Sri Jalakandeswarar Temple, IIT Madras Campus, Adyar

 

 

 

Moolavar: Sri Jalakandeswarar
Amman: Sri Devi Kathyayanii Ambal

A beautiful Shiva temple in a serene environment and away from the city disturbances within the IIT campus premises surrounded by lush greenery. 

Sri Jalakandeswarar apparently was recovered from earth while during civil work evacuation when infrastructural developments happened here in early fifties. So it is said to be a 300 to 400years old temple.

An excellent place to meditate and get the blessings of Lord Shiva. The temple Kumbhabhishekam was performed by Sri Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal along with Sri Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal from the Kanchi Kamakoti madam  in 2014.

Occasionally one can sight deer coming closer to the temple premises and people do try to feed it. Along with sivan temple there are separate Sannidhi for lord Rama, Krishna, Hanuman and Ayyappan. Navagraha Sannidhi also present.

Absolutely a peaceful place for quite contemplation and meditation and a must to visit temple for people in Chennai.

Location:
Sri Jalakandeswarar Temple, IIT Madras Campus, Adyar
 

Sri Thiripuranthakeswarar Temple, Koovam, Thiruvallur

 

Moolavar: Sri Thiripuranthakeswarar
Amman: Sri Thiripurasundari

A Padapal Petra sthalam (sung by Thirugnanasambanthar) and 14th Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu and is believed to be built by the kings of the Chola dynasty. The temple is situated at the origin point of the Coovam river. The Tamil name for the lord is Sri Thiruvirkolanathar and Ambal as Thiripuranthaki Ammai

As the name of the temple itself suggest this is the place where Thiripura Samharam happened-  Thiri meaning three, Puram meaning town and Samharam meaning destroy.

The legend goes like-  Tharakatchan, Kamalakshan and Vidyunmali 3 demons or Asuras had obtained the blessings of Lord Shiva through rigorous penance. Using the boon that they got from Lord Shiva they constructed three forts made of gold, silver and iron respectively in three different towns for their protection and these forts became impregnable to any kind of retaliation by anyone. The demons started terrorising the celestial gods and sages who went to Lord Shiva to seek his help.

So based on the prayers by the devas lord Shiva decided to destroy these demons. For which he turned the world into a chariot, Suryan and Chandran became the drivers (Saradhi), the celestial gods (Devas) form the wheels and Meru, Vasuki and Agri became the bow, the arrow and the arrow’s tip respectively. This event is called “Thiripura Samharam”.

While they marched at a place the axle of the chariot broke into 2 pieces because the celestial gods forgot to worship Lord Vinayakar. The place where the axel (achu in Tamil) broke is Achirupakkam ( Achu irru bagam).

They all realised their error, worshipped Lord Vinayakar and sought his blessing to help them succeed in their mission. It is also believed that it was Lord Mahavishnu who held the chariot from falling down when the axle broke. Since this is the place where the axle (Kooram in Tamil) fell this place got the name “Kooram” which has later changed to Coovum. Since Lord Shiva had resumed his march for the “Thiripura Samharam” from this place, he is also praised here as “Thiripuranthakar”.

As Lord Siva carried the bow and arrow in his hands. Hence, he is also praised here as “Thiruvirkola Nathar” (“Vil” meaning bow and “kolam” meaning appearance in Tamil) and the place is also called Thiru Virkolam.

The unique feature of this temple is that Lord Shiva’s procession idol (Utsavar) can be seen holding a bow and arrow in his hands. Such an idol is very rare and cannot be seen anywhere else.

The Shiva lingam here is “Theendaa Thirumeni” and is always covered by an armour (metal cover). It’s not touched by human hands, not even by the priests.A unique custom followed in this temple is that
devotees are to worship Goddess Thiripurasundari before worshipping Lord Thiripuranthakar.

Another speciality of this temple is that Goddess Thiripurasundari’s shrine is situated on the right side of Lord Shiva’s shrine. This is considered to be more auspicious.

The significance of this Shiva lingam is that its colour changes to white before heavy rainfall and to red when the rain is less. This used to serve as an indication for rainfall. Saint Thiru Gnanasambandhar in his hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple has mentioned about the changes in colour of this lingam. However, now the colour of the lingam does not seem to change. Apart from this phenomenon, Saint Thiru Gnanasambanthar also talks about the Thiripura Samharam in his hymns.

It is believed that worshiping the lord here can relieve devotees from the sins of their previous birth. It is also believed that any sort of misunderstanding between husband and wife can be resolved if they worship the lord here.

The temple is opened between 06.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 05.00 PM to 08.00 PM.

Location:
Sri Thiripuranthakeswarar Temple, Koovam, Thiruvallur

Sri Varamuktheeswarar Temple, Erumai Vetti Palayam, Thiruvallur

 

 

 

Moolavar: Sri Varamuktheeswarar
Amman: Sri Kamakshi

A nearly 1,800 years old temple built by the pallavas in a beautiful location of Erumai Vetti Palayam in Thiruvallur district around 41 kms from Chennai airport.
The olden days name of this place was Mahishasuramardhanam, which directly got translated in Tamil as Erumai Vetti palayam.

The legend goes like this, Lord Rama’s consort, Sita Devi,once came to take bath in Kusasthalai river nearby. Mahishasuran came and disturbed her peace. Getting scared, Sita Devi came running and sat on the left thigh of Lord Rama. Mahishasura had already done penance and obtained a boon from Lord Siva, according to which only women can end his life. Accordingly, Lord Rama placed four Dharbai grass in the four directions. They took the form of four Devis and ended the life of Mahishasura. Even today, those four Devis, Angala Parameswari, Ponniamman, Mulakkal Amman and Kekaithamman remain as the guarding deities (Kaval Deivam) of this village. As Mahishasuran was killed here it’s was called Mahishasuramardhanam. There is also a Bhadrachalam Ramar temple here in this village.

The Temple is east facing with four tiered Rajagopuram. Most of the temples in Tamilnadu have Rajagopuram in odd numbers like 3,5,7 etc, but hardly one or 2 temples only has even numbered Rajagopurams which is an unique thing of this temple too. The entire temple is completely built in granite including the compound walls. The praharam has pillared mandapams. Also, both Kamkshi Ambal and Varamutheeswarar are facing east which is considered as the kalyana kolam and many devotees offer prayers for removing delays in getting married. The speciality of this tenple is that on every Tamil month of Panguni and on Uthiram star day, sun directly falls both on the shivalingam as well as on the face of kamakshi Ambal. Panguni, Uthiram as most of us know is the wedding day of Shiva and Parvathi. No wonder this place is considered as a parihara sthalam for delayed marriages.

A must visit temple for people living in and around Chennai.

Contact:
The sivanadiyar Jyothi can be reached on his mobile number
+91 93616 30023.


Location:
Sri Varamuktheeswarar Temple, Erumai Vetti Palayam, Thiruvallur