Sunday, May 31, 2020

Velveeswarar Temple, Valasaravakkam, Chennai

Velveeswarar Temple, Valasaravakkam, Chennai
Velveeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Valasaravakkam, a well-known locality in Chennai City of Tamil Nadu. Velveeswarar Temple is also known as Agastheeswarar Temple. Situated adjoining the Arcot Road, the temple encloses a large pond. The temple is of considerable antiquity and is believed to have been constructed by Kulothunga Chola I in 12th Century AD.



The Temple
The temple is surrounded by open space in all the four directions. Moreover, as the temple doesn't have surrounding compound walls, the temple looks beautiful and spacious. There is a very big lotus pond, found inside the temple complex. There is no Rajagopuram (tower) or flag staff found in this ancient temple. Presiding Deity is called as Velveeswarar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of a big Shiva Linga facing the east direction with a Nandi idol in front. The wall surrounding the shrine of Velveeswarar has the niche images of Ganesha, Dhakshinamoorthi, Vishnu and Brahma. Chandikeswara is also found in his usual location.


Adjacent to the shrine of Velveeswarar, there is another shrine with big Shiva Linga named Agastheeswarar. This shrine also faces the east direction. The temple is named after these two Shiva Lingas. Apart from Velveeswarar and Agastheeswarar, there is another Shiva Linga found in this temple. This Shiva Linga is named as Bana Pureeswarar. The Goddess of the temple Tripura Sundari is found in a separate shrine facing the south direction. The wall surrounding the shrine of Tripura Sundari has the niche images of Brahmi, Vaishnavi and Maheswari.


The prakara (corridor) surrounding these three main shrines has few small shrines and idols of other Gods and Goddesses. Lord Ganesha is found in the name of Vinai Theertha Vinayakar in a separate shrine. Lord Subramanya along with his consorts Valli and Devasena is also found in a separate shrine. Dhakshinamoorthi, Bhairava, Hanuman, Lord Rama with Sita & Lakshman, Navagraha, Nataraja & Sivakami and Karumari are also found in small separate shrines in this temple.


Connectivity
Velveeswarar temple is located on the Arcot Road in Valasaravakkam area of Chennai. The Temple is located at about 100 meters from Kesavarthini Bus Stop, 3 Kms from Porur, 5 Kms from Vadapalani, 5 Kms from Vadapalani Metro Station, 6 Kms from Mambalam Railway Station, 6 Kms from Koyambedu Mofussil Bus Terminus, 16 Kms from Chennai Central Railway Station, 14 Kms from Egmore Railway Station and 11 Kms from Chennai International Airport. The Temple is on the main road around 2 Kms from the Porur junction between Porur and Vadapalani. Valasaravakkam is well connected to other parts of Chennai via Bus.
Location