Velleeswarar Mangadu

Sriperumbudur Saivite Temples

God

Velleeswarar (also Bhaargaveswarar), facing east

Goddess

Kamakshiamman

Other Deities

Ganesha, Muruga, Mangani Vinayagar, Subramania with consorts, Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara, Veerabadra, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Sundareswarar, Meenakshi, Navagraha

Velleeswarar Mangadu is one of the Navagraha Temples around Chennai, representing the planet Venus (Velli, hence Velleeswarar). There is no goddess here as Kamakshiamman at nearby Mangadu Temple is considered the goddess. The main deity here is large on a square base (Aavudayar) and majestic to look at. Ganesha is normally seen with a Modak in his hand but here he is seen with a Mango in one hand and Paddy stalks in the other hand. The idol of Subramania with Valli and Devayanai is carved out of a single stone. Footprints of the Goddess where she is believed to have stood and prayed to the lord can be seen in front of the Nandi.

The Navagraha Temples around Chennai are:

1. Kolampakkam – Agastheeswarar (Surya)
2. Somangalam – Somanatheeswarar (Chandran)
3. Poonamallee – Vaitheeswarar (Angaaragan)
4. Kovur – Sundareswarar (Budhan)
5. Porur – ramanatheswarar (Guru)
6. Mangadu – Velleeswarar (Sukran)
7. Pozhichalur – Agastheeswarar (Sani)
8. Kundrathur – Nageswarar (Rahu)
9. Gerugambakkam – Neelakandeswarar (Kethu)

Holy Water (Theertham) – Sukra Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Mango (Mangifera sps)

History

Velleeswarar Mangadu was existing even before 8th Century CE. Stone inscription here mentions the rule of Vijayanandi Vikramavarman (844-866 CE). Velleeswarar Mangadu was originally a brick structure built by the Pallavas and later in 10 – 11 Centuries CE converted to a stone structure by the Cholas.

Mythology

Once when Lord Shiva and Parvati were relaxing in Mount Kailash, the goddess playfully closed both eyes of the lord. This fraction of a second in turn created darkness and problems in the world. In anger the lord cursed her to go and do penance to attain him again. Goddess Parvati came to Mangadu and performed penance standing on fire and the lord pardoned here. The nearby Kamakshi temple at Mangadu is part of this legend. Sukracharya, the guru of the Asuras performed penance to the lord here to regain his eye lost during the Vaamana Avatar episode of Dasavatara.

Directions

Velleeswarar Mangadu is about 3.5 kilometers south of Poonamallee on the Kundrathur road and can be approached easily from Poonamallee. Velleeswarar Mangadu is half a kilometer behind the Mangadu Amman temple.

Stay and Food

None locally except tea shops. Chennai is advisable.

Saivite Temples

Kancheepuram Temples

Tamilnadu Temples