Velleeswarar Temple | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
District | Chennai |
Deity | Shiva (Velleeswarar) |
Location | |
Location | Mylapore |
State | Tamil Nadu |
Country | India |
Velleeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva as Velleeswarar. This mid-sized temple, spread over 2 acres is one amongst the Seven Shiva Temples of Mylapore. It is situated at South Mada Street, closer to Kapaleeswarar Temple.
This temple is one of the Sapta Sthana Shiva temples in the Mylapore area. (one of the seven sacred Shiva temples in Mylapore). [1] They are:
In addition to these "Sapta Sthana Shiva sthalas", the Ekambareshwarar–Valluvar temple in the neighbourhood is traditionally considered the indispensable eighth. [2]
Velleeswarar is the epithet of Shiva, as "Lord of Vellee"; Vellee being the god Shukra - the guru of the asuras (demons).
According to legend, when the asura king Mahabali was about to grant Vamana-an avatar of Vishnu- land as part of his sacrifice, Shukra tried to stop him, suspecting foul play. When Mahabali ignored his guru's request, Shukra went into the nozzle of Mahabali's kamandalu , blocking the water flow and thus Mahabali could not ritually grant Vamana the land by letting the water from the kamandalu on Vamana's hand. Vamana pricked the nozzle with a blade of darbha grass, which blinded Shukra.
Shukra meditated upon Shiva at this place in Mylapore and got his eyesight back.
It is said that one's eyes will be empowered with that spiritual vision that can perceive God, by worshipping at this temple. Velleeswarar is said to protect his devotees from falling prey to the desires inflamed by our eyes. Eye specialist doctors and patients of eye-related ailments are prescribed to worship Velleeswarar.
The temple is a mid-sized Temple with a five-tier vimana facing south. On entering the temple, there is a shrine of the god Ganesha in standing posture with his consorts Siddhi and Buddhi. This posture of Ganesha is said to be rare. The sanctum of Velleeswara (Shiva) has the lingam , the symbol of Shiva as the central icon facing East. Nearby is the shrine of Shiva's consort Kamakshi, a form of Parvati, who faces south. The idols of the Sapta-matrikas (seven mother goddesses) are installed around the circumbulation path of the Shiva shrine. One of the matrikas, Varahi is much venerated here.
There is an idol of Trivikrama (Vamana) behind Shiva's shrine. Also, the goddess Durga, who faces North, is worshipped. Further, there is a shrine of Muthukumaraswamy (Kartikeya) along with his consorts Valli and Devasena in standing posture.
In the outer courtyard, the god Bhairava (a form of Shiva) is installed. On the left, there are shrines for Sarabeshwara (a form of Shiva), the goddess Pratyangira and Shukra praying to Shiva. In the outer courtyard, there are shrines of Shani and the Navagrahas along with the temple flagstaff.
The Kapaleeshwarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva located in Mylapore, Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple was built around the 7th century CE and is an example of South Indian Architecture.
Uthamar Kovil in Uthamarkoil, a village in the outskirts of Tiruchirappalli in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti of Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Purushothaman Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Poornavalli Thayar.
Shukra is a Sanskrit word that means "clear" or "bright". It also has other meanings, such as the name of a sage who was the preceptor of the asuras and taught them the Vedas. In medieval mythology and Hindu astrology, the word refers to the planet Venus, one of the Navagrahas.
Matrikas (Sanskrit: मातृका (singular), IAST: mātṝkā, lit. "mothers") also called Matar or Matri, are a group of mother goddesses who are always depicted together in Hinduism. The Matrikas are often depicted in a group of seven, the Saptamatrika(s) (Seven Mothers). However, they are also depicted as a group of eight, the Ashtamatrika(s). In the Brihat Samhita, Varahamihira says that "Mothers are to be made with cognizance of (different major Hindu) gods corresponding to their names." They are associated with these gods as their spouses or their energies (Shaktis). Brahmani emerged from Brahma, Vaishnavi from Vishnu, Maheshvari from Shiva, Indrani from Indra, Kaumari from Kartikeya, Varahi from Varaha and Chamunda from Chandi. and additionals are Narasimhi from Narasimha and Vinayaki from Ganesha.
Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple is one of the major Hindu temples in India dedicated to Vamana, a form of the god Vishnu. It is situated in Thrikkakara, Kochi in the state of Kerala, India. The temple is around two millennia old and is also listed as one of the 108 Divya Desams.
Kamandalu, kamandal, or kamandalam is an oblong water pot, originating from the Indian subcontinent, made of a dry gourd (pumpkin) or coconut shell, metal, wood of the Kamandalataru tree, or from clay, usually with a handle and sometimes with a spout. Hindu ascetics or yogis often use it for storing drinking water. The water-filled kamandalu, which is invariably carried by ascetics, is stated to represent a simple and self-contained life.
Varahi is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven mother goddesses in the Hindu religion who bears the head of a sow. In Nepal, she is called Barahi. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, she is venerated as Dandini.
Ulagalandha Perumal Temple is a temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th through 9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Ulagalantha Perumal, and his consort Lakshmi as Amuthavalli. The temple is believed to have been built by the Pallavas, with later contributions from the medieval Cholas, Vijayanagara kings, and Madurai Nayaks.
Kazheesirama Vinnagaram or Tadalan Kovil or Tiruvikrama (trivikara) Perumal Temple is a temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Sirkazhi, Tamil Nadu, India. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Trivikrama and his consort Lakshmi as Loganayagi. The temple is believed to have been built by Cholas, with later contributions from Medieval Cholas, Vijayanagara kings, and Madurai Nayaks.
Ulagalantha Perumal Temple or Trivikrama Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Tirukkoyilur, Tamil Nadu, India. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Ulagalantha Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Poongothai. The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas, with later contributions from Vijayanagara kings and Madurai Nayaks. The temple covers an area of 5 acres (20,000 m2) and has a temple tower that is the third tallest in Tamil Nadu, measuring 192 ft (59 m) in height.
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Valeeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in Mylapore in Chennai, India. It is dedicated to Shiva.
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