15th
April 2019.
This
Varasiddhi Vinayakar temple is a part of the IIT Madras campus temples, which has
many important heritage structures and statues right from the periods of Chozhas,
Pandyas, and Vijayanagas and also to the present period. Since we had
discussed the details of this place & IIT Madras Campus in the Sri Jalakandeswarar
Temple, IIT Madras’s Post, we will restrict the details of this temple alone in
this post. The original post was written by three alumni of this institution, Arun Ayyar, Harish Ganapathy, and Hemanth C, after extensive research. They had
interviewed many old timers and archaeologists like Dr Nagasamy and Raj Bhavan
authorities. Thanks to them. I also
extend my sincere thanks to Mr Sampath Kumar, Prof of IIT Madras, who took me to
this temple.
This
complex is not like the Sri Jalakandeswarar Temple or the Sri Durgai Peeliamman Temple. The
complex has two simple separate sannadhis for Siddhi Vinayakar and Sri
Adhipureeswarar. The rest are installed in the open space
The
Complex consists of….
1.
Sri Varasiddhi Vinayagar.
2.
Bhajana Madam and Tulasi Madam
3.
Sri Adhipureeswara Lingam & Rishabam
4.
Sri Kailasanatha Lingam
5.
A Black stone on the back side of
Rishabam.
SRI VARA SIDDHI VINAYAGAR
The Moolavar is Sri Vinayagar, without any ornamental carvings. In addition to this, there is an Urchavar in the sanctum. Experts are of the opinion that the Moolavar is
more than 200 years old. As per the Taramani Local people, the Sri Siddhi
Vinayakar Sannidhi existed from their grand, great, great-grandfather’s period.
BAJANA MADAM & TULASI MAADAM
This
Thulasi madam is on the right side of the Sri Vara Siddhi Vinayakar Sannadhi.
A small madam with a Mahavishnu Photo was kept before the establishment of IIT
Madras. The Thulasi madam was in front of the madam. People used to do Bhajans, especially during the Tamil Margazhi month. Now, the Thulasi Madam only exists as a
witness of the past, and the fate of Bajana Madam is not known.
SRI ADHIPUREESWARAR SANNADHI WITH
RISHABAM
On
the left side of Varasiddhi Vinayagar Sannidhi is the Sri Adhipureeswarar
Sannadhi. This swayambhu Shiva Linga banam was unearthed from the bushes near Sri
Varasiddhi Vinayagar Sannidhi by the then Security officer, Mr T. N. Venkatraman.
During Sri Jalakandeswara Temple’s Kumbhabhishekam in 1966 CE, Mahaperiyava
visited this temple and conducted a pooja for this Shiva Linga banam. He
instructed me to make an avudayar. Due to financial problem Mr T N Venkatraman had
done avudayar in concrete. The second time Mahaperiyava Visited was in 1975-76, when
Somu Gurukal was the priest (now at
Dhandeeswaram Shiva Temple, who served as a priest between 1976 and 2008). Mahaperiyava
placed his dhandam on the Shivalinga and did meditation. After meditation, he
instructed Somu Gurukal to take proper care of Sri Adhipureeswarar. In 2000 CE, a
copper kavasam was provided on the swayambhu banam. The Kavasam will be removed
for three days a year, during
Thirukarthigai, and champirani/sambrani oil will be applied.
PC: Alumni's article
RISHABAM
The Rishabam is in front of Sri Adhipureeswarar Sannadhi. As per Dr Nagaswamy, this Rishabam belongs to the 8th Century Pallava period after examining the distinct hump, short ears, and small horns. He also said that this variety of Rishabam is called “Nellore
/ Ongole Bull”, considering the distance between the hump and the tail. The
Rishabam was made out of laterite stone. The red colour was changed to black
over a period due to applying oil and abhisheka.
SRI KAILASANATHA LINGAM.
This
Shiva Linga is on the back side of Sri Varasiddhi Vinayagar Sannadhi. This
Linga was unearthed during the excavation for the construction of Ganga Hostel. The
same was kept at the CCW office before shifting to the present place in 2005.
BLACK STONE WITH VIJAYANAGARA AND
PANDYA EMBLEMS.
A
Black stone is installed on the back side of the Sri Adhipureeswarar Sannadhi
Rishabam. This stone has some engravings, which are not clear. After taking the
estempage of the engraving, Dr Nagaswamy
said that the engraving contains a “bull”, the royal emblem of 15th
Century Vijayanagara on the upper portion. The lower portion contains two
fish and cendu in between. This was the royal emblem of the 12th-century Pandyas. The engraving also contains a sun and a moon.
As per Dr Nagaswamy, this stone may be a boundary stone for the Vijayanagara
and Pandya empires.
Pandya Emblem PC: Alumni's article
HOW TO REACH:
This
temple is located in the Hostel Zone, behind Taramani Guest House.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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