Monday, 9 November 2026

Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy Temple/ Shri Vaithiyanathaswamy Temple/ ஸ்ரீ வைத்யநாதஸ்வாமி கோவில், Pallikaranai, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy Temple, a Gajaprishta Vimana Temple, was part of the “Visit to the Eri kalvettu at Medavakkam and this Shiva temple at Pallikaranai” on Vijayadhasami day, the 20th October 2026. The temple is on the Major Mukund Varadharajan Road / Velachery Main Road at Pallikaranai, about 500 meters from Sri Adhipureeswarar Temple.



Moolavar  : Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy
Consort    : Sri Thaiyal Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple faces east with a Pillaiyar Koil pond on the south side. Nagas are under a peepal tree on the banks of the pond. Stucco images of a Shiva Lingam, Nandi, Shiva and Parvati, Murugan and Vinayagar, various forms of Amman, Shiva, Brahma, Maha Vishnu, and Agasthiyar are on the top of the parapet wall. Balipeedam and a Rishabam are on a pedestal in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. A small Rishabam and a balipeedam are in the antarala/ ardha mandapam. In the koshtam are Dakshiamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma.

In the praharam are Ashta bhuja Durgai, Kubera Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Shanmugar, Palliyarai, Chandikeswarar, Anjaneyar, Vinai Theertha Vinayagar, Angaragan, and Navagrahas.

Ambal Thaiyal Nayagi is in a separate Sannidhi that faces south. Ambal is in a standing posture with Abhaya Varada hastam. In the koshtam are Maha Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Varahi.




 Dakshinamurthy - Angarakan - Bairavar
Ashta Bhuja Durga - Maha Vishnu
Sri Valli Devasena Shanmugar

ARCHITECTURE
The temple was built with bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala / ardha mandapam, and common mandapam for parivara deities. The sanctum sanctorum is on a raised level with an upanam and pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with pattikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with kudam, kalasam, and palakai. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasikudus. The sanctum sanctorum is square in shape, but the vimanam over the bhumi desam is in Gajaprishta style with one tala, greevam, and Gajaprishta sigaram with three kalasas. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, and Brahma are in the tala and Greeva koshtams.
 




Stucco image of Dakshinamurthy on the talam

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per the Gurukkal, the Shiva Lingam and Rishabam are more than 300 years old and came to the same spot as Swayambhu (may be unearthed during the process of new construction). The present temple was constructed in recent years.

Anticipating the antiquity of the Shiva Lingam, which may belong to the Pallava period, the temple was constructed as the Gajaprishta Vimana Temple.  

The Vinaitheertha Vinayagar sannidhi is bigger than Shiva’s Sannidhi, since the Vinayagar Sannidhi existed in the same place before the construction of the Shiva Temple.

LEGENDS
Since Shiva cures all kinds of ailments, called as Vaidhiyanatha Swamy and considered similar to Vaitheeswarankoil. Hence, devotees worship Shiva for good health and prosperity in life.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Sankadahara Chaturthi, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Thaipoosam, New Year, Navaratri (Kolu is displayed in the temple), and all important functions.

Navaratri Festival - Golu

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be open from 07.00 hrs to 10.30 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
On Tuesdays, Rahu kala poojas are conducted from 15.00 hrs to 16.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
Raju Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile number +919840183397 for poojas and further details.

HOW TO REACH
This Shiva Temple is on the west side of the Major Mukund Varadharajan Road, Pallikaranai, also called Velachery Main Road, about 4.7 km from Velachery MRTS railway station, 5 km from Medavakkam Koot Road, and 12 km from Tambaram railway station.
The nearest railway station is Velachery MRTS railway station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE






--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

No comments:

Post a Comment