Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple / Sri Yoga HayagrivarTemple / ஸ்ரீ யோக ஹயக்ரீவர் பெருமாள் கோயில், செட்டிபுண்ணியம், /Chettipunyam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

ஞானாநந்தமயம் தேவம் நிர்மலஸ்படிகாக்ருதிம்

ஆதாரம் ஸர்வவித்யானாம் ஹயக்ரீவம் உபாஸ்மஹே

ஸ்வதஸ்ஸித்தம் சுத்தஸ்படிக மணிபூப்ரருத்பிரதிபடம்

ஸுதாசத்க்ரீசீபி: த்யுதிபி: அவதாதத்ரிபுவனம்

அனந்தை: த்ரய்யந்தை: அனுவிஹித ஹேஷா ஹலஹலம்

ஹதாசேஷாவத்யம் ஹயவதனம் ஈடீமஹீ மஹ:

…. Hayagrivar stotram by Vedanta Desika 

This Yoga Hayagreevar Temple is about 5 KM from Singaperumal Koil in Chengalpattu District. It is believed that Chettipunyam obtained its name, since the Chettiar community, which does the trading business from this place, contributed to this temple’s growth and maintenance.  Even though the temple is dedicated to Sri Varadharaja Perumal, this temple is popularly known for Sri Yoga Hayagreevar, the lord of Knowledge and wisdom. The temple is called in the name Utsavar Sri Devanathaswamy.

Moolavar  : Sri Varadharaja Perumal

Thayar     : Sri Hemambhujavalli

Utsavar    : Sri Devanathaswamy

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a 2 tier Rajagopuram. A Garuda thoon, Balipeedam, and Garudan are after the Rajagopuram. Moolavar Sri Varadharaja Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Utsavar Sri Devanathaswamy is with Prayoga Chakra, in the sanctum sanctorum along with Sridevi and Bhudevi.

Yoga Hayagreevar, Hemambhuja Thayar, Alwars  and Andal are in the ardha mandapam. In praharam Kothandaramar Sannidhi with Sri Ramar, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya, Andal, Nagarajar, Stucco image of Hayagreevar and an Azhinjil tree, where the students pray for Knowledge, by tying clothes are in the praharam (The specialty of the tree is mention in Andal’s 44^th Pasuram as –ஆயரும் அஞ்சிட பூத்த நிலக்கடம்பேரி புகழ் பாய்ந்து. It is believed that this tree is rare and is considered as a sacred one ). 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala,  ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. The entrance of Rajagopuram is of two tiers with stucco images of Sri Varadharajar with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, Hayagreevar, and Krishna on the first level.

A 3 tier stucco Vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum. Kostas is empty without images. The Vimana is called as Ananda Nilaya vimana.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the temple is about 350 years old (As per HR & CE Records the temple was built about 150 years before by one Mr Appalarangam). It is claimed by the temple authorities that Mysore Diwan  Sirasdhar Rao Sahib Rangachari had brought vigrahas of Sri Devanathaswamy and Yoga Hayagreevar from Thiruvandhipuram, near Cuddalore and installed in his own Village Chettipunyam, on Tamil Keelaka year (1848 CE), Vaikasi month Maha Nakshatra day. Also, it is claimed that the Ramar, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman were brought to Vandalur from Thanjavur Samasthanam by Ramaswamy Iyengar and installed the same at this Chettipunyam Temple on 1869, October 5^th, 1869. 

On 3^rd February 1993, Ashta Bandhana Maha Samprokshanam was conducted.

But as per HR & CE Records Mysore Diwan  Sirasdhar Rao Sahib Rangachari, established the Rama shrine in the middle of the 19^th Century and at the beginning of the 20^th Century. 

In 1920, Rajaram Naidu, gifted Rs 200 towards the Bell, which is not used, since found cracked.

On 7th September 2003 Thirumadapalli was renovated and tiles were laid by U.Ve. A M Rajagopal, U.Ve. D P Rangaswamy and the Citizens of Tirupur and Erode. 

The temple was built in 50 Cents of land. This temple owns jewels worth Rs 80000. The temple has 33 acres of wetland and 22.11 acres of Dryland. The annual income from the land property works out to Rs 15000. The annual income of the temple as per the records of HR & CE is: for Fasli 1402 - Rs. 14,242/-; for Fasli 1403 - Rs. 20, 221/ - and for  Fasli 1404 - Rs.30, 217/-. The temple is under the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department.

LEGENDS

The Hayagreeva avatar is not one of the Dashavatars of Lord Maha Vishnu.  The Asuras Madhu and Kaidaban stole the 4 Vedas from Brahma. Maha Vishnu took the form of Hayagreeva – A Horse face with a Horse neck and a Human body, Killed both asuras and retrieved back 4 Vedas to Brahma. Maha Vishnu also made Brahma and his Consort Saraswati as Lords of Knowledge and Wisdom. Hence Hayagreevar is worshiped to excel in education and to become genius, by the students. The Students pray Hayagreevar with new Notebooks, pens, pencils, Hall Tickets, etc,. Usually, Hayagreevar will be with Maha Lakshmi on his right thigh, Hayagreevar is also one in Yoga Posture with Conch and Chakra in the upper hands. 

  

students write their Hall ticket numbers to score good marks

Stucco image of Hayagreeva 

Azhinjil Tree

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas as per Srivaikanasam, special poojas are conducted on Thiruparivettai, Sri Rama Navami, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Aadi Pooram, Vijayadasami, Sri Desikan Saththumurai, Panguni Uthiram Udayavar Saththumurai and Vaikasi Deepotsavam. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple may be contacted on this mobile number +91 86751 27999 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Chettipunyam is about 5 KM from Singaperumal Koil, 9 KM from Chengalpattu, 28 KM from Tambaram, and 55 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway station is Singaperumal Koil and Railway Junction is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Moolavar Varadharaja Perumal, Utsavar Devanathaswamy, and Hayagreevar.

Garuda

Hill boulders are painted with Thiruman

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---