Sri Pidari Chelliamman / Selliamman Temple at Dhandeeswaram, Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

O6, November 2015.

Last Sunday on  1^st November 2015, I had a chance to worship Sri Pidari Chelliamman of the newly renovated temple at Dhandeeswaram, Velachery.  Many occasions I tried worship, but could not do so due the closure of the temple. Even though this temple is dedicated to Saptamatrikas, generally called as Selliamman Temple.

Moolavar     : Sri Selliamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are.... 

The temple is facing North with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. In the sanctum along with Sri Pidari Chelliamman, Vinayagar and Saptamatrikas are installed. Old Saptamatrikas or Saptha Kannis in the form of stone bricks are kept in the west wall and new navagraha shrine was added during renovation. Dakshinamurthy is in the niche behind the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to 10th Century Chozha period. The same Pidari Temple was renovated during recent years. The old inscription stones are kept on the east side wall. As per the leaflet issued by Dhandeeswarar Shiva temple, this temple was built before Paranthaka Chozhan and Dhandeeswarar Shiva  temple was built before Sundara Chozhan. 

As per the inscriptions ( தமிழ்நாடு கல்வெட்டுகள் தொகுதி - IX, காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டக் கல்வெட்டுகள் தொகுதி - 5, 768 / 2017 ) This place was called as Puliyur Kottathu Velicheri ( வெளிச்சேரி ). The name Velicheri was changed to Velachery from 13th Century. During Kulohunga Chozha period Velachery was called as Thina Chinthamani Chathurvedi mangalam. The goddess was called as Kala Pidari.

The Chozha king Koparakesari's ( may be Uthama Chozha ) 4th reign year inscription records the endowment of buring 2 perpetual lamps and naivedyam by the Velicheri Village Sabha, for the same a land was gifted. The Periphery limits of the land was given, in the inscription mentions that the land was near the lands of Thirupalli Bhattan and Kulakiramavithan.

Ko Parthivendra varman's 10th reign year inscription records the endowment of naivedyam by Chozha nattu Mazha Nattu Thiruvetpurudayan Thevadigal Nambi, an official. For the same a land was purchased from a person and gifted to this Saptamatrikas after exempting the taxes.

 Parantaka Chozha’s Tamil inscriptions

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 09.00 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The following landline or mobile numbers +91 44 22264337 and +91 98419 41819

HOW TO REACH :

All The Town buses to Velachery,  Vijaya nagar  Bus stand  passes through this temple. Get down at Gandhi Road Bus stop or Dhandeeswaram bus stop.

From Velachery  to Koyambedu D 70  and M 70 Passes through Dhandeeswaram.

Town buses are also available  from T Nagar and  Broad way bus stands.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE 

 Temple view from east side  

 The three tier Rajagopuram

 The three tier Rajagopuram

 Dwarapalaki

  Front Mandapam

 Front Mandapam

 Rajagopuram entrance with thirisoolam 

 The east side view of Vimanam  

 The east side view with Navagraha Sannidhi

 Vimanam view  from west side 

 Dakshinamurthy 

Dhandeeswarar temple Rajagopuram with newly constructed  entrance arch 

 --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA : ---