Sri Ravieaswarar Temple, Vyasarpadi

 

 

 

 

 

Moolavar - Sri Ravieaswarar
Amman - Sri Maragadambal
Place - Vyasarpadi, Chennai, Tamilnadu

 Very interesting fact about Vayasarpadi - Maharshi Veda Vyasa worshipped Lord Ravieaswarear here and hence the place is called Vyasarpadi. Sage Veda Vysa gave us the 18 puranas and the Vedas under four titles.

Raveeswarar Temple is a famous Shiva temple built during Chola's period. It is located at Murthy Iyengar Street, Vyasarpadi.The lord shiva is named Raveeswarar. Ravi meaning Sun. It is said the lord is worshiped by the Sun. The Sun also took bath in the temple tank (Bhrama Theertham) to get rid of his Bhrama Dosham.The Sun god is placed inside the sanctum of lord Shiva facing him. Those worshiping the lord shiva must also worship the Sun god. The temple has three sacred trees, namely Vanni, Vilva and Naga Linga trees. Lots of people visit this temple on Sunday to get rid of various illness and to perform various pariharams.

Samugna Devi, wife of Sun God left Him as she could not bear the heat emanating from Him. She left her shadow called Chaya Devi with Sun. Chaya Devi was impartial to Samugna’s sons. Sun came to know of this only later. On His way in search of his wife, He bypassed a place where Brahmma was conducting a Yagna. Brahmma, not knowing his mission cursed him to be born a human on Earth. To relieve himself from the curse of Brahmma, he installed a Linga in this place and worshipped Lord Shiva. Pleased Lord Shiva appeared before Sun and relieved him
from the curse and also merged in the Linga worshipped by sun. Hence, Lord Shiva got the name Ravi Easwara, Ravi-Sun.

The Indira Vimanam above the Shiva shrine is constructed as a nest without any support. This is visible if one stands close to the shrine and look at the vimana. Lord Shiva is facing east. There is no entrance to this shrine. The devotee has to come through the entrance in the south. On the wall against the Shiva shrine there is a
hole designed as a Shiva Linga. Sri Nandi is in front of the shrine. The rays of Sunfall on the presiding deity through the Shiva Linga hole as if Sun God performs the first puja to Lord Shiva, Only then other morning puja – Kala Sandhi Puja- is performed.

The Sun God graces from the front mandap of the temple. Special pujas are performed to both Lord Shiva and Sun on Sundays, the first day of Dakshinayana and Uthrayana Punyakala days and on Makara Sankaranthi and Ratha Sapthami the seventh day of Sankranthi when the rath of Sun actually turns towards north.

There is a shrine for the Maharshi behind the Shiva shrine. He appears
in a sitting form on a tiger hide with folded legs one upon the other – Padmasana – holding the palm leaves. Special pujas are performed to Him on full moon days with a Vilwa garland. Before admitting children to school, parents bring them here and pray. It is believed that Maharshi Vyasa worships Lord Shiva on Ratha Sapthami day.

Those facing any adverse effects due to Sun planet perform special pujas to Lord Shiva and Sun.

References:
http://www.raveeswarartemple.tnhrce.in/