The visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Vannivedu, Walaja was a part of the Gajaprishta/Gajabrushta Vimana Shiva
Temple and Kanchanagiri Temples Visit, on 15th October 2023. Thanks
to Ramesh Krishnamurthy, who took me to these places.
The second visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple was part of the “Sadaranya Kshetram Visit” around Arcot on January 11, 2026, organised by Rameswaram Travel Agency. This
is one of the Shadaranya Kshetras around Ranipet. During the Puranic period, this
place was surrounded by Sameevanam – Vanni Trees. The Shiva of this temple was installed and
worshipped by Agasthiyar.
This
is one of the Shadaranya Kshetras around Ranipet. During the Puranic period, this
place was surrounded by Sameevanam – Vanni Trees. The Shiva of this temple was installed and
worshipped by Agasthiyar.
Sl No | Temple | Manivar | Place | Aranyam |
1 | | Vasishta Maharishi | Veppur | Nimbavanam – Neem Trees |
2 | Sri Valmikiswarar Temple | Valmiki Maharishi | Melvisharam | Vishavrukshavanam-Ettimaram |
3 | Sri Gauthameswarar Temple | Gautama Maharishi | Karai | Kaarai Vanam – Kaarai trees |
4 | | Agasthiya Maharishi | Vannivedu | Sameevanam – Vanni Trees |
5 | | Atri Maharishi | Gudimallur | Gudamallikavanam – Koda malli |
6 | | Barathwaja Maharishi | Pudupadi | Soothavanam – Mango Trees |
7 | Sri Kashyabeswarar Temple | Kashyaba Maharishi | Avarakarai (Navlock) | Karai Flowers |
It is believed that this is one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam, and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Shiva of Agastheeswarar, in General.
நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா காளேச்
சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக ளேச்சுரநன் கான
கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச் சுரந்திண் டீச் சுரங்
குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரங்கூறுங்கால்
ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய னீச்சுர
மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்சுர மந்தண் கானல்
ஈடுதிரை யிராமேசசுர மென்றென் றேத்தி
யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு மியம்பு வோமே.
….. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் ( 6-71-8 ).
Moolavar : Sri
Agastheeswarar
Consort : Sri
Bhuvaneswari
Some of the Salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram
(Yet to be completed) and an entrance from the West side. A stucco image of Shiva
and Parvati is on the top of the west side entrance. A Vinayagar sannidhi is on
the west side entrance. The entrance to the Ardha Mandapam is from the South side with a mandapam. Bas-reliefs of devotees (Husband & wife) worshipping
Vinayagar and Murugan are on both sides of the ardha mandapam entrance. Balipeedam,
Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are on the east side after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas
are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar in the sanctum is small on a
round avudayar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and
Durgai.
In the inner paraharam, Sarabeswarar, Suryan,
Manickavasagar, Moovar, Nayanmars, Vinayagar, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi,
and Natarajar.
Ambal is in a separate temple like a sannidhi, facing
east on the left side of the moolavar. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya
varada hastam. Simham and balipeedam are in front of Amman sannidhi.
In the outer praharam, Vinayagar Chandikeswarar,
Akarshana Bairavar, Bairavar, a Memorial Stone (maybe donors), Vinayagar,
Veerabhadra, Saniswaran, Navagrahas, Stucco Image of Shiva and Annapoorani,
Ayyappan, Anjaneyar, Varahi, Saraswati, Nagars under Vanni Tree, and
Ashtadikpalakas.
Devotees worshipping Murugan /Arumugar Hayagreevar Sarabeswarar
Veerabhadra with Vinayagar
Swarna Akarshana Bairavar
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a Pada bandha
adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattika. The bhitti starts
with vedika. Brahmakantha pilasters are shown on the bhitti. The prastaram
consists of valapi & kapotam. Lotus petals are shown in the valapi. A two-tier stucco vesara Sigara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Shiva,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtas. Stucco images of Agasthiyar, Bairavar,
Natarajar, and various deities are on the Vimanam.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
The present structure may belong to the 16th
to 17th Century CE, and the Ambal’s shrine was constructed a little
later. No inscriptions were found to prove its antiquity.
The temple is under the administrative control of the Tamil
Nadu HR & CE Department.
LEGENDS
This temple is considered one of the Shadaranya
Kshetras (Sameevanam) with the Vanni Tree as sthala vruksham around Arcot,
worshipped by Agasthiyar. The other kshetras are Gudimallur, worshipped by Athri
Maharishi; Avarakarai, worshipped by Kasibar; Karai, worshipped by Gowthamar;
Veppur, worshipped by Vasishta Maharishi; MelVisharam, worshipped by Valmiki
Maharishi; and Padi, alias Pudupadi, worshipped by Bhardwaj Maharishi. It is believed that worshipping all seven
temples on Maha Shivaratri days will be equivalent to worshipping Kailasanathar of Mount Kailash.
As per the legend, Ma
Kamakshi playfully closed the eyes of Shiva. The universe has come to a standstill. Angered, Shiva cursed Ma Kamakshi to go to the earth. Ma Kamakshi
did penance for Shri Shiva. Pleased by the penance, Shiva married at
Kanchipuram. To witness the celestial wedding, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, the celestial gods, and all the Rishis and Munis assembled at Kanchipuram. The 6 Maharishis (“ஷட் (Saṭ / षट्)”- Six) (Many claim that Seven Maharishis
worshipped, hence 7 temples are grouped on Shadaranya Kshetram), stayed in 6
forest areas on the banks of the River Palar, established Swayambhu Shiva Lingas
and worshipped. The Shiva Lingas are called in the name of the Maharishis, who established the Shiva Lingas. Hence, all seven temples are called Shadaranya Kshetras.
On the 19th of August 2015, evening, Durgai came
down in the form of light from the koshta and walked towards Sri Bhuvaneswari
Ambals’ Sannidhi and disappeared. It was witnessed by Chamraj Lakshmi Ammal, Srimati Gangai Ammal, and
Palani Gurukkal, through the Ambal’s Pada/footprints on the floor. The footprints are preserved for the Devotee’s darshan with kavasam. Special poojas are offered
to these footprints on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular Poojas, Special poojas are
conducted on Pournami, Sankatahara Chaturthi, Thaipoosam, Pradosham, Maha
Shivaratri, Sarabeswarar Pooja on Sundays (16.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs), Varahi
Poojas, Theipirai Ashtami, Nayanmar’s Guru Poojas, etc.
This temple is believed to be a parihara sthalam for Rahu and Ketu. Special poojas are done on Rahu and Ketu peyarchi days.
Symbolic representation of the Lunar and solar eclipse - as a temple, Rahu, and Ketu
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 08.30 hrs to
12.30 hrs, and from 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile at +919629372155 for Poojas. Mrs T Chamrajya
Lakshmi Ammal may be contacted on her
mobile numbers at +9442227867, +919443227864, and +919943314410 for the Sarabeswarar Poojas.
HOW TO
REACH
This temple is on the Madras-Bombay Trunk Road, in Vannivedu, a part of Walajah.
The temple is about 5.6 km from Ranipet Railway
Station, 8.7 km from Chennasamudram Toll Plaza, 5.0 km from Arcot, 6.5 km from Ranipet, 29 km from Vellore, and
109 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway Station is Ranipet.
