Thiruvetteeswarar Temple, Triplicane – The Temple
This is an East facing temple a with 5 tier Rajagopuram.
And have two prakarams. This is one of the Saint Thirunavukkarau’s
Thiruthandakam Devaram Padal Petra Vaippu Sthalam. The temple has three
flag posts-Kodi Maram for Lord Shiva, Lord Shanmuga and
Mother Ambica. Presiding Deity is called as Thiruvetteeswarar and is facing
east. The flag staff, Nandi mandapam and bali peetha are found facing towards
the sanctum.
The wall around the
sanctum has the niche images of Ganesha, Vishnu, Dhakshinamoorthi, Sudarshan,
Brahma and Durga. During fight between Lord Shiva and Arjunan to get the
Pasupatha asthiram, Arjuna’s weapon hit the head of Lord Shiva and a scar was
made on the lingam, hence Iraivan is called as ‘Partha Pirakaralingam’. The
relief images of Rahu and Ketu are found in the ceiling.
There is another east
facing shrine adjacent to the sanctum which enshrines the Utsava idol of
Somaskanda Murtis. Koshta deities Vinayagar, Jothisivam, Dhakshinamoorthy,
Brahma and Durgai are found around this shrine. Mother is called as Shenbagavalli
and is facing south. The Goddess Shenbagambika is found in a separate south
facing shrine. A separate flag staff, bali peetha and lion vaahana are found in
front of her shrine.
There is a shrine for
Shanmukha with his two consorts Valli and Devasena with a separate flag staff
in front. During the Arthajama puja at night, only the Padam-feet of Lord Shiva
are taken to Palli Arai (bed room) in Shiva temples. Here, Lord Shiva himself
is taken in. There is a separate idol for this purpose. This is placed in the
Artha Mandapam in the temple.
Navagraha puja for the
nine planets is the first performed in the temple. A Spatika Linga – Crystal
Linga – is placed near the presiding deity with the precious stones related to
the nine planets and the pulses. The flower offered to Sun during this puja is
taken and offered to Sun in the shrine in the prakara. Then they chant the 300
Rudra Mantras performing the Rudra Chatha Archana for relief from planet
effects. This is performed each day.
It is said that Mother
Mahalakshmi worshipped Lord Shiva here to have the Hand of Lord Vishnu.
Supporting this story, Mother Mahalakshmi is seen performing abishek to Lord
Shiva depicted in a pillar sculpture. Mothers Mahalakshmi and Maha Saraswathi are
seen side by side in a shrine. Lord Vinayaka has a separate shrine where
devotees light lamps with coconut oil and coconut garlands. Lord Shanmuga graces from a separate shrine on the peacock
vehicle.
Lord Yoga Dakshinamurthy graces from a shrine with left
leg pressed on the ground in a meditation style. Indra
puja is performed in the temple during Purattasi (September-October) as Indira
worshipped Lord here, with the shrine decorated with vegetables, fruits and
sweet preparations. There is a shrine for Sundaramurthy Nayanar with
Sangili Nachiyar. Special pujas are performed to Sri Ramalinga Vallalar on Thai
Poosam day (January-February) with procession. There is Vallalar idol in Lord Shanmuga
shrine.
There are Shrines for Vallaba Ganapathy, Adhikara
Nandhi, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi Amman, Valli Deivanai samedha Sri
Subramaniyar, Bairavar and Navagrahas in the outer prakaram. There are shrines
for Vinayagar on the left and Subramaniyar on the right at the mandapam at entrance
to the inner prakaram. The mandapam pillars have many reliefs of rishis and
Hanuman’s various forms.
There are Shrines for Vinayagar, Veerapathirar,
Balamurugan, Samaya Kuravarkal, Sekkizhar, Paravai and Sangili Nachiyarudan
Sundarar, Santhana Kuravarkal, Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Lakshmi,
Saraswathy, Subramaniyar with valli Devasena Urchavars, 63var (Pancha Loha
idols), Sandikeswarar, Palliyarai, Natarajar Saba (Natarajar, Karaikkal
Ammaiyar, Sivakami and Manikkavacakar) and 63var in the inner prakaram.
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) is Shenbagam and Champaka.
Theertham is Shenbaga Theertham. This temple is equivalent to Kasi and Sri
Kalathi. Reliefs of Raghu and Kethu can be seen in front of moolavar Sannadhi
ceiling. Hence this temple is also a parikara Sthalam for Raghu and Kethu
Dhosham.
