Ashthadikapala Temples - 8
VARUNA LINGAM
Varuna is the God and regent of the cardinal direction of the WEST as a Lokapala and Dikapala.He is also one of the most prominent god revered and a powerful deity from the Vedic times. Lord of cosmic justice and the Sky. He is also known as Mitra and is prayed to, for water and rains.
In a very deserted location near Chennai is a rectangular shed containing the sanctum of Mahadev as Varuna Lingam known as JALAGANDESHWARAR alongwith his consort JALAGANDESHWARI . The Lingam is placed I side a square pit facing east. Just to the left of the Lingam is the idol of Goddess Parvati in a raised pedestal facing south.
Jalagandeshwari |
It is not known whether, there ever was a temple here. The shed is the only temple here now thanks to the locals. The one celled room contains the beautiful Shiva ( As a Lingam) and his consort Parvati.
Being part of the Ashthadikapala temples surrounding the Vedapureeshwarar Temple, this Lingam could be presumed to be from the time of the reign of the great CHOLA King KULOTHUNGA CHOLA II, (1133 - 1150 CE) about 800 years ago or more and must have passed through many dynasties. Did the great King build a temple here? Atleast there is no proof of the same.
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