Sri Vadamalleeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ வாடாமல்லீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Oragadam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

வஞ்சித்துறை

புராதனர் பூதிதேகர்

சரோருகர் மாற்குமரியர்

நிராமய நீடிருப்பார்

ஒரேகடத் தீசராமே

The visit to this Sri Vadamalleeswarar Temple at Oragadam near Thirukalukundram in Chengalpattu District was a part of the Maha Vishnu and Shiva Temples visit at Singaperumalkoil, Kolathur ( Appur, Vembakkam ), Mettu Pudupakkam and Pon Vilaintha Kalathur, on 24^th October 2021.

Moolavar  : Sri Vadamalleeswarar

Consort    : Sri Amirthavalleeswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east on a small Hill with nearly 100 steps to climb up. The entrance to the temple from the west side. Lord Shiva in meditation posture is on a small rock A small Deepasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam / Idabam are in front of the temple. Moolavar in the sanctum sanctorum looks cute in alangaram. In Koshtam, Nirai Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. In the makara torana above the Koshtams, the bas reliefs of Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, and Durgai with her Vahana Lion/Simham. The Koshta images are installed at a later date. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of ardha mandapam.

Lord Shiva’s stucco image, Ambal Sannidhi, Nalvar, Chandikeswarar, Suriyan, and Chandran are in the praharam. Ambal is in a separate Temple like sannidhi facing east on the north of the main temple.  Ambal’s images are in the Koshta niches.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed in the Gajabirushta Vimana style. The Adhistana is of simple padabandha adhistana on a Lotus petals pedestal as upana. The Adhistana consists of jagathy, Threepatta Kumuda and Pattigai. The walls start with vedigai and the walls are supported by Vishnukantha pilasters with Veetu pothiyal. The Prastaram consists of Valabi, kapotam, and Vyalavari. Lotus petals are in the valabi. The Kapotam has the Nasikudus with various images. An ekathala Gajabirushta Vimana with three kalasas is on the sanctum sanctorum. A Temple structure with Lord Shiva is in the Lalada Nasi. Stucco images of Natarajar with Sivakami, Vinayagar, and Dakshinamurthy are in the Southside Greeva koshtam, Maha Vishnu is in the West side Koshtam and Brahma, Saraswati and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar are in the north side Greeva koshtam.

The front mandapam was built during the Vijayanagara Period. Subramaniyar, Vinayagar, Nandhiyam Peruman, Maharishis, Donors of this Mandapam, Sanganidhi,  Krishna with Yasodha, Maha Vishnu as Varahamurthy, Herder,  sculptures are on the mandapam pillars. At the entrance, both side Columns of the ardha mandapam have bas reliefs of  Vyagrapadar, a King (Maybe Chozha ), Ambal as a Cow worshiping Lord Shiva, Ayyanar, Vinayagar, and Murugan

A Lotus medallion is at the center of the ceiling. In addition to that two lizards are also carved. A stucco image of Lord Shiva with Parvati as Rishabaroodar is on the top of the Mukha mandapam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original Gajabirushta Vimana-style temple was constructed during the 7^th Century Pallava King Nandivarman-II, Period and later reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period, between the 10^th to 12^th Century. Rajarajan-I and Rajendra-I's period inscriptions are much damaged.

The Pallavamalla’s 7^th reign year ( 731 - 796 CE ) inscription found on the rock is much damaged. This inscription belongs to Nandivarman -II. ( ARE 251 of 1913 ). As per the inscription this place was mentioned as Urodam alias Pallavamalla Chaturvedimangalam and the same was corrupted to the present name of Oragadam. Pallavamalla is one of the title of Nandivarman-II.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 25^th November 2018 after laying paver blocks and a metacolour sheet shed in the praharam.

As per the HR & CE records, this temple has a land property of 2.55 hectares. The temple is under the control of the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department.

PC: Website

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Rama did a penance on Lord Shiva for his darshan. Even after many years Shiva didn’t give darshan and further, Lord Shiva asked to do pooja with various flowers. Will give darshan, when worshiped with a flower that didn’t shrink even after days or lose its fragrance. So Rama worshiped Lord Shiva with various flowers and finally, Lord Shiva gave darshan when Rama worshiped with Jasmine flower. Hence Lord Shiva is called Vadamalleeswarar.

Devotees worship Lord Shiva with Jasmine flowers to get Child boon ( Husband and wife bathe in the temple tank, carry Jasmine flowers bundled in the saree and worship Lord Shiva ), to get their wishes fulfilled, to flourish in the business, to get rid of problems between husband and wife, uterus problems,  etc,.

Nandi is with tiger skin, which was once presented by Lord Shiva, which is a unique feature of this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, and Amavasya days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The priest will open the temple during the morning and evening and the time is unpredictable. ( The timing should be 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.30 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs )

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple may be contacted on the mobile number +91 9444346970 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The Village Oragadam near the temple is about 3.2 KM from Chengalpattu to Thirukalukundram Road, 6 KM from Thirukalukundram, 12 KM from Chengalpattu, 43 KM from Tambaram, and 70 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Nandi devar

Hayagreevar

Donors of the Mukha Mandapam

Durgai in Makara Thorana with Lion as Vahana

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---