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