Chennai Valasaravakkam Velveeswarar and Agastheeswarar Temple

Address

Chennai Valasaravakkam Velveeswarar and Agastheeswarar Temple

120, State Highway 113, Indira Nagar, Thandavamoorthy Nagar, Indira Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Chennai,

Tamil Nadu 600087

Moolavar

Velveeswarar, Agastheeswarar

Amman

Tripura Sundari

Introduction

Valasaravakkam, a fast growing residential area of Chennai city in South India, has an ancient temple for Lord Shiva. The temple is called as Velveeswarar temple or Agastheeswarar temple. It is believed that this temple belongs to the period of Kulothungan Chola administration around 1500 years back. Velveeswarar temple is located on the Arcot Road in Valasaravakkam area of Chennai. A very big lotus pond is found inside the temple complex. The temple is surrounded by open space in all the four directions. Moreover, as the temple doesn’t have surrounding compound walls, the temple looks beautiful and spacious.

Puranic Significance

The main shrine of the temple has Velveeswarar in the form of a big Shiv Ling facing the east direction with a Nandi idol in front. There is no rajagopuram (tower) or flag staff found in this ancient temple. Adjacent to the shrine of Velveeswarar, there is another shrine with big Shiv Ling named Agastheeswarar. This shrine also faces the east direction. The temple is named after these two Shiv Lingas.

The Goddess of the temple Tripura Sundari is found in a separate shrine facing the south direction. The prakara (corridor) surrounding these three main shrines has few small shrines and idols of other Gods and Goddesses. Lord Ganesha is found in the name of Vinai Theertha Vinayakar in a separate shrine. Lord Subramanya along with his consorts Valli and Devasena is also found in a separate shrine.

Apart from Velveeswarar and Agastheeswarar, there is another Shiv Ling found in this temple. This Shiv Linga is named as Bana Pureeswarar. Dakshinamurti, Bhairav, Hanuman, Rama-Sita-Lakshman, Navagraha, Natraj-Sivakami and Karumari are also found in small separate shrines in this temple. The wall surrounding the shrine of Velveeswarar has the niche images of Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu and Brahma. Chandikeshwara is also found in his usual location. The wall surrounding the shrine of Tripura Sundari has the niche images of Brahmi, Vaishnavi and Maheswari.

Special Features

The principle holy place of the sanctuary has Velveeswarar as a major Shiv Ling confronting the east course with a Nandi icon in front. The Goddess of the sanctuary Tripura Sundari is found in a different place of worship confronting the southern direction.