Sri Vadavamukhagneeswara Temple, Vedal

Address

Sri Vadavamukhagneeswara Temple Vedal, Cheyyur, Kanchipuram District TamilNadu 603304

Diety

Vadavamukhagneeswar Amman: VasanthaNayaki

Introduction

Vedal Shiva Temple is situated near the Vedal Lake, one of the biggest lakes of Kanchipuram district. This temple was built during the Raja RajaChola period. The historical name of the village being “Chola Kerala Chaturvedhimangalam”, a village donated to the Brahmins for Vedic chanting.

Puranic Significance

The temple is more ancient than 994 A.D per archaeological finds. It has many unique forms of different deities. The temple is a ThoonganaiMaada temple with Gajaprashtavimanam. Though in a dilapidated condition, daily poojas are taking place.It is located in a place that was called JayamkondaCholaMandalathuEendhurKottathuVedaalNaatuVedaal and Chola Kerala ChaturvediMangalam, this temple dates back before the time of Raja RajaChola and there are inscriptions from both his and Rajendra I’s time in the temple. A huge crack is running through the middle of the vimana& the backside wall of the temple. The Cholas reconstructed a lot of brick temples into granite temples. Especially, there is hardly any brick temple that exists near Chennai city today. Hence VadavamugaAgneeswarar temple located in Vedal is a rare one.The temple now has only two shrines, one that belongs to the magnificent Vadavamukhagneeswara and the other small separate shrine, for his consort, VasanthaNayaki. The main deity is Sri Vadavaamughaneeswarar, a 6 feel high lingam facing east on padmapeedam. The Lord is in Agni swaroopam and so Sandal abhishegam and curd rice Prasadam is special for him. The shrine of Vadavamukhagneeswara, also called VadavayilNayagar. The pillars in the mandapam ahead of the sanctum sanctorum also contain inscriptions. The main shrine is flanked by Ganesha and Shanmuga on either side.. Instead of the Mooshikha, he has an elephant Vahana here. Murugar is seen with Rudraksha and PasaAyudham without His usual Vajrayutham and SakthiAyudham. He is special to worship for education related boons. The Ambal is Sri VasanthaNayagi facing South in a separate shrine. There are two ambals in the shrine. There is legend behind the presence of two Ambals in the Temple. During the times of Raja Raja I, the Goddess Vasantanayaki’s statue had got damaged. Cracks developed on the nose and fingers of the Goddess and scholars recommended that the damaged idol be immediately removed and replaced with a new idol. VasantaNayaki in the same sanctum sanctorum.One can also see a cracked up stone panel depicting the SapthaKannis again lying in the sand in front of the temple, covered in dust. The stones used in tank bund also seem to have been removed from the temple and contain remains of inscriptions. The goshta images Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga and Chandikeshwarar are found on the wall surrounding the main shrine. The vimana along with the images of the Gods is still impressive, though in ruined.