Jalakandeswarar Temple, Vellore

Address

Jalakandeswarar Temple, Vellore

Vellore fort, Vellore,

Tamil Nadu 632004

Moolavar

Jalakandeswarar

Amman

Sri Akhilandeshwari

Introduction

Location:

• Situated inside Vellore Fort, Vellore city, Tamil Nadu, India.
• The temple is part of the Vijayanagar period architecture and is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Puranic Significance:

• Legend states that a giant ant-hill had grown over a Swayambhu Shiva Lingam, surrounded by stagnant rainwater at the temple’s site.
• Chinna Bommi Nayaka, a Vijayanagar chieftain, had a dream where Lord Shiva instructed him to build a temple at this location.
• The temple was constructed in 1550 CE under the reign of King Sadasivadeva Maharaya of the Vijayanagara dynasty.
• The deity is called Jalakandeswarar (“Lord Shiva residing in water”) due to the surrounding water.
• The temple also features the statue of Sri Akhilandeshwari Amma, the consort of Jalakandeswarar.
• The deity was secretly reinstated inside the temple in 1981, after being removed from the Jalakanda Vinayakar Temple in Sathuvacheri.

Special Features:

• The temple is an excellent example of Vijayanagara architecture, with intricate carvings on the gopuram (tower), stone pillars, wooden gates, and monolithic sculptures.
• The gopuram stands at over 100 feet in height.
• The temple is situated in the center of a water tank (Agazhi), with a circumference of 8000 feet.
• The Mandapam (hall) has carved stone pillars featuring dragons, horses, and yalis (lion-like creatures).
• The Kalyana Mantapam (wedding hall) features a two-faced sculpture of a bull and an elephant.
• The water for abishekam (ritual bathing of the deity) is drawn from an ancient well called Ganga Gouri Thertam.
• Behind the Nandi statue, there is an earthen lamp that is believed to revolve when touched by devotees, indicating the granting of wishes.
• Devotees also worship golden and silver lizard sculptures and snake sculptures for relief from sarpa dosham (dosha caused by serpents).

Century/Period

1982

Nearest Bus Station

Vellore

Nearest Railway Station

Vellore

Nearest Airport

Chennai

Location on Map

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