Thursday, April 3, 2008

Kolappaakkam Sri Agatheeswarar

Kolappaakkam (கொளப்பாக்கம்) is located at about 18 kms from Chennai. One can take the road from diagonally opposite to MIOT Hospitals off. Mount Poonamallee Road, to reach Kolappaakkam. Alternatively, one can also go from Porur via Gerugambaakkam and reach Kolappaakkam.

Kolappaakkam has a beautiful Shiva temple where the main deity is Sri Agatheeswarar (also called Sri Vaakeesa Mahadhevar) and Goddess Sri Aanandhavalli.

This temple is said to be over 1300 years old. According to legend, Sri Surya Bhagavan had worshipped Lord Shiva at this temple. Sri Surya Bhagavan has a separate shrine inside this temple facing the Lord towards west. This temple is one of the Navagraha temples of Chennai devoted to Sri Surya Bhagavan. The Sun God is given prominence in this temple, where all important deities of the temples are facing Surya Bhagavan shrine.

The color of Vasthram (clothing) meant for Sri Surya Bhagavan is Red. The Dhaanyam (grain) dedicated to Him is Wheat and the auspicious day to worship Sri Surya Bhagavan is Sunday. Worshipping Sri Surya Bhagavan on Sunday, by offering red cloth, red flowers and wheat gives success to one in all his deeds. Also, it is said that worshipping Sun God makes one gain the Thejas.

It is said that, apart from Surya Bhagavan, Sage Agasthiyar too had worshipped Lord Shiva here and hence the name Sri Agatheeswarar. Another Rishi called Vaakeesa Muni also had worshipped Sri Agatheeswarar here.

The temple is built facing south on a vast land. Sri Agatheeswarar is seen facing east. Ambaal Sri Aanandhavalli is facing south and is in standing posture. Nandhi is seen facing the Lord towards east.

Other deities like Sri Ganesha, Sri Dhakshinamurthy, Sri Mahavishnu, Sri Durgai and Sri Sandigeswarar are seen around the sanctum.

There is a separate shrine for Lord Ganesha called Raja Ganapathy here. Also, Sri Kaasi Viswanathar and Sri Visaalakshi have separate shrines facing east at the south west portion of the temple. Lord Subramanyar also has a shrine in the temple in which a Maragatha Mayil (Peacock made of green granite) is found.

Sri Kaala Bhairavar is very popular in this temple and is said to be more powerful. Special Poojas and Abishegams are performed to Sri Kaala Bhairavar every Sunday during Raahu Kaalam (4.30 pm to 6 pm) timings. It is said that people worshipping Sri Bhairavar here for 6 consecutive Sundays, get their wishes fulfilled.

Many kings have patronized this temple during various periods. A king called Aadhithyan is said to have done renovations to the temple during 878 AD.

Also Raja Raja Chozha I, Raja Raja Chozha II (1152 AD), Kulothunga Chozha III (1188 AD), Sundara Pandiyan (1200 AD), Veera Rajendra Chozha, a Telugu Chozha king called Vijayakanda Gopala are said to have contributed much to the temple, according to the inscriptions found in the temple.

According to another inscription, a king by name Sri Vijaya Maharaja of Sumatra Island (Indonesia) is said to have gifted 250 Kuzhi (குழி - in Thamizh is an unit to measure lands) of lands to Sri Agatheeswarar at Kolappaakkam, during the 8th year of his reign. Inscriptions reveal that Sri Vijaya Maharaja was contemporary to Raja Raja Chozha and also had very cordial relationship with the then Chozha kingdom. The inscription also gives details about some Buddhist activities nearby this temple and Sri Vijaya Maharaja was a Buddhist.

In the recent past, the ASI have explored the area and found ruins of a Buddhist shrine near the temple. A couple of Buddha statues and pillars were discovered near this temple, which is kept in the street sides of the temple. A carving of Lord Ganesha is also found on one of these pillars. Archeologists predict that Sri Vijaya Maharaja, who visited the Buddhist temple at Kolappaakkam, could have also visited Agatheeswarar temple and made donations to the temple.

The Sthala Viruksham for this temple is ‘Arasa Maram’ (Peepul tree) and Theertham is called ‘Amirtha Pushkarani’ (pic above) which is found adjacent to the temple and is less maintained.

Special days like Pradhosham, Sivarathri etc., are celebrated well in this temple. Devotees throng from different parts of the city during such days.

This wonderful temple with great significance is now coming to light gradually.

36 comments:

  1. just now got kolapakam temple view. Vageesa Mahadevar koil. Sun God is spl in this temple.on the tower Sun God is sitting on His cort with horses looks very nice. Appar sonnadu pol un kadan kovil kovila poi information gather panni engaluku theriyapaduvadu. thodaratum.
    with love
    jaya vijayan

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  2. tamil

    i was seaching for this temple for a long time.happy to get details.If you give bus number , it will be useful for many.

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  3. Mikka Nandri Saravanan. Manapakkam Shivan Koil pattrium matrum Gerugambakkam Murugan Koil Patrium Ezhthumaru Ketu Kolghidren
    Nagarajan

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  4. Mikka nandri idhupondra deiveega dharisanam thodarattum

    vimalraj

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  5. Nice to hear that a separate shrine for Suryan is there in chennai.

    Earlier one has to travel to Redhills where u could find a separate shrine for surya Bhagavan.This would certainly help many people to visit this place.Suryan is said to be the known God for all Hindus and a pure Hindu would definitely like to visit this place atleast once.

    Great Information.

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  6. Your service is laudable.Whenever I visit your site, it makes a feel in me that I am physically moved over there. Kudos to you for the useful blog to continue.

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  7. Thanks Saravanan for your yeomen service at this young age. When I searched Google for Navagraha sthalams around Chennai, I instantly landed at your site & found all the info. Also your site is a treasure of info of many other temples. Kudos to you.

    N.SENTHIL

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  8. I was searching for information about Srivilliputhur and by chance able to see this site, which is very useful. For the first time, I came to know that Navagraha tamples are very near us but didnt know. Goodwork.
    M.R.Subramanian

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  9. Hello Tamil Selvi

    Its very powerful temple and I personally experienced lot.

    Please find the bus details as below

    Take a bus from Porur Rountaana which goes to Kunrathur and get down at Baai kadai bus stop.

    From there this temple is 1.5 kms distance. Auto waala may charge you Rs.20 to 25..

    Regards,
    Kannan R

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  10. Excellent writeup...! We are all lucky to have it in a platter...! May His Choicest Blessing be yours...!

    Cheers / Ram

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  11. thanks saravanan i am realy very happy plz continue your devotinol bakthi

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  12. Powerful temple, This temple to solve all problem, safe and peaceful life.

    V. CHANDRA MOHAN, NESAPAKKAM

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  13. Thanks for the Information about this wonderful Temple.. Great Job !!!!!!!!!

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  14. Good work. Visit http://rajamala.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/gnayiru-gramam-suryan-sthalam/ for details on Gnayiru Gramam.

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  15. Thanks for the information
    kindly visit Manappakkam Valleesvara sametha Thiripura sundari temple.[sivan temple]just one km from kolappakkam.this temple ancient one. but we dontknow who built it.sukracharyar worhip mylapore valleesvarar temple.we think same type of the valleesvarar in manappakkam

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  16. We people travel to ancient temples outside Chennai but we never visited Chennai ancient temples.There should be some promotion activities done for these temples
    Great Work done

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  17. IT IS VERY USE FULL & GREAT WORK! KEEP IT UP!!

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  18. I was googling for Suriya Narayanan Temples is Tamil Nadu and got directed here. I hope to visit this temple in my next visit.
    Great blog by the way.

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    Replies
    1. Good Work Mr.Saravanan, if u can give us the bus no.s and bus routes how to go there it will be very useful for us to guide our friends also. And I also heard dat Guru sthalam is Thiruvalidayam - Padi, and Suryan sthalam is Gnayiru near Red Hills. Which one is correct.- Thank u .

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    2. Some of the Navagrahas have more than one temple dedicated to them. Yes, Padi is a Guru Sthalam and Gnayiru is Suryan Sthalam. Porur Ramanathaswamy temple is Guru Sthalam and Kolapakkam is Suryan Sthalam.

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  19. you are doing a great.

    many information i got from this site.

    Thanks saravanan

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  20. Hi All,
    Very nice to see these type of silent services rendered to the Internet community. From Guindy you have got lot of share auto's, Tata Cab's to porur, just get down at Ramapuram signal or manappakkam rd, from their you will get share auto or auto. Iam not sure about the bus no's Sorry. morning Abisekam 7 - 7.30am.Temple closes by 8'0clock

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  21. Saravana, I am very much impressed with this site.. Happy to hear that we have navagraaha Kovil around chennai, which is very informative..Keep up your good work.. Continue to update the site.. all the best!!!

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  22. Dear Saravanan,

    This site is a treasure trove and speaks much of your commitment in sharing such valuable information.
    As a suggestion, if you can point all the places in Map, it will help people in identifying important temples nearby their homes and also to plan pilgrimage trips more efficiently.Thanks a lot.

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  23. Hi All,

    I visited sri agatheeswarar temple today. This Temple is very Powerful temple, Today is god sun birthday. Temple vastu is excellent.

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  24. The temple is built facing south on a vast land. Sri Agatheeswarar is seen facing east. Ambaal Sri Aanandhavalli is facing south and is in standing posture. Nandhi is seen facing the Lord towards east.You can visit there through bus and you can book Online Bus Ticket also.

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  25. Pray god for me to visit the place very soon
    baskar

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  26. Excellent contributions....Happy to see your site with so much useful and makes one feel to visit these...Please continue to inspire for everyone...to know the past and live in present and contribute for future...

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