Vengeeswarar Temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva located at Vadapalani in Chennai City in Tamilnadu. Though this sacred place dates to Vedic age, the temple structure is over 1000 years old and one of the oldest temples in Chennai. Presiding Deity is called as Vengeeswarar. The goddess is called as Shanthanayaki. The Temple is popularly known as Vadapalani Sivan Koil. This Temple is located just diagonally opposite to the street of Vadapalani Murugan temple. This temple is much older and bigger than Murugan temple.

Legend

Legend says that this temple was built by Sage Patanjali and sage Vyaghrapada (the sage with the tigers’ leg) for their daily worship. The deity is also named as Vengeeswarar after the name of the sage Vyaghrapada. (The Tamil word Vengai means brave, courageous as well as tiger whereas the Sanskrit word Vyaghra mean tiger).

According to one legend, Vyaghrapada used to pick up fresh flowers, untouched even by honeybees, for offering to Shiva in his avatar as Nataraja in the Chidambaram temple, located in Tamil Nadu. While plucking the flowers, Vyaghrapada was wounded on account of thorns and sharp stones. Shiva conferred on him feet of tigers to relieve him of his pain and enabling the sage to easily move from place to place, including climbing rough trees to pluck fresh flowers untouched even by the honeybees. Shiva also blessed him with eyes in his hands and feet so that the sage could see clearly and find his way in the dark.

Patanjali was the incarnation of Adi Shesha, Vishnu’s resting place. On Vishnu’s recounting of seeing and experiencing Shiva’s Ananda Tandava in the Daruvana forest Adi Shesha sought Vishnu’s permission to go and see the Cosmic dance of Shiva for himself. After performing strenuous tapas Shiva gave him the boon of being born a son to the sage Atri and his wife Anasuya . Anasuya dropped him from shock as he appeared in his half snake form in her hands. From there came his name Pata-anjali, Patanjali, Fallen from Folded Hands. Sage Patañjali (estimated to have lived in mid 2nd century BCE) stands as one of the most revered figures in the spiritual and intellectual traditions of ancient Bharat. Patañjali is celebrated for his profound contributions to three foundational disciplines: Yoga, Sanskrit grammar, and Āyurveda. Patanjali’s Yoga Sūtras, a concise and powerful manual on the philosophy and practice of yoga, offers a structured path to self-mastery and liberation.

Both the sages Patanjali and Vyaghrapada venerated Shiva, and in response, the deity performed the ananda tandava, his dance of bliss, at Chidambaram.

History and Temple Architecture

The origins of Vengeeswarar temple are generally traced back to the medieval Chola period (suggested by its age and architectural style). Though no precise recorded date or royal patronage is documented in mainstream historical sources, this temple is considered as one of the oldest Hindu temples in Chennai.

The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram adorned with several stucco images and small gopurams on all the other three sides. This old Chola temple is seen with the elephant back (Gajabrushta) type of vimana but the Gopurams are Chola type. A very tall flag staff, Bali Peetham and Nandi Mandapam are situated facing towards the main shrine of Vengeeswarar. The entrance leads to a large courtyard with the Siva Sannidhi in the back and Goddess Sannidhi in the fore ground on the right. The entrance of Ardha Mandapam has an vigraha of Ganesha and two mid-sized old Dwarapalakas vigrahas. In the Maha mandapam, there are vigrahas of two sages namely Vyaghrapada (the sage with the tigers’ leg) and Patanjali (the sage having the lower part as snake) facing towards Shiva.

The main Sannidhi is at least 3 feet deep compared to the general floor and houses a magnificent big Shiva Lingam. Presiding Deity is called as Vengeeswarar. Moolavirat is of Gajabrushta (resembling back of an elephant) type and a little big in size. The wall around the sanctum has the images of Ganesha, Dakshina Murti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga. Chandikeshwara is found in his usual location on the northern side. Chandikeshwara, is a significant figure in Hindu Itihasa particularly within the Shaiva tradition. He is one of the primary attendants or Ganas of Bhagwan Shiva, often depicted as a fierce guardian or protector of Shiva’s temples. Chandekeshwara is worshipped as a subsidiary deity in many Shiva temples, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In these temples, he is often enshrined near the main sanctum, usually on the northern side, symbolizing his role as the temple guardian.

Goddess in this temple is called as Shanthanayaki and she is in standing Posture. She is found in a separate south facing big shrine located near the flag staff. The vigraha of Bhuvaneshwar is also found in her shrine. The inner walls of the inner mandapam have the vigrahas of Appar, Sundarar, Manickavasagar the three foremost Nayanars and Tirugnanasambandar (The 9th-century poet whose works were part of the eighth volume of the Tirumurai). Nayanars were a group of 63 Tamil saints who lived during the 6th to 8th centuries CE. They were devoted to the Hindu god Shiva and composed hymns in praise of Shiva. Tirumurai is a twelve-volume compendium of songs or hymns in praise of Shiva in the Tamil language from the 6th to the 11th century CE by various poets in Tamil Nadu. Nambiyandar Nambi compiled the first seven volumes by Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar as Tevaram during the 12th century.

Behind the goddess Sannidhi is a separate Sannidhi for Bhairav. Next to it is the Naga Devatha under the Banyan tree. The Eastern side of the complex has separate Sannidhis for Saneeshwara (Standing position). To the left of Saneeshwara is Chandra and Muniswara Sannidhis. On the other side of the Gopuram Dwara are Sannidhis for Surya and another for Veerabhadra with a separate enclosure for Navagrahas. Till a few years ago there was a big temple pond on the south side outside the main temple complex but sadly this is no longer there. There is a separate Vinayaka Sannidhi with gopuram on the north side and Murugan on the South side. There are separate Sannidhis for Kasi Vishwanatha and Visalakshi and a Sannidhi for Gaja Lakshmi in the north-West corner. Temple kitchen, Kalyana Mandapam with utsava deities, utsava mandapam and Yagasala can be found in the outer prakaram.

Much of the temple’s space has been lost to road widening and metro rail over the decades.

Festivals

Pradosha pooja is one of the most important among the rituals performed to Bhagwan Shiva in this temple. Pradosham is observed in the evening of the trayodasi (thirteenth moon day) 1.5 hours before and after sunset, every fortnight. Pradosha time is said to be specially meant for praying Bhagwan Shiva. Praying during that time is believed to free the devotees from their sins and gives ‘moksha’ (heaven). According to legends The devas (celestial deities) approached Shiva in the most propitious moments of pradosha to get relief from the asuras – Danavas and Daityas. They ran around Kailasha, Shiva’s abode hitherto on a Thrayodashi evening and were aided by Nandi, Shiva’s sacred bull. Shiva rescued them in killing the asuras, and thereafter the practise of worshipping Shiva on Thrayodashi along with Nandi emerged and continues in Shiva temples in the South.

How to Reach Vengeeswarar Temple

• By Road:

Vadapalani is well-connected by road to major towns in Tamil Nadu. State Transport Buses and private taxis operate regularly within Chennai city, making it easy to reach the temple.

• By Train:

Nearest railway stations: Chennai Central and Egmore Railway Stations. From these stations, buses or taxis are available to Vadapalani.

• By Air:

Nearest airport: Chennai International Airport. From the airport, one can take a taxi or bus to Vadapalani, which is located within Chennai city.

Reference: 

• https://hrce.tn.gov.in/hrcehome/index_temple.php?tid=414.
• https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/12/vengeeswarar-temple-vadapalani-chennai.html.