SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

  Ashthadikapala Temples 2 AGATHEESHWARAR & ANANDAVALLI TEMPLE NOOMBAL CHENNAI Ashthadikapala Temple around Lord Vedapureeshwarar Temple in Tiruverkadu, Chennai, Tamilnadu. AGNI LINGAM Sri Agatheeshwarar & Anandavalli Tayar temple inside Noombal in a very peaceful location. The moolavar is also known as Agnaya Linga. The temple was built by Kulothunga Cholan 2 , also known as Anabhaya Chola. The temple would be around 1000 years old. However the existence of the lingam could be more than 2000 years. The temple is one of the Ashthadikapala temples surrounding the Vedapureeshwarar temple in Tiruverkadu Chennai Tamilnadu. The temple has a Agneya Lingam, signifying Agni as the lord of South - East direction. In the precinct in the open with a square avudayar or pindika. Kalavar Siddharth installed a lingam. The temple is in a big compound. With seperate Garbhagriha for the lord facing east and to his left is the sanctum of goddess Parvathi in the form of Anandavalli facing south.

  Ashthadikapala Temples 1 VEDAPUREESHWARAR & BALAMBIGAI TEMPLE - TIRUVERKADU - CHENNAI. During the night of Brahma,when he was sleeping, the Vedas flowed out of his mouth and were grasped by Hiranyakashipu the Asura. Mahavishnu in the form of Varaha retrieved them by killing the Asura. Since the Vedas had been with the Asura, inorder to attain for the sin they prayed to Lord Shiva here as the Vela trees( Acacia Nilotica),and hence the lord is known as Vedapureeshwarar.The Sthala Vriksham is Velavela after which the place is named as Vel Kadu.( Thiru = Shri, Vel = Vel tree, Kadu = forest) or Thiruverkadu. Kailasha was getting ready for the grand celebration of the Divine wedding of Bhagavan SHIVA with his consort Devi PARVATHI. The whole world including Devas, Asuras, Rishis, Ganas,Nagas, and all creation were invited. There was one problem, the earth would shake with the imbalance created by the presence of all living beings present in the northern hemisphere. Mahadev called Sag

Indra Lingam   Ashthadikapala Temples - 3 INDRASENAPATEESHWAR & GNYANAMBIKA TEMPLE - VALLIKOLLIMALAIMEDU - CHENNAI. On the outskirts of Chennai in the town of Vallikollimalaimedu -Tiruverkadu, is a small but beautiful temple of Mahadev as a Lingam. Lord Shiva as the Lingam represents here Indra, the king of the Devas and the guardian of the East direction, being one of the 8 temples surrounding Vedapureeshwarar Temple in Tiruverkadu signifying the Ashthadikapala. Lord Shiva gave Sage Agastya, darshan in the marriage attire at Vedapureeshwarar Temple Tiruverkadu. Seeing this Parvathi teased the lord saying " you have given darshan to the great Rishi Agastya, but how are you going to grant the same boon to all your other devotees". Bhagavan Shiva, taking note of Parvathi's words, manifested himself as Ashthalingam in eight Temples, in the eight cardinal direction surrounding the Vedapureeshwarar Temple in Tiruverkadu to shower his grace on all bhaktas. This Temple re

  Ashthadikapala Temples - 4 VAAYU LINGAM VAZHAVANDA VAYULINGESHWARAR & VIRUTHAMBIGAI TEMPLE - PARUTHIPATTU, AVADI, CHENNAI. Vaayulingeshwar In the town of Avadi near Chennai is the temple of Mahadev as Vazhavanda VAYULINGESHWARAR ( Vazhavanda = to live) & Devi Parvathi as VIRUTHAMBIGAI. Varathambika The Temple has a large compound , without a Rajagopuram. At the southern end of this compound is a raised Garbhagriha in which resides Bhagavan Vayulingeshwarar in a Chaturanga Sannidhi with a Chaturanga Vimana facing East. Bhagavan Shiva acts here as VAYU LINGAM By yrthe guardian of the North -West. The temple has been remodeled during the current period. The Devi Parvathi (Viruthambigai) Sannidhi which was facing south was relocated facing east on the northern side of the compound. The precinct also has the Sannidhi of Vinayaka, Murugan, Chandikeshwarar & Mahavishnu in the form of Satyanarayana. Both the sanctum of Shiva & Parvathi are two celled complex including the

  Ashthadikapala Temples - 5 KUBERA LINGAM KUBERAPUREESHWARAR & VEMBUNAYAKI TEMPLE - SUNDARACHOLAPURAM - CHENNAI. KUBERA is the lord of wealth. Kubera was the lord of Lanka & Lanka was the richest of nations. Kubera was born to Rishi Vishrava and his 1st wife Ilavida daughter of Bharadwaja rishi.His younger half brother Ravana ( Born to Rishi Vishrava and the Rakshasha Princess Kaikesi), because of the boon from lord Shiva became much powerful and dethroned Kubera and usurped the throne. KUBERA being the lord of Yakshas and Gandharvas ( semi-divine) was protected by lord Shiva and gave him a place in the Himalayas known as ALAKA. He is regarded as the regent of the North as a dikapala, and a protector of the world as a Lokapala. The Vedic scriptures call him the chief of the evil spirits and became a Deva only in the period of the Puranas and the Hindu Epics. In the town named after the father of the great King Raja Raja Chola I SUNDARACHOLAPURAM, near Chennai is the temple o

  Ashthadikapala Temples - 6 YAMA LINGAM KAILASANATHAR MARAGATHAMBIGAI TEMPLE - SENEERKUPPAM - TIRUVERKADU. The Bhagavata Purana and the epic Mahabharata talks of Rishi Markandeya (from the clan of Rishi Bhrigu) who with the mercy of lord Shiva conquered death itself. Mrikandu Rishi and his wife Marudmati prayed to Shiva for a child. Please with them Mahadev gave the choice of one virtuous son with a short span of life of 16 years or 100 arrogant fools with 100 years life each. They chose a virtuous son. A day before the 16th birthday of Markandeya, the Rishi & Rishipatni out of their anguish told Markandeya about his fate. Lord Brahma taught the Mahamrityunjay japam to Markandeya and asked him to propitiate on lord Shiva. Markandeya went to a Shiva temple and was absorbed in the Japam. Lord Yama himself came and told Markandeya to come out of the temple. Markandeya requested him to wait for the Japa to be over. Yama told him that he could not wait for any one and threw his rope -

  Ashthadikapala Temples - 7 ESANYA LINGAM PASHUPATEESHWARAR & GNYANESHWARI TEMPLE - SENEERKUPPAM - KOLADI- TIRUVERKADU-CHENNAI Pashupatheeshwarar Esanya or Esania is the God and regent of the cardinal direction of the North-East.He is also one of the seven Rudras of Shiva. He is covered with ashes and surrounded by ghosts or bhootas. Matted locks,fiery eyes seated on a tiger skin, crescent moon on his forehead,Ganga flowing out of his locks, adorned with coiled Naga, Damru & Trishul in his hands describes Shiva as the Esania This temple is dedicated to lord Shiva as PASHUPATEESHWARAR in the form of a Lingam and represents ISANA as the regent of the NORTH - EAST cardinal direction, in the list of Ashthadikapala temples surrounding the Vedapureeshwarar temple in Tiruverkadu near Chennai. This is a small but beautiful temple with a very new construction not more than 10 years. Before this in an open ground on a raised pedal was placed this Lingam, for which timelines cannot be

  Ashthadikapala Temples - 8 VARUNA LINGAM JALAGANDESHWARAR & JALAGANDESHWARI TEMPLE - VEERARAGHAVAPURAM - AVADI - CHENNAI Jalagandeshwarar 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 th

  Ashthadikapala Temples - 9 NIRUTTI LINGAM BALEESHWARAR & BALAMBIGAI TEMPLE - PARIVAKKAM - AVADI - CHENNAI NIRUTTI, Nirrti,Nirhti is an auspicious goddess linked with deathly realms and sorrow and is often linked with KALI in the form of Dhumavati a tantric goddess. She is potrayed as ugly & Old and is associated with inauspicious things. The word Nirhti means devoid of "Rta". ( In the Vedic scriptures "Rta" is the natural order of functioning of the Universe and everything that is contained in it.The guardian of absence of Cosmic disorder. Nirhti is mentioned in the Rigveda, for seeking protection from herself. As per the Shatapatha Brahmana she is the regent of the SOUTH - WEST quarter of the cardinal directions and is one of the Eight and only goddess Dikapala. In Puranic stories she is known as ALAKSHMI the opposite of LAKSHMI. Lakshmi married Mahavishnu & Alakshmi married Shiva. During the churning of the Ocean, Alakshmi came first and then came