Vembedu Agastheeswarar Temple, Chengalpattu

Address

Vembedu, Thiruporur Taluk,

Chengalpattu District,

Tamil Nadu – 603 110

Mobile: +91 94440 07963 / 9677007842

Moolavar

Agastheeswarar

Amman

Vedavalli / Vedanayaki

Introduction

The Agastheeswarar Temple is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Vembedu Village, Thiruporur Taluk, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu. The primary deity of the temple is Agastheeswarar, while the consort is Vedavalli or Vedanayaki. The temple is situated close to the Kattur Uthira Vaidhya Lingeswarar Temple and is approximately 50 meters from the Vembedu Bus Stop, 24 km from Chengalpattu Junction Railway Station, and 38 km from Chennai Airport.

Puranic Significance

The Agastheeswarar Temple is believed to have been built by the Pandya dynasty, evidenced by the carvings of fish (an emblem of the Pandyas) on the ceilings of the Maha Mandapam. This ancient Shiva temple is estimated to be 1500 years old.

According to legend, during the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati, all the celestial beings went to the Himalayas to attend the event. In their absence, the earth lost its balance. To restore balance, Lord Shiva instructed the sage Agastya to travel south. Due to Agastya’s greatness, equivalent to the celestial beings, his movement towards the south restored the earth’s equilibrium. To ensure he didn’t miss the divine marriage, Lord Shiva granted Agastya the ability to witness the wedding from various locations in South India. The Agastheeswarar Temple is one such site where Agastya is said to have witnessed the divine union. It is also believed that Agastya himself installed the Shiva Linga in the temple, which is why Lord Shiva is referred to as Agastheeswarar.

Special Features

The temple has several unique architectural and spiritual features:

Orientation: The temple faces east, with a grand entrance gate.
Sanctum Sanctorum: The Sanctum consists of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Ardha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam, and Mukha Mandapam.
- The Presiding Deity, Agastheeswarar, is housed in the sanctum in the form of a Shiva Lingam and faces east.
- Surrounding the sanctum are the Koshta idols of Vinayaga, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durga.
- The Chandikeswarar shrine is located in its usual position near the sanctum.
Mother Goddess: Vedavalli / Vedanayaki, the consort of Lord Shiva, is housed in a separate shrine located to the left of the sanctum in the Maha Mandapam. This shrine faces south.
Architectural Features:
- The Maha Mandapam has intricate carvings of the Pandya emblem (fish) and depictions of Lunar and Solar eclipses on the ceilings.
- The Maha Mandapam is supported by 20 granite pillars.
Other Shrines:
- There are shrines dedicated to Kanni Moolai Vinayagar, Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devasena, Padithurai Vinayagar, and the Navagrahas within the temple premises.
- A temple tank is located on the north side of the temple.
- The Sthala Vrikshams (sacred trees) are the Vanni tree and the Vilwam tree.
- A newly built Anjaneya temple with a large idol of Anjaneya (Hanuman) is located adjacent to the Agastheeswarar Temple.