Thursday, November 28, 2024

Shri Valeeshwarar Temple at Mylapore Chennai

This is the fifth of Sapta Sthana temples around Mylapore. It is located near Karaneeshwarar temple. According to the stone inscriptions in the temple, the present structure is more than 2000 years old. 

Mulavar: Shri Valeeshwarar
Devi: Shri Periyanayaki

Kshetra Purana:

According to Purana, Sage Govardhana had installed the shiva linga at this place.

According to purana, in the tretayuga, King of Vanara named Vali worshiped Lord Shiva at this place. He received a boon from Lord Shiva by which he could acquire 50% of the strength of his opponent when he fought with his enemies. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as Valeeshwarar.

Lord Hanuman had lost the awareness of his strength due to a curse. He worshiped Lord Shiva at this place and got the awareness back.

Those who worshiped here: Sage Gautama, Vali, Hanuman, Siddha, and Sage Govardhana

Special features:

Shiva Linga is believed to be an implied form of Lord Muruga. Hence the shiva linga is also addressed as Dandatheeshwarar. 

The upper portion of the Gopuram resembles that of Kashi temple. 

Lord Ganesha in this temple is known as Avuduyar Ganapati as he is seated on Avuduyar. It implies that he is seating on the lap of Lord Shiva. Hence he is also praised as Shiva Bala Ganapati. 

Lord Shanmukha is praised as Lord Shiva Subramanya. Hence it is obvious that Lord Shiva is present all over the temple at this place. 

Any temple built on a siddha samadhi or peetha is believed to have unique spiritual vibrations around the place. It is believed that it is present in this temple also.


About the Temple:

The temple was constructed during the Chola period. This is an east facing temple. There is no Rajagopuram. The shiva linga is in an east facing sanctum. In the artha mandap we come across an idol of Vali with folded hands worshiping Lord Shiva. Koshta murtis are Nardana Vinayakar, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Lingodbhavar, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga. At the entrance of the sanctum on either side we have idols of Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga praised as Palani Murugan. There is no dhawajastambha but we come across Balipeeth and Nandi facing the sanctum. Ambika is housed in a separate shrine in the Maha Mandap facing south. Her idol is small. At the entrance of this shrine also we have the idols of Lord Muruga and Lord Vinayakar at the entrance. There is also another Nandi in the Mahamandap. There is a shrine housing Pancha linga. It is believed that under these lingas there is a Jeeva samadhi of a Siddha. It is believed that these lingas came out of the earth. Stucco images of twenty two Siddhas are found on the vimanam which is constructed in the north Indian style. In the outer prakara we have the shrines and the idols of Lord Ganesha, Lord Natarajar with Goddess Shivagami, Lord Chandikeshwarar, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Durga, Lord Subramanya with Lord Ayyapa, Saint Arunagirinathar, Lord Shanishwarar, Navagrahas on their mounts, Lord Veerabhadrar, Lord Bhairavar, Shaiva saints Nalavar, Lord Surya, Lord Chandra and Lord Hanuman. In the outer prakaram a lizard is carved on the wall which indicates it is the parihar sthala. 


Prayers:

Devotees worship here for wisdom, intelligence, and atonement for sins committed knowingly or unknowingly.

Women pray for safe child birth and welfare of children.

Devotees believe that worshiping Lord Valeeshwarar gives mental and physical strength.

Timing: 6.30 am to 11 am, 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm

Address: Shri Valeeshwarar temple, G.N. street, Mylapore, 600004 

Telephone: +91-4424981893

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