Sithanji Sri Sankareswarar Temple, Vellore

Address

Sithanji village,

Vellore District,

TamilNadu – 632531

Moolavar

Sri Sankareswarar

Amman

Sri Yogambal- Sri Bogambal

Introduction

Sri Sankareswarar Temple is dedicated to lord Shiva located in the Sithanji village, Vellore district, Tamilnadu. The Big temple, which was worshiped by the Pallavas, Cholas, Gangas, and Vijayanagara emperors, is now a Small temple. The presiding deity is called as Sri Sankareswarar, Mother is called as Sri Yogambal and Sri Bogambal. Here the Shiva with Nandi Mandapam in front, Ambal Sannidhi’s nearby, Ganapati and Lord Murugan are seated to the left side of the sanctum.

Puranic Significance

The temple is built during the reign of Nandivarman III (825-850 AD). During his reign, he built many Shiva temples in the Thondai region, which is said to be one of them is this Sankareswarar temple.

This is the rare temple; the Lord Shiva is facing West side. It is said that Ravana used to visit a west facing temple every day to take food. It is said that 999 Rudras worshiped Sankareswara here.

This is the rare temple; here are the two Mothers, Sri Yogambal and Sri Bogambal. The temple was destroyed many years ago and the artefacts and inscriptions were lost. Later a small temple was built during the Vijayanagara period. The elders of the village say that the present temple was built 300 years ago. Although there is no historical record, Lingamoorthy himself says that the temple is centuries old.