Velachery Sri Dandeeswarar Temple, Chennai

Address

Velachery Sri Dandeeswarar Temple, 1st Ave, Karunabigai Colony, Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600042 Phone: 044 2243 6121

Diety

Dandeeswarar Amman: Karunambikai

Introduction

The Dandeeswarar Temple in Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a place of great historical and religious significance.

Presiding Deity:

The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva, known as Dandeeswarar.
The mother goddess is Karunambikai.

Historical Significance:

The temple’s origins date back to the Pallava period, and it was later repaired and rebuilt during the Chola reign.
The temple complex consists of the main temple structure and a tank.

Legend and Mythology:

In a mythological story, during Tretha Yuga, the demon Somasura snatched the Four Vedas from Lord Brahma. Lord Vishnu later recovered them, but due to being in the demon’s possession, the Vedas lost their purity. They prayed to Lord Shiva at this location to regain their sanctity, and Lord Shiva purified the Vedas, restoring their holiness.
This place was originally known as Vedasreni but later became Velachery.

Dandeeswarar Legend:

In another tale from Dwapara Yuga, when Yama, the God of Death, came to take the life of Markandeya, the Shiva Lingam that Markandeya was hugging prevented Yama from his duty.
In anger, Lord Shiva snatched Yama’s Danda (staff). On the advice of Sage Narada, Yama created a temple pond and worshipped Lord Shiva here to regain his Danda.
Hence, Lord Shiva in this temple is known as Dandeeswarar, and the temple pond created by Yama is called Yama Theertham.

Appaya Dikshitar’s Association:

The temple has an association with Appaya Dikshitar, a prominent Sanskrit scholar from Adaipalan. He consecrated the shrine of Goddess Karunambikai in the temple.
Appaya Dikshitar was a devoted worshiper of Lord Shiva and greatly revered by the rulers of the Vijayanagara and Nayak dynasties.

Worship and Festivals:

Devotees come to the Dandeeswarar Temple to seek blessings for longevity and to regain lost positions.
It’s a custom for people to celebrate their 60th or 80th birthdays at this temple, offering prayers and performing longevity rituals.
Virgin devotees pray to the Saptha Kannikas (seven virgins) and Lord Veerabhadra for a happy life.
The temple celebrates various festivals, including Chitra Poornima in April-May, Aadi month Sundays, Shivarathri, and Aipasi Annabishekam in October-November. Pradoshams, Sashti, Kirthikai, and Navarathri are also observed with devotion.
The temple has various idols, including those of Lord Ganesha, Subramanya, Nataraja, Sivakami, Vishnu, Durga, Nayanmars, Nalvar, Sekkizhar, and others.
Several vahanas (sacred vehicles) are used during festivals for carrying deities.

The Dandeeswarar Temple is a place of spiritual significance and holds a rich history and tradition that attracts devotees and visitors seeking blessings and divine grace in Chennai.