16,
December 2012
The
Shiva temple at Dhandeeswaram (is a part of Velachery), Chennai, is a 10th to
12th century old. There are lot of Tamil
inscriptions found around sanctum wall. Since the temple is about 2 KM
from my residence I used to go on Sundays and important functions. During Maha
Shivarathri day I used to be there throughout the night. The outer
prakaram was constructed in concrete during recent years through
devotee’s donations, whose names appears on the pillars.
5 Tier Rajagopuram
Moolavar : Sri Dhandeeswarar
Consort : Sri Karunambigai
Some
of the important features of this temple are as follows....
The
Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers on the south side. There are three tier gopurams on
the east and west side of the temple ( Which are kept locked ). East side will
be kept open during pradosham days. There is an Alangara mandapam on the left
side of south entrance where important functions are held. At the east side
entrance Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and Rishabam in a small mandapam. In
Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( Dhakshinamoorthy is facing Kubera
moolai, hence he is called as Kubera Dakshinamurthy ), Lingothbavar (
The lingothbavar is Chandrasekarar, the Maan and Mazhu are interchanged
from the usual positions ), Brahma and Durgai.
On
the east side entrance to the main shrine, sannadhi for Kaalai sandhi
Vinayagar and Murugan. Sannidhi
for Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena sametha Sri Subramaniar are in
artha mandapam.
In
Prakaram Sannadhis for Somaskandar ( Murugan is not there at centre ),
Chandrasekar & Ambal, Maha Lakshmi, Saraswati, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Thirugnanasambandar, Natarajar Sabha, Bairavar, Vishnu and Suryan.
Standing
in one place near Chandikeswarar, we can have the darshan of Sri Mahalakshmi,
Saraswati and Durga. And also we can have the darshan of Moolavar and
Ambal sannidhi vimanas.
In
The outer Prakaram 63var, Naalvar, Kasi Viswanathar, Vaitheeswaran,
Chokkanathar, Meenakshi, Navagrahas and Naagars. The Temple has lot of
Vahanas which are used during urchavam were kept in the outer prakaram.
The
Ambal in this temple was installed by Appaya dheekshithar with Srichakra,
during 16th century, similar to Mangadu and Thiruverkadu. (
Appaya Dheekshithar’s wife was from Velachery – There was story behind
that - )
The
thirukulam or the Temple Tank ( Yama theertham ) is on the main road, west side
of the temple with grill/ fence work on all the four sides.
It was learned that sun light will fall on moolavar one day in a year, it is not happening nowadays due to obstruction of a new building constructed on the eastern side.
HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS:
Inscriptions, belongs to Sundara Chozhan ( father of Rajaraja Chozhan ),
are found around Karuvarai wall. They were not maintained and are in un
readable condition due to painting. As per the inscriptions this place was called as "Velicheri" during Chozha Period and Velachery during Pandya Period. This place was in Jayankonda Chozha Mandalathu Puliyur Kottathu Kottur Nattu Velicheri.
One of Rajaraja Chozha - I's 10th reign year ( 995 CE ) inscription records Rajarajar as "Kovi Rajakesari Mummudi Chozhar". This inscription records the endowment of Naivedyam and burning of Sandhi Lamp, by Chozha Nattu Kizhar kootrathu Vaikoorcheri Amudhan Pichchan alias Chembiyan Kizhanattu Kon at Shiva Temple at Tharamani "Tharamani Mahadevar". For which a land was gifted. ( The Tharamani Mahadevar temple is not tracable now for its where about )
One of the inscriptions is about a
donation to burning a lamp in the sannadhi. From the inscription the temple
must be 1055 years old. This is the first temple constructed by Chozhas in
Thondai Nadu as per Mr Vakula Varadharajan, a Historian.
LEGENDS:
After Eman lost his dhandam at Thirukadaiyur, in Dwaraba yugam Eman came to this place, created a Temple Tank ( Now called as Yema theertham on the west side of the temple with fencing ) and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and got back his dhandam. Hence Iraivan is called as Sri Dhandeeswarar and the place is called as Dhandeeswaram.
All the 4 Vedas were taken away by Somugasuran and kept under the sea. The Vedhams had done dhabas at this place and worshiped Lord Shiva at Thiruvanmiyur to get rid of Asura dosham. Hence This place was called as Vedasreny which is latter called by the present name of Velachery. There is also another version that this place was called once as Velvichery which became the name of Velachery.
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS
Shastiapthapoorthi
functions are performed here next to Thirukadaiyur ( Who could not go there ).
The present charge is Rs. 7500.00.
Thiruvasagam
mutrum othuthal is being conducted regularly on 'magha' nakshatra day
through Velachery Kovil Thirupani mandram under the leadership of Mr
Adalarasan
There
was a Digital banner erected recently in which the names of the defaulters of Tax, rent etc., to the temples are printed. The temple has
many properties and the income is a question.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
The Temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to
12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 21.00 Hrs
CONTACT
DETAILS:
Office
Phone number :+91 44 22436121
Sivachariyar
Mobile number : Kumarasamy Gurukkal. 9884402525
HOW TO REACH :
Lot
of Town buses available from various parts of Chennai City to Velachery
and the bus stop is Gandhi nagar or Dhandeeswaram bus stop between Gurunanak
College and Vijaya nagar bus terminus. ( equal distance from both bus
stops.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK
HERE
Somaskandar
Tamil inscriptions on the wall behind karuvarai fully damaged and not readable due to painting
Moolavar & Ambal sannidhi vimana can be worshiped standing in one place
Ambal sannidhi vimanam
( Maan and Mazhu are interchanged in Lingothbavar )
Chandrasekarar - opposite to Lingothbavar
Alangara mandapam in which urchavam, functions like, Shastiapthapoorthi are held in this mandapam.
Kasi Viswanathar and Vaitheeswaran Sannadhi in the outer prakaram.
Saba mandapam Vimanam
View from east side with dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishaba mandapam.
--- OM SIVAYA NAMA ---
