Vellalore Theneeswarar Temple, Coimbatore

Address

Vellalore Theneeswarar Temple, Coimbatore

Vellalore, Coimbatore district,

Tamil Nadu 641016

Moolavar

Sri Theneeswarar (Theniswarar)

Amman

Sri Sivakamasundari Ambal

1. Introduction:
   • Located in Vellalore, near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
   • Also called Sri Sivakama Sundari Ambal Samedha Sri Theneeswarar Temple.
   • Faces east and features a unique stone structure with a square Gopuram.
   • Key elements: Dwajasthambam, Palipedam, and Nandi are positioned after the entrance Gopuram.
2. Puranic Significance:
   • The Lingam in the temple is believed to have been worshipped by the celestial cow Kamadhenu, hence called Dhenu Eswarar, later shortened to Theneeswarar.
   • Constructed by Karikala Chozhan over 1500 years ago.
   • The temple was destroyed by Allaudin Kilji’s forces in the 14th century but was later renovated and consecrated in the 19th century.
   • An inscription from 1920 (Salivahana Sakaptha 1842) mentions Kumarakonan’s wife Maruthakkal’s establishment of Vishwanathan Visalakshi Amman and 63 Nayanmar idols, along with a land donation worth Rs. 2500.
   • Belief that the Sun worships Shiva at this temple, as sun rays fall on the moolavar deity on the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai (April-May).
3. Special Features:
   • The temple has Sanctum Sanctorum, Antarala, Artha Mandapam, and Maha Mandapam.
   • Features include a square Gopuram, Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Rishabam after the entrance.
   • In the Koshtam (niche) are idols of Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.
   • Outer Prakaram includes:
     • Sannadhi for Nagars under a Peepal/Bodhi tree.
     • Idols of Suryan, 63 Nayanmars, Athiri Maharishi, Viswanathar Visalakshi, Sakthi Vinayagar (made of white stone), Pancha Lingeswarar, Balamurugan, Chandikeswarar (Ayyanar posture), Chandran, Bhairavar, Saneeswaran, and the Navagrahas.
   • Ambal (goddess) also faces east, positioned on the left side of the moolavar.

This has been extracted from,

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/p/know-them-by-district.html 

Century/Period

1500 years old

Nearest Bus Station

Vellalore

Nearest Railway Station

Coimbatore

Nearest Airport

Coimbatore

Location on Map

lightuptemple