Sunday, 17 December 2023

Sri Venkata Subramaniya Swamy Temple / Brahma Sastha Temple, Sri Subramanya Swamy Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu..

துதிப்போர்க்கு வல்வினைபோம் துன்பம்போம் நெஞ்சில்
பதிப்போர்க்கு செல்வம் பலித்துக் கதித்தோங்கும்
நிஷ்டையும் கைகூடும் நிமலனருள்
கந்தர் சஷ்டி கவசம் தனை.

அமரரிடர் தீர அமரம் புரிந்த
குமரனடி நெஞ்சே குறி

சஷ்டியை நோக்கச் சரவண பவனார்
சிஷ்டருக்குதவும் செங்கதிர் வேலோன்
பாதம் இரண்டில் பன்மணிச் சதங்கை
கீதம் பாடக் கிண்கிணி யாட
… ஸ்ரீதேவராய சுவாமிகள் அருளிய கந்தர் சஷ்டி கவசம்.


The visit to this Sri Venkata Subramania Swamy Temple, at SVS Nagar, Valasaravakkam was a part of the “Lesser known Vishnu, Shiva, Amman Temples of Chennai Visit”, on 30th October 2022. Since it was a Kanda Sashti day, two Murugan temples were also added to the list. All these temples have a long history of Pallavas, Chozhas, and Vijayanagar.

Moolavar : Sri Venkata Subramaniya Swamy

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. A stucco image of Murugan as Brahma Sastha is on the entrance arch. In addition to this, there is an entrance from the back side of the temple. Balipeedam, small Dwajasthambam/Kodimaram, and peacock Vahana are after the Entrance arch. Stucco images of Murugas marriage with Sri Valli are at the center, and Avvaiyar and Arunagirinathar are on both sides.

Stucco dwarapalakas are at the entrance of ardha mandapam. Moolavar is about 6 feet tall, with a beautiful smile on his face. Moolavar Murugan is in the form of Brahma Sastha holding Kendy/Kamandalam and accamala/prayer beads in the upper hands the lower right hand is in abhaya hastam and the left hand is in kadi hastam. Six fingers are in the legs, this will be shown by the Gurukkal during pada darshan. In kostam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In Praharam, Vinayagar, Santoshi Mata, Chandikeswarar, Hanuman, Shiva  and Ambal and Navagraha.

ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upa peedam about 3 feet from the ground level. Total temple was constructed with bricks and cement concrete. A 3 tier brick dravida Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the Vimana Kostas.




HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Even though the temple belongs to the 20th century, the period of the Moolavar Brahma sastha is not known.

Before the 1950s, the Valasarawakkam was full of groves, which were converted to plots to construct Commercial establishments and residential flats. During the process of laying cornerstones for a residential layout plot, this Moolavar Murugan was unearthed. The iconography of the Murugan unearthed was similar to Brahma Sastha, in addition to that, there was a Vishnu Chakra behind his head. The owner of the residential layout took a vow, to construct a temple for this Brahma sastha, at the same place where it was unearthed, if the other plots sold successfully.  

On hearing this news, Thirumuruga Kirubanda Variyar, came to the site and after examining the iconography, named Murugan as Venkata Subramaniyar, due to the presence of Vishnu Chakra behind his head.

The Thirupani to this temple was started in 1983 by N Manthira Murthy Nadar’s wife Nalini Sundari Ammal, VOC District, the present Thoothukudi district.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted for Vinayagar sannidhi on 09th September 1992.


LEGENDS
During the Visit after Murugan was unearthed, Thirumuruga Kirubananda Variyar visited the site and told that, if anyone prayed Murugan with devotion for 11 consecutive weeks, their genuine wishes would be fulfilled. And it had happened to many devotees.

As per the legend of Brahma Sastha, Murugan asked Brahma the meaning of the Pranava mantra. Since Brahma couldn’t answer correctly, Murugan, put him under custody and assumed the changes of Brahma as a creator. He holds the attributes Kendy / Kamandalam and akka mala of Brahma in the upper hands. Hence Muruga in this form is called Brahma Sastha.

The Kanda Sashti is celebrated for the victory of Murugan over Soorapadman, who fought for 5 days and killed him on the 6th day. When Soorapadman changed him into a tree, Muruga killed him with his spear, splitting it into two parts. One part turned into Cock, which Muruga took as a flag, and the other part changed to Peacock, which Muruga took as his vehicle.  The last day of Skanda Sashti, the killing of Soorapadman is celebrated as Soorasamharam and Thirukalyam to Murugan with Valli and Devasena will be celebrated on the 7th day. During Sashti days Murugan devotees used to observe fast, taking one-time meals, except rice, some observe fast on Soorasamharam day only. Usually, Kanda Sahshti vradh will start after Deepavali, on pradima thithi, ie 1st day after Amavasya day.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular Poojas, Thaipoosam and Skanda Sashti ( 7 days including Thirukalyanam ) are celebrated in a grand manner. On the Sashti day of every month, special abhishekam will be done to the spear and special Tirisadhis are chanted.

The prayer of 11 Consecutive weeks, to get the wishes to be fulfilled is as follows. The devotee has to bring 2 lemons with Archana materials. The Gurukkal will do the Archana after the sankalpam. The Gurukkal will hand over one lemon to the Devotee. He has to go back to home and consume the juice. This has to be repeated for 11 weeks. For some, their wishes will be fulfilled even before the completion of 11 weeks. Once the wishes are fulfilled, the devotees have to perform abhishekam to Venkara Subramaniar, with new vasthra 

Devotees pray Hanuman with lemon for 7 consecutive weeks to get their wishes fulfilled.  The devotees offer coconut shells to Hanuman after their wishes are fulfilled.

For Sanshi mata abhishekam is done on monthly avittam Nakshatra days and full moon days.

Skanda sashti 7th day - Utsavars 
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 10.30 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The mobile numbers +919176237273 and +919789887058 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
The temple is between the 1st and 2nd main roads of SVS Nagar.
The temple is about 700 meters from Sri Agastheeswarar, Velvishwarar Temple, 5.9 KM from Vijaya Hospital, Valasaravakkam, 5.6 KM from Vadapalani bus depot, 6.5 KM from Koyambedu bus terminus and 15.2 KM from Chennai Central Railway Station. 
Nearest Railway station is Vadapalani Metro station ( 5.5 KM ).

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Stucco image of Avvaiyar- Sri Valli marriage with Murugan - Arunagirinathar

Backside entrance 
Moolavar - Murugan as Brahma Sastha 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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