against any accident.

Located around 1.5km from Central railway station, this temple isn't anything close to the traditional temples of south India.

It has no gopuram It has no gopuram (temple tower) or kalasam (adornment on the temple tower), and no intricate figurines or handiworks adorn the temple on the outside.
It only has an asbestos sheet as a roof with a blue board that declares it to be `Shri Bodyguard Munishwaran Alayam.' Yet, this small, non-descript shrine attracts a huge crowd, especially on weekends.

Apart from regular visitors, a large number of people here are owners of new vehicles.
The popular belief is that if a vehicle is taken to the temple for puja, Lord Muneeshwaran will guard the owner and vehicle against accidents. That probably explains the `Bodyguard' prefix.
There is another reason, which might have strengthened this belief. Since both Met ropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) offices are nearby, new buses were probably brought to the temple for puja before being taken out on the roads.

Locals have another story to tell. It is believed that in 1919 AD, a few workers from north Arcot district brought an idol of Lord Muneeshwaran and placed it under a tree. “A British commander from the adjoining military barracks objected to this and the same day he met with an accident. Then, he allowed the idol to stay and, later, a shed was constructed for the deity,” says K Sundar, a temple co-ordinator.

The other plausible explanation of how the temple acquired this adage could be the fact that a military regiment of the Madras Presidency, the Governor’s Bodyguard Madras, had a camp near where the Pallavan House stands today. A little further on Mount Road, there exists a mosque called Governor’s Bodyguard Mosque, where, it is said, Muslims of the regiment used to offer prayers. Likewise, this temple was probably for the Hindus of the regiment.
In Tamil folk culture, Lord Muneeshwaran is considered a guardian figure and his idols are often found at village entrances. In Chennai too, he sits strategically near the Chennai Central station, entry to the city, guarding against all things evil maybe?

later, a shed was constructed for the deity,“ says K Sundar, a temple co-ordinator.
The other plausible explanation of how the temple acquired this adage could be the fact that a military regi ment of the Madras Presidency , the Governor's Bodyguard Madras, had a camp near where the Pallavan House stands today . A little further on Mount Road, there exists a mosque called Governor's Bodyguard Mosque, where, it is said, Muslims of the regiment used to offer prayers. Likewise, this temple was probably for the Hindus of the regiment.

In Tamil folk culture, Lord Muneeshwaran is considered a guardian figure and his idols are often found at village entrances. In Chennai too, he sits strategically near the Chennai Central station, entry to the city , guarding against all things evil maybe?

Jul 29 2014 : The Times of India (Chennai)