Ghousiga Balasubramaniya Koyil
Born in 1940 in Pondicherry, a Muslim man named Mohammed Ghouse had always felt a special fondness for Lord Murugan. As a boy, he sold the gold waist-thread his parents had tied on him to make small copper idols of Murugan with Valli-Deivanai (Devasena), which he would worship daily. Every year at Masi Maham, he decorated his Murugan and carried the idol to the sea for its theerthavari. Thus did Ghouse’s Murugan come to be called “Bhai Murugar.” Legend has it that Murugan appeared in a dream and asked him to build a temple for him on a specific ground. On 14 December 1970, the foundation stone was laid together with Lieutenant Governor B.D. Jatti. Not everyone found it easy to accept a Muslim building a Hindu temple, but it was completed nonetheless. In 1977, the Maha Kumbhabhishekam was performed and Kanchi Periyavar later named the temple Ghousiga Balasubramania Swami Aalayam, fully acknowledging its founder. Ghouse’s sons and grandson now run the temple, honouring their father’s devotions.
A Thulasi Mutthumariamman shrine already existed nearby, and the temple as we see it today has grown around it, taking the proceedings of this Amman Koyil into its folds. The main temple now houses a number of deities including Panchamukha Anjaneya, Vinayaka, Perumal with Sridevi and Bhudevi, Vaidyanatha Siva, Thaiyal Nayaki Ambal, and several utsava murtis.
Thulasi Mariamman has a dhvajastambha of her own, and her 11-day Brahmotsavam is conducted in Chithirai Masam. The reigning Balasubramania Swami’s major annual festival happens in Aippasi, the 18-day Kanda Sashti, with a 5-day series of events built around Vaikasi Vishakam.
Panguni Utthiram is also celebrated with a Thirukalyanam. The popularity of this temple is evident from the crowds that throng there to see the beautiful moola murti on Tuesdays, Krittikai, and Sashti–and, indeed, from the temple’s very active Instagram page.