View source for Ashtalakshmi Temple, Chennai

{{short description|Hindu temple of Ashtalakshmi in Chennai, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox temple
| name               = Ashtalakshmi Temple, Chennai
| image              = Ashtalakshmi temple 2.jpg
| alt                = 
| caption            = The Ashtalakshmi Temple in Chennai
| map_type           = Tamil Nadu 
| map_caption        = Ashtalakshmi Temple, [[Besant Nagar]], [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|12.9926|N|80.2704|E|display=inline,title}}[https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Ashtalakshmi_Temple,_Chennai&params=12.9926_N_80.2704_E_type:landmark]
| country            = [[India]]
| state              = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district           = [[Chennai district|Chennai]]
| location           = [[Besant Nagar]], [[Chennai]]
| elevation_m        = 46
| deity              =[[Ashta Lakshmi]]
| year_completed     = 1976
| architecture       = Hindu architecture
| creator            =
| website            = 
}}

[[File:Ashtalakshmi Kovil - Temple of Eight Lakshmis, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.jpg|thumb|Ashtalakshmi Kovil]]

The '''Ashtalakshmi Kovil''' is a [[Hindu temple]], which lies on the shorelines near the [[Elliot's beach]], in [[Chennai]], [[India]]. The temple is dedicated to the goddess [[Lakshmi]], and  her eight primary forms – the [[Ashtalakshmi]] – the giver of all eight forms of wealth, namely, offspring, success, prosperity, wealth, courage, bravery, food, and knowledge. The sanctorums are depicted on a multi-tier complex in such a way that visitors could visit all the shrines without stepping over any of the sanctorums.<ref name="Ashtalakshmitemplefeatures">{{cite web
 | title = Astakalshmi temple
 | publisher = Indian heritage.com
 | date = March 2012
 | url = http://www.indian-heritage.org/temple/8lakshmi.html
 | access-date = 2 Dec 2012}}</ref><ref name="Astalakshmi_DC">{{cite news
| title = Ashtalakshmi temple consecrated in Chennai
| newspaper = Deccan Chronicle
| location = Chennai
| date = 2 June 2012
| url = http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/ashtalakshmi-temple-consecrated-chennai-718
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120603102828/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/ashtalakshmi-temple-consecrated-chennai-718
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 3 June 2012
| access-date = 2 Dec 2012}}</ref>

==Construction==
The temple was constructed on the wishes of Sri [[Chandrashekarendra Saraswati]] swamigal of [[Kanchi Mutt]].<ref name="Ashtalakshmitemplefeatures"/> Sri Mukkur Srinivasa Varadhachariar was the Mahatma instrumental behind fulfilling the wishes of Kanchi Periyava.The foundation was laid in January 1974 by public participation. The consecration of the temple took place on 5 April 1976 in the presence of the 44th guru of the Ahobila Mutt Vedhantha Dhesika Yatheendhra Mahadhesikan Swami.<ref name="GoT_ChennaiTemples">{{cite book
 | title = திருக்கோயில்கள் வழிகாட்டி: சென்னை மாவட்டம்
 | publisher = Government of Tamil Nadu, Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments 
 | edition = 1st
 | date = July 2014
 | location = Chennai
 | pages = 30–33
 | language = ta
 }}</ref>

==The temple==
The temple measures 65&nbsp;ft in length and 45&nbsp;ft in breath. It is modeled after the [[Sundaravarada Perumal temple|Sundara Varadaraja Perumal temple]] in [[Uthiramerur]].<ref name="GoT_ChennaiTemples"/>

In this temple, the Ashtalakshmis, the eight forms of goddess Lakshmi, are present in four levels in nine separate sanctums. The shrine of Lakshmi and her consort [[Vishnu]] is in level two. One starts the worship from here. Taking the stairs, the path leads to the third floor, which has the shrines of Santhanalakshmi, Vijayalakshmi, Vidyalakshmi and Gajalakshmi. Further few steps would lead to the shrine of Dhanalakshmi, which is the only shrine on the fourth floor. Exiting the main shrine, in the first level, there are shrines for Aadilakshmi, Dhaanya lakshmi and Dharyalakshmi. The temple also has [[Dashavatara]] (avatars of Vishnu), Guruvayoorappan, [[Ganesha]], [[Dhanvanthari]] and [[Hanuman|Anjaneyar]] deities.

==Renovation==
In 2012, the temple was renovated at a cost of {{INR}} 7 million. Another {{INR}} 1.6 million was spent on conducting the ''Jeernotharana Ashtabandana mahakumbhabhishekam'', a Hindu ceremony. A total of 32 kalasams were newly laid in the temple, including a gold-plated 5.5-foot-high kalasam atop the sanctum sanctorum.<ref name="Astalakshmi_DC"/>

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Hinduism}}
* [[Religion in Chennai]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Ashtalakshmi_Temple,_Chennai&params=12.9926_N_80.2704_E_type:landmark GeoHack - Ashtalakshmi Temple, Chennai]

{{commons category|Ashtalakshmi Temple, Chennai}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130813042022/http://ashtalakshmitemple.tnhrce.in/ Official site]

{{List of Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu}}
{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Places of worship in Chennai}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Chennai]]
[[Category:Lakshmi temples]]