1961 Census Records Reveal Sri Nimishambal Ishwari Temple Was Built Around 1836

Historical records from the 1961 Census of India have debunked claims that the Sri Nimishambal Ishwari temple, located off Kasi Chetty Street in Madras, is four centuries old, proving instead that it was constructed around 1836.

The clarification of the temple's true heritage emerged after researcher Karthik Bhatt pointed out historical data from the Census of India 1961, Volume XI D, which specifically documented the temples of Madras State. This record has corrected long-standing misconceptions about the temple's age and its original builder.

According to the 1961 census write-up, the temple was built in 1836 or thereabouts by a builder named Krishnaswamy Raju. This official record refutes the contemporary claims that the shrine dates back four centuries. The finding also corrects a previous assumption that the temple was established and endowed by the Chitrakars. Based on his name, Krishnaswamy Raju is believed to have been one of the Rajapalayam Rajus, though no further details about him are currently known.

The temple was built on a small plot of land measuring three cents, which is approximately 1,300 square feet, situated just off Kasi Chetty Street. The property underwent expansion later in the 19th century when a woman named Venkatalakshmi Ammal endowed a mandapam at the site in 1884. To this day, the upkeep and maintenance of the shrine are supported by the rent collected from two shops located at the front of the temple premises.

The historical volume that contained these facts was compiled by a team of prominent administrators, including former Deputy Superintendent of the Census P. 'Bob' Murari, a member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) whose writing style is evident throughout the book's entries. The discovery highlights the ongoing efforts of local historians to refine and correct the documented history of Madras.