Vedapuriswarar Temple, Cheyyar – The Temple

Vedapuriswarar Temple, Cheyyar – The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with seven tiered rajagopuram. The temple covers an area of about five acres and has two prakarams. The temple is completely enclosed within compound walls. There is a mandapam immediately after the rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwaja Sthambam and Nandi can be found after this mandapam. Nandi is facing towards the rajagopuram i.e. outside. It is an unusual feature as the Nandi in other temples always faces the sanctum.

There is a five tiered gopuram at the entrance of the inner prakaram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antrala, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam. Presiding deity is called as Vedapureeswarar / Vedhanathar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam in a square avudaiyar. Lord is a Swayambu Moorthy (self-manifested). The sun rays fall directly on the Shiva Lingam every day.

Nardana Vinayaga, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location. Utsava idols of Bikshadana, Chandrasekarar with goddess Parvati, Arumugam with his consorts Valli & Devasena can be seen in the maha mandapam. Mother is called as Balakujambigai / Ilamulai Nayagi. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. She is about three feet tall and in standing posture.

She is four armed and holds rudraksha mala & lotus bud in her upper hands and shows varada & abhaya hastha in her lower hands. An image of Ganapathy can be seen in the koshta of her shrine. The speciality of this temple is that one will be to have darshan of the Lord Shiva, goddess Parvati, Murugan, Vinayaga, Navagrahas and Palm tree standing in particular spot in maha mandapam. There is a huge palm tree made of stone in the south east corner of the inner prakaram.

The half of this stone palm tree depicts a male palm tree and the other depicts a female palm tree. A Shiva Lingam can be seen under this tree. An idol of Thirugnana Sambandar can be seen next to the Shiva Lingam. The idol of Sambandar looks like he is reciting the pathigam depicting the legend of converting male palm tree to female palm tree. There is a separate shrine for Nagalingam in the inner prakaram.

Navagraha shrine is situated in front of the Nagalingam shrine. Special Poojas are performed to Nagalingam and Navagrahas during Rahu Kala and Saturdays. There are five shrines representing Pancha Bhootha Sthalams of India namely Chidambaram, Thiruvanaikaval, Kanchipuram, Kalahasthi and Thiruvannamalai in the inner prakaram. Devotees will get the benefit of praying at all these places here itself.

There is an east facing shrine for Arumugam in the north western side of the sanctum. He has six faces and is twelve armed. He is seen sitting over his peacock mount flanked by his consorts Valli and Devasena. Lord Murugan of this shrine had been praised in Thirupugazh hymns of Saint Arunagirinathar. Idols of all the four Santhana Kuravarkal namely Meikandar, Arulnandhi Sivam, Maraignana Sambanthar and Umapathi Sivam can be seen in the temple premises.

Shrines & Idols of Vinayaga, Balamurugan, Nataraja, Veerabhadra, 108 Lingam, Naalvar, 63 Nayanmars, Valampuri Vinayagar, Nagas, Bhairava, Suryan, Adhi Kesava Perumal, Sapta Matrikas and Chandran can be seen in the inner prakaram. Theerthams associated with this temple are Cheyyaru river and Kalyana Kodi Theertham. Sthala Vriksham is Palm Tree. It is situated in the northern outer prakaram.