This 1300 year old temple is the dwelling place of Munda Kanni Amman. The name itself suggests that the Amman has wide beautiful eyes. The effigy of the Amman is Swayambu( not man made), people from all over India visit this temple for good fortune and health. The residents of Mylapore, offer abisheka to this Amman before doing any rituals in their house. This temple is notable for relieving serpent sin (Naga Dhosha)
At the back of the temple is an ant hill under the banyan tree, people with Serpent sin (Naga dhosha) worship here and offer milk, egg to the serpent, to get rid of their Serpent sin (Naga dhosha). People also used to tie a red thread in the tree, wishing that all their problems should be solved. Yet another specialty of this temple is that the sanctum of Goddess Mundakanni is just a thatched shed, this is because She is a nature lover and loves to be surrounded by nature. The idol of Goddess resembles lotus bud and a carving of Thrishool at the bottom. Munda Kanni is the incarnation of Goddess Saraswathi, and so She blesses her devotees with extraordinary skills on art,soft skills and music. Students want to shine in dance or music visit this temple once a while and seek Goddess’s blessing.

Location of Munda Kanni Amman Temple:

Mundakanni Amman temple is present in Mylapore, Chennai.

Distinctiveness:

Healer:
Devotees suffering from eye diseases, chicken pox, measles, and Naga dhosha visit this temple to get rid of these. People do special pujas, prayers, and some even give saree to Amman to make their wish come true. Damsels visit this temple on every Friday and light lemon lamp to get a good husband. Devotees got relieved from incurable diseases will go around the temple by rolling their whole body (angapradesham). The temple committee offers free sweet pudding (Pongal) to all people, the cow dung is used as the fuel for cooking these foods. The burnt cow dung ash is given to the devotees, as it has many medicinal powers. There are lots of shops before the temple, where one can buy milk packets, flowers, turmeric, flower and egg to offer the goddess.

Legend:

There are no great legends of Mundakanni, as this temple is too old, there is not much people to say when it was built, by whom and other stories. According to the locals, while digging a well, this natural (Swayambu) effigy of Amman was found and later the locals kept the Swayambu inside a hut and worshipped. As the years passed a temple was erected for Munda Kanni Amman. The seven virgins (sapta Kanni) are found in the outer premise of the temple. There are also shrines of Vinayaka, Muruga, Siva, Naga devi and Hanuman.

Naga dhosha reliever Temple:

People with Serpent sin (Naga dhosha) visit this temple and offer milk, turmeric, and egg to the anthill found near the banyan tree. People also buy Naga statues and place it near the ant hill.

Festivals of Munda Kanni Amman Temple:

Being an Amman temple, all Tuesdays and Fridays are auspicious. Rice anointment (Anna Abishekam) is usually done only to Shiva Lingam, but miraculously rice anointment is done to Goddess Mundakanni.
The temple collects a fee of Rs.120 to participate in the abishekam. Only during the anointment the Goddess is found in her natural ( swayambu ) form. During the month of August and September, the temple provides Porridge (kool) and sweet pudding ( Pongal) to the people and the sacred milk poured on the statue of Mundakkani is also given to the devotees, this milk is believed to have many miraculous powers. On the last Friday of August month, the goddess is paid tribute with 1008 flowers, and on the last Friday of September the temple conduct 108 lamp feast. 1008 milk pot procession is also conducted in this temple.

How to Reach Munda Kanni Amman Temple?

This temple is located at Mylapore, Chennai.
Bus: Buses are available from Chennai main bus stand to Mylapore. There are many share autos and taxi to Mylapore.

Train:The nearest railway station to this temple is at Chennai.