Vivekparulekar at 11:59, 29 September 2024

2024-09-29T11:59:05Z

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{{Short description|Hindu temple of Shiva in Thiruverkadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Vedapureeswarar Temple
| image = Vedapureeswar temple, Thiruverkadu4.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Gateway tower of the temple
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|13|04|17|N|80|06|53|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Tiruvallur district|Tiruvallur]]
| locale =
| elevation_m =
| deity = Vedapureeswarar([[Shiva]])
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Vedapureeswarar Temple''' or '''Eswaran Dharmaraja Koil''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the deity [[Shiva]], located in [[Thiruverkadu]], a Municipality in [[Tiruvallur district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Shiva is worshipped as Vedapureeswarar, and is represented by the ''[[lingam]]''. His consort [[Parvati]] is depicted as Balambigai. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''[[Tevaram]]'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the [[Nayanars]] and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''.

The temple complex covers two acres and it houses two gateway towers known as ''[[gopurams]]'', each facing the Vedapureeswarar and Balambigai shrine. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Vedapureeswarar and his consort Balambigai being the most prominent.

The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The Brahmotsavam festival is celebrated during the day of the Magam (February - March) is the most prominent festival.

The original complex is believed to have been built before 7th century CE by the [[Cholas]],{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} the temple was reconstructed in 1973 under the technical direction of G. Yegneswaran with the blessings of Sri Swamiji Ramadoss. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
As per [[Hindu]] legend, during the divine wedding of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]], there was heavy crowd at [[Kailash]], the abode of Shiva. Sage [[Agastya]] could not view event and prayed to Shiva at this place to get him a view of the event. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva appeared to the sage and his wife [[Lopamudra]] along with Parvati in his marriage attire. Shiva made the place his abode and appeared in his marriage posture to Agastya. The same legend is associated with [[Papanasanathar Temple]] and [[Agasthiyar Falls]].<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=155–6}}</ref> The temple is also believed to be the place from where Shiva's son [[Murugan]] (Kartikeya) got his weapon to kill the demon king [[Surapadma]].<ref name=R/>

==Architecture==
This temple is situated 27 km from Chennai in [[Thiruverkadu]], a municipality in [[Tiruvallur district]]. The nearest railway station is at Avadi and the nearest airport is [[Chennai International Airport]]. The Shiva temple at Thiruverkadu is spread over an area of {{convert|1.5|acre|m2}}.<ref name="DinamalarTemples">{{cite web | url = https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=304 | title = Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple | last = | first = | date = n.d. | website = Dinamalar Temples | publisher = Dinamalar | access-date = 13 March 2022 | quote = }}</ref> The main rajagopuram, facing the east, is on the eastern side with seven tiers. The temple complex has three corridors (''prakaras'').<ref name="DinamalarTemples"/> The ''vimana'' above the sanctum sanctorum is of Gajabrushta design.<ref name="DinamalarTemples"/>

The [[Pushkarni|temple tank]] is located outside the main entrance. The two inner corridors are located inside the temple. At the main entrance, the sculptures of [[Ganapathy]] (Ganesha0 and Murugan can be found on both the sides. The main shrine accommodates the image of Shiva known as Vedapureeswarar and Parvati as his consort Balambigai. Like the Shiva temples in Thondai Nadu, the sanctum houses [[lingam]] (the aniconic symbol of Shiva) and the images of [[Kalyanasundara|Shiva and Parvati in wedding posture]]. There is a separate shrine for Balambigai to the right of Vedapureeswarar's sanctum. The first precinct on the four sides of the sanctum sancotrum are decorated with the images of [[Nayanars]], Murugan in the northwest and [[Durga]] on the northeast. The temple has [[Navagraha]], which is sculpted in a lotus pedestal. The temple has a separate shrine for [[Arunagirinathar]] and [[Murkha Nayanar]]. There is a prominent sculpture of Karumari Amman in the temple.<ref name=R/>

==Religious importance and festivals==
[[File:Vedapureeswar temple, Thiruverkadu4.JPG|200x200px|thumb|Gateway tower of the temple]]
It is one of the shrines of the 275 [[Paadal Petra Sthalams]] - [[Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu#Sthalams|Shiva Sthalams]] glorified in the early medieval ''[[Tevaram]]'' poems by Tamil Saivite [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] [[Sambandar]].<ref name="DinamalarTemples"/> This is the 23rd Shiva temple in [[Tondaimandalam|Tondai region]] praised in Thevaram hymns.<ref name="DinamalarTemples"/> The temple also finds mention in [[Tirumular]]'s ''Thirumantiram'', [[Arunagirinathar]]'s ''Tiruppugazh'' and [[Manikkavacakar]]'s ''[[Tiruvacakam]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Verkadu|url=http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/koil_view.php?koil_idField=273|publisher=Thevaaram.org|year=2011|access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref>

The temple priests perform the ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; ''Kalasanthi'' at 6:00 a.m., ''Irandam Kalm'' at 9:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 a.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m, ''Irandam Kalm'' at 7:30 p.m., and ''Arthajamam'' at 9:00 p.m.. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''[[abhisheka]]'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''[[Naivedhya|naivethanam]]'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for Edaganathar and Elavrkuzhali. There are weekly rituals like ''{{lang|te-Latn|somavaram}}'' (Monday) and ''{{lang|te-Latn|sukravaram}}'' (Friday), fortnightly rituals like ''[[pradosha]]m'', and monthly festivals like ''[[amavasya|amavasai]]'' (new moon day), ''kiruthigai'', ''[[pournami (festival)|pournami]]'' (full moon day) and ''sathurthi''. Other festivals include Vinayaka Chaturthi, Aadi Pooram, Navaratri, Aippasi Pournami, Skanda Sashti, Kartikai Deepam, Arudra Darisanam, Tai Poosam, Maasi Magam, Panguni Uththiram and Vaikasi Visakam.<ref name=R/><ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Vedapureeswarar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=304|publisher=[[Dinamalar]]|year=2014|access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Heritage structures in Chennai]]
* [[Religion in Chennai]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}

{{Famous Shiva temples}}
{{Places of worship in Chennai}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Tiruvallur district]]
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]

Vedapureeswarar temple, Thiruverkadu - Revision history

Vivekparulekar at 11:59, 29 September 2024