Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

2271 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Modern · Hindu · India

Bodyguard Muniswaran Temple

Chennai, Tamil Nadu · 13.0770°, 80.2758°

MuneeswararModern
Sacred since
1919 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
1919
Modern

History & significance

A folk-deity shrine of 1919 about 1.5 km from Chennai Central station, set up by labourers who had come from North Arcot district. Thousands visit daily, many of them holding that Muneeswarar guards them against accidents.

Sthala katha — the legend

The labourers are said to have placed the idol under a neem tree beside the British military barracks; the commander who objected met with an accident the same day and thereafter allowed the installation.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Modern