Devotees gathered at Jalakanteshwara Temple

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The Jalakanteshwara Temple is located on Delhi Avenue in the IIT Madras campus. The deities worshiped here are Lord Shiva (as Jalakanteshwara) and his consort Devi Katyayani. The first kumbhabhishekam of this temple took place on 18 June 1965.

According to a website, the Shiva lingam was present under a mandapam and a thatched roof near the IIT lake prior to the establishment of IIT Madras. Residents of villages nearby would offer their worship to the Shiva lingam. It was with the suggestion of Mahaperiyavaa that the residents of the Institute built a temple during the establishment of IIT Madras to continue the worship of the idol.

Collection:

Gourishankar Collection

Album Name:

Jalakanteshwara Temple Kumbhabhishekam, 1965 and Visit of Mahaperiyavar, 1966

Photograph ID:

001/0290/IMG_0095

Album ID:

0290

Photographer:

C. Gourishankar (1936-2002). A geologist by qualification, Gourishankar started his career as a photographer after working for many years with the Geological Survey of India. In everything that he did, Gourishankar strove to achieve flawlessness and impeccable quality. Thus his photography too was characterised by this drive for perfection. Every photograph that Gourishankar took was meticulously planned and shot and printed with diligence and patience. Gourishankar carried out most of the official photography at IIT Madras in the 1960s.

Place:

Jalakanteshwara Temple