Sithanji Sri Sankareswarar Temple, Vellore

Address

Sithanji Sri Sankareswarar Temple, Vellore

Sithanji village,

Vellore District,

TamilNadu – 632531

Moolavar

Sri Sankareswarar

Amman

Sri Yogambal- Sri Bogambal

Introduction

• Location: The Sri Sankareswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in Sithanji village, Vellore district, Tamil Nadu.
• History: Originally a larger temple worshipped by several dynasties, including the Pallavas, Cholas, Gangas, and Vijayanagara emperors, it is now a smaller temple.
• Deities:
  • Presiding Deity: Sri Sankareswarar (Lord Shiva).
  • Mother Deities: Sri Yogambal and Sri Bogambal.
  • The temple features a Nandi Mandapam in front of the sanctum and has idols of Lord Ganapati and Lord Murugan to the left of the sanctum.

Puranic Significance

• Construction: The temple was built during the reign of Nandivarman III (825-850 AD), a ruler of the Pallava dynasty. During his rule, several Shiva temples were constructed in the Thondai region, and this is believed to be one of them.
• West-Facing Temple: This is a rare temple where Lord Shiva faces the west. It is believed that Ravana, the demon king, used to visit a west-facing temple every day to take food.
• 999 Rudras: It is said that 999 Rudras worshipped Sankareswara at this temple.
• Destruction and Reconstruction: The temple was destroyed many years ago, with artefacts and inscriptions lost over time. A smaller temple was later built during the Vijayanagara period. According to village elders, the current structure is believed to have been built 300 years ago, though there are no historical records confirming this.

Beliefs

• It is believed that worshipping at this temple helps in the cure of all diseases and brings blessings of peace and prosperity.

Century/Period

825-850 AD

Nearest Bus Station

Chennai

Nearest Railway Station

Kanchipuram Station

Nearest Airport

Chennai

Location on Map

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