Tiruvetteeswarar Temple

Tiruvallikkeni, also known as Triplicane, stands as a renowned locality in Chennai celebrated primarily for the illustrious Parthasarathy temple, revered in the Vaishnava tradition. Yet, nestled amidst its cultural tapestry lies an ancient gem, the Tiruvetteeswarar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, waiting to be unveiled in this article.

Highlights:

• God - Tiruvetteeswarar
• Goddess - Shenbagambika
• Sthala Vruksha - Shenbaga tree
• Teerth (Holy water) - Shenbaga Teerth
• The temple is a Devara Vaippu Sthalam
• It is a Rahu-Ketu parihara sthalam
• It is considered as equivalent to Kalahasti and Varanasi.

Legend:

According to one legend, Goddess Lakshmi fervently prayed to Lord Shiva at this very site, seeking His blessings for a union with Lord Vishnu.

In another captivating tale, Arjuna, also known as Partha, unknowingly engaged in a combat with Lord Shiva, mistaking Him for a mere hunter. During this intense encounter, Arjuna inadvertently wounded Lord Shiva's head, leaving a distinctive scar on the Shiva Linga. Hence, this Linga is also known as the Parthaprakara Linga.

Historical accounts suggest that the temple's origins trace back to the 7th century CE or even earlier. It was initially constructed but later lay in ruins. Intriguingly, a cow consistently poured milk at a particular spot, piquing the villagers' curiosity. Upon excavation, they unearthed a Shiva Linga with a unique scar atop. This discovery led to the temple's reconstruction, and the Linga came to be known as Vetteeswarar, with "Vettu" signifying "cut" in Tamil. Subsequently, a sacred icon  of Goddess Shenbagambika emerged from the temple tank.

 

History:

In the 16th and 17th centuries, during the reign of Muslim Nawabs, the temple received generous donations. Remarkably, even today, the temple continues to receive offerings of milk and flowers from Muslim charities on special occasions.

 

Temple Layout:

The east-facing temple boasts a five-tiered Raja gopura as its main entrance. Inside, the sanctum houses the revered Shiv Linga, known as Tiruvetteeswarar. Adjacent to the sanctum, another east-facing shrine enshrines the utsav images of Somaskanda Murti. Facing the sanctum, one can find the flag staff, Nandi mandapa, and bali peetha.

Goddess Shenbagambika resides in a separate south-facing shrine, adorned with her own flag staff, bali peetha, and lion vahana.

The entrance of the main shrine is graced with images of Ganesha and Skanda, while the front mandapa features numerous pillars adorned with exquisite carvings.

The sanctum's enclosing wall is adorned with niche images of Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Sudarshana, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durga. Additionally, the wall surrounding the shrine of Somaskanda also boasts niche icons of Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Jyoti Shivam, Brahma, and Durga.

The temple's ceiling reveals relief images of Rahu and Ketu, adding to its celestial charm.

With two prakaras, the inner precincts host a multitude of sub-shrines and icons, including Ganesha, Veerabhadra, Bala Murugan, Nalvar, Sekkizhar, Sundarar with his consorts, Subramanya with his consorts, Lakshmi & Saraswati, Utsav icons of Subramanya, the 63 Nayanmars Panchaloka images, Chandikeshwara, Nataraj-Shivakami, Hanuman, Surya, Chandra, and the 63 Nayanmars.

The outer prakara shelters sub-shrines for Vallabha Ganapati, Adhikara Nandi, Kasi Vishwanath, Vishalakshi, Ganesha, Murugan, Nandi, Ramalingar, Bhairav, and the Navagrahas. Furthermore, a shrine dedicated to Shanmukha, along with his consorts Valli and Devasena, graces the temple grounds, complete with a distinct flag staff.

As you embark on a spiritual journey within these hallowed precincts, may the tales, legends, and architectural splendor of Tiruvetteeswarar Temple resonate with reverence and wonder.

Happy travelling.