Vadapalani Vengeeswarar Temple – Chennai

Address

Vadapalani Vengeeswarar Temple – Vadapalani, Chennai district- 600026 Phone: +91 44 2483 8362

Diety

Vengeeswarar Amman: Shanthanayaki.

Introduction

Vengeeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Vadapalani in Chennai City in Tamilnadu. Though the Sthalam dates to vedic age, the temple structure is over 1500 years old and one of the oldest temples in Chennai City. Presiding Deity is called as Vengeeswarar. Mother is called as Shanthanayaki. The Temple is popularly known as Vadapalani Sivan Koil. This Temple is located just diagonally opposite to the street of Vadapalani Murugan temple. This temple is much older and bigger than Murugan temple. The temple is in the heart of Chennai city with transport facilities from all corners. Vadapalani Temple is easily accessible by Bus, Metro Train, and Autos. Temple is very near Vadapalani Dhandayuthapani Temple. The temple is very near to Vadapalani bus stop and new Metro Railway station.

Puranic Significance

Legend says that this temple was built by Sage Patanjali and sage Vyagrapada for their daily worship (Vengai=Vyakara=tiger). The temple is in Puliyur Kottam of Thondai Nadu. The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram and small gopuram on all the other three sides. This is an old Chola temple with the elephant back (Gajabrushta) type of vimana but the Gopurams are Chola type. A very tall flag staff, Bali Peetham and Nandi Mandapam are situated facing towards the main shrine of Vengeeswarar. The entrance leads to a large courtyard with the Sivan sannidhi in the back and Amman sannidhi in the fore ground on the left. The entrance of Ardha Mandapam has an idol of Ganesha and two mid-sized old Dwarapalas idols. In the Maha mandapam, there are idols of two sages namely Vyagrapada (the sage with the tiger’s leg) and Patanjali (the sage having the lower part as snake) facing towards Shiva. It is believed that both these sages have worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. There are many temples across South India which was visited by these two sages. The deity is also named as Vengeeswarar after the name of the sage Vyagrapada. (The Tamil word Vengai and the Sanskrit word Vyakra mean tiger). The main sannidhi is at least 3 feet deep compared to the general floor and houses a magnificent big Siva Lingam. Presiding Deity is called as Vengeeswarar. Moolavar sanctum is of Gajabrushta type. Moolavar is of little big in size. The wall around the sanctum has the niche images of Ganesha, Dakshina Murti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga. Chandikeswara is found in his usual location. Mother is called as Shanthanayaki and she is in standing Posture. She is found in a separate south facing big shrine located near the flag staff. The idol of Bhuvaneswar is also found in her shrine. Ambal is in a separate Sannadhi like a temple with reliefs at the entrance. A Sudhai sirpam of Ambal on the east side wall of inner mandapam. The inner walls have the idols of Appar, Sundarar, Manickavasagar and Tirugnanasambandar probably documenting their visits to this temple. Behind this sannidhi is a separate sannidhi for Bhairavar. Next to it is the Naga Devathai Pradhishta under the Banyan tree. The Eastern side of the complex has separate sannidhis for Saneeshwara (Standing). To the left of Saneeswarar is Chandran and Muniswarar sannidhi. On the other side of the Gopuram Dwara are sannidhis for Suryan and another Veerabhadra with a separate enclosure for Navagrahas. Till a few years ago here was a big temple pond on the South side outside the main temple complex sadly this is no longer seen. There is a separate Vinayaka sannidhi with gopuram on the north side and Murugan on the South side. There are separate sannidhis for Kasi Vishwanathar and Visalakshi and a sannidhi for Gaja Lakshmi in the north-West corner. The west also has a tall gopuram which is being constructed new now. Madapalli, Urchavar Kalyana Mandapam, Urchavar mandapam and Yagasala can be found in the outer prakaram.

Festivals

Pradhosha pooja is one of the most important among the poojas performed to the Graceful Lord Shiva. In Shukla Paksha (15 moon days from New moon to Full moon) and Krishna Paksha (15 moon days from Full moon to New moon) the evening of the Thrayodasi (thirteenth moon day) between 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. is called Pradosham. It comes once in fifteen moon days. Pradhosha time is especially meant for praying Lord Shiva. Praying during that time is believed to free the believers from their sins and gives ‘moksha’ (heaven) finally (hence the name Pradosham)