Maangaadu Sri Velleeswarar

Maangaadu is a small beautiful village located at the outskirts of Chennai near Poondhamalli. While going from Chennai city on Mount Poondhamalli road, one has to take left from Kumananchaavadi junction to reach Maangaadu.

This temple is located very close to Maangaadu Sri Kamakshi Amman temple. This is a very ancient and beautiful temple for Lord Shiva. The main deity here is Sri Velleeswarar. There is no Ambaal in this temple, as Sri Kamakshi Amman is present nearby.

According to the legend, when Goddess Sri Kamakshi performed Thapas here in Maangaadu, Lord Shiva came down to earth to give dharshan to Her and marry Her. It is said that, Sri Sukran (Venus) worshipped Lord Shiva here. When Sri Kamakshi came here to have dharshan of Lord Shiva, she saw Sri Sukran worshipping the Lord. The Goddess went back as She did not want to disturb the prayers of Sukran.

Later Lord Shiva directed the Goddess to come to Kanchipuram and married Her there. As Sri Sukran (Velli in Thamizh) worshipped Lord Shiva here, the Lord came to be known as Sri Velleeswarar and also called as Sri Bhaargaveswarar.

This temple is Sukran Sthalam among the Navagraha Temples of Chennai (or Thondai Mandalam). Sri Sukran blesses people with wealth, prosperity, good family, vehicles, fame and social status.

The main deity Sri Velleeswarar is huge and looks very grand, facing east. Lord Ganesha and Lord Muruga are seen at either side of the entrance of the sanctum. Lord Ganesha here is holding a Mango fruit in His hand and is called ‘Maangani Vinayagar’. The place Maangaadu itself had got its name as it was once a vast Mango forest.

Lingothbavar is seen on the outer wall behind the sanctum. Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu are present on either side of Lingothbavar worshipping Him.

There is a separate shrine for Sri Veerabadhrar behind the sanctum. Sri Veerabadhrar is said to have got created from the sweat of Lord Shiva to defeat Dhakshan.

Sri Subramanyar shrine is present at the North West side of the outer praakaaram. Sri Subramanyar is so beautiful and seen with His consorts Sri Valli and Sri Dhevasena. All the 3 deities are made of a single stone. Lord Muruga’s Vaahanam (carrier) peacock is present outside the shrine facing the shrine.

A beautiful Nandhi is present outside the sanctum, facing towards west. It is said that people visiting Sri Kamakshi Amman temple should also have dharshan at Sri Velleeswarar temple and Sri Vaikunda Perumaal temple in Maangaadu, as all these three temples are interconnected with the history of Sri Kamakshi Amman.

Hanumanthapuram Sri Agora Veerabadhrar

Hanumanthapuram is a very remote village near Chengalpattu. The village is located off the road going from Chengalpattu towards Thirupporur after Perunthandalam and Senneri villages. The road that leads to this village is not easily motorable and is amidst the reserved forest zone.

Hanumanthapuram has an ancient temple where the main deity is Sri Agora Veerabadhra Swamy and Goddess Sri Kaalikaambal.

Dhakshan (son of Sri Brahma and father of Sri Parvathi) performed a Yagnya. He had invited all Devas and Gods for his Yagnya except Lord Shiva, as he always disliked him because Lord Shiva married his daughter Sri Parvathi without his knowledge.

But as per the rituals, he has to invite Lord Shiva, without which the Yagnya won’t be complete. But Dhakshan ignored Lord Shiva and also was not willing to give due offerings to Him in his Yagnya.

Knowing this Lord Shiva got furious and sent Lord Ganesha to stop Dhakshan’s Yagnya, but Lord Ganesha couldn’t succeed, followed by Lord Muruga who again couldn’t defeat Dhakshan to stop his Yagnya. Finally, He created a power from the droplets of His sweat and gave it a form and named Him Veerabadhrar. Veerabadhrar, who was created from Lord Shiva’s sweat, was assigned to defeat Dhakshan and stop his Yagnya.

Goddess Parvathi, who was also equally upset with Dhakshan’s attitude, created a Shakthi called Kaali and made her accompany Veerabadhrar in his mission to defeat Dhakshan. Sri Veerabadhrar went and chopped Dhakshan’s head with ease. From then Dhakshan didn’t have head at all. Later, with the prayers of Dhakshan’s wife, Sri Veerabadhrar blessed him with the head of a goat and hence Dhakshan is seen with the human body and goat’s head.

It is believed that Dhakshan was defeated by Sri Veerabadhrar in this place.

Sri Veerabadhrar is seen facing north, holding many weapons. Goddess Sri Kaali is present just outside the sanctum, facing east. Sri Kaali is believed to be more powerful here. This village also has a separate temple for Sri Kaaliamman.

Nandhi is seen facing south towards the Lord. This very unusual temple attracts lots of devotees during new moon days and full moon days. This place is said to cure people with mental illness. Many mentally challenged people are brought here and prayers are offered to Sri Agora Veerabadhrar. It is believed that Sri Agora Veerabadhrar blesses them to recover from their mental illness.

There is a beautiful temple pond in front of the temple, where many devotees take bath before visiting the temple. Also many bring mentally challenged people and bathe them here.

Betel leafed garland is offered to the Lord here. It is said that this place was once filled with betel leaf creepers. Betel leaf garland is considered auspicious for Sri Agora Veerabadhra Swamy here.

The age of this temple is not known to many, even to the temple priests. There are no archeological evidences or whatsoever to date this temple. But the priests say that they have been serving this temple for 12 generations and the legend of this place is passed on to them word of mouth ancestrally.

There is an old stone inscription in this temple, belonging to 1921 where one Chinnappa Nayakkar of Ayanpuram (Ayanavaram), Chennai has donated his shop sites to the temple to be used for performing atleast one time pooja everyday.

On Pournami days, Archanas are performed to Sri Veerabadhrar here throughout the night.

Beautiful temple with rich heritage.