Agastheeswarar
Temple, Vembedu, Chengalpattu
Agastheeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Vembedu Village in Thiruporur Taluk in Chengalpattu District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Agastheeswarar and Mother is called as Vedavalli / Vedanayaki. This Temple is situated close to Kattur Uthira Vaidhya Lingeswarar Temple.
Legends
As per the legend, as all the celestial beings went to Himalayas to attend the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the earth lost its balance. To balance the earth, Shiva asked the sage Agastya to travel towards the southern direction. Due to greatness of this sage, he was equivalent to all the celestial beings and as soon as he moved to the southern direction, the earth was balanced back.
Agastya did not want to miss the wedding. With the help of Lord Shiva, he got the divine sight and watched the divine marriage in many sites in South India. This temple is one such site where he got the darshan of divine marriage. It is also said that Shiva Linga was installed by him. Hence, Lord Shiva came to be called as Agastheeswarar.
History
This Temple is believed to be built by Pandyas as the ceilings of Maha Mandapam has carvings of fish, an emblem of Pandyas.
The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with an entrance gate. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam. Nandi and Balipeedam can be seen in the Mukha Mandapam facing the Sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Agastheeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Vinayaga, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls.
Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location. Mother is called as Vedavalli / Vedanayaki. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in Maha Mandapam to the left side of the Sanctum. Carvings of Pandyas emblem fish, Lunar and Solar eclipse can be seen on the ceilings of Maha Mandapam. The Maha Mandapam is supported by 20 granite pillars.
There are shrines for Kanni Moolai Vinayagar, Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Padithurai Vinayagar and Navagrahas in the temple premises. The temple tank is situated on the north side of the temple. Sthala Vrikshams are Vanni tree and Vilwam tree. There is a newly built Anjaneya temple with a huge idol of Anjaneya adjacent to this temple.
Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 05.00 am to 09.00 am and
05.00 pm to 07.00 pm.
Contact
Agastheeswarar Temple,
Vembedu,
Thiruporur Taluk,
Chengalpattu District – 603 110
Mobile: +91 94440
07963 / 9677007842 / 98847 24093
Mobile: +91 99620 93688 /
99626 87717
The temple is located at about 50 meters from Vembedu
Bus Stop, 7 Kms from Thiruporur, 8 Kms from Thiruporur Bus Stand, 12 Kms from Manampathy,
22 Kms from Chengalpattu, 24 Kms from Chengalpattu Junction Railway Station, 31
Kms from Tambaram, 38 Kms from Chennai Airport and 50 Kms from Chennai. MTC Bus
No 551 from Velachery to Manampathy passes through this place. MTC Bus No 555M
from Tambaram to Thiruporur passes through this Village Vembedu and
Mambakkam. Buses and Share Autos are available from Mambakkam Junction and
Thiruporur.