Aavundeeswarar Temple

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Overview

The Aavundeeswarar Temple, a 1200 year old Chola temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located at a distance of 2km from Vellavedu, a village on the outskirts of Chennai between Thirumazhisai and Tiruvallur. It is a very old temple which is renovated recently and well maintained. It was built by Jayamkonda Chola (Rajadhiraja Chola I) in the 11th Century. Over the years this temple lost its glory, and has been only recently reconstructed again at the turn of the 21st Century. (1999 - 2010).

Nemam Aavundeeswarar, Amirthambigai temple is between Thirumazhisai and Tiruvallur route. (In Chennai - Bangalore highway, after Poonamallee, highway turning right towards Tirupathi). Sivan here saved cows and hence this name. Cow leg mark can be seen over sivalingam. Ambal in head slanting posture and her one leg towards front away from other leg. Solving problems related to wedding, child birth, family troubles. This temple is also supposed to be a Parihara Sthalam for the people born under Makam and Pooram Stars.

About The Temple

This temple is south facing, with the Lord facing the East at the Eesanya Corner of Nemam. Eesanya Lingam is said to be one that gives mukthi and hence this temple is also known as Pitru Mukthi Kshetram, and performing rites to ancestors here, is said to be even more beneficial than Kasi.

The Oushadha Theertham behind the temple is said to contain medicinal properties. The once huge tank has now been reduced, to gain more land for the temple and also for effective maintenance. It is believed that the Ashtadhikpalakas bathe in this tank to rid themselves of their fatigue. This is a pitru moksha (ancestor salvation) sacred space, worshipped by illustrious pitru ancestral beings during the 96 shannavadhi special tharpanam days of each year.

The temple is built in such a way that one enters from the South, goes around the temple, worship the Nandi, then enter the main temple, after worshipping Goddess Amirthambigai, and then turn left to face the Lord, who is being worshipped by Nandi through a stone lattice.

About the deity

Lord Shiva, as Aavudndeswarar along with the Goddess Amirthambigai grace the devotees. Mother Amrithambigai is seen with her head tilted to the right and left knee bent as if to place a foot forward, waits to listen to the Abhilashas of each one of her devotees, and grant them instantly.

The temple also includes shrines of deities that include Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga, Lord Veerabadra, Lord Bhairava, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Mother Vishnu Durga and Sri Chandikeshwara. New shrines for the Navagrahas and a separate shrine for Lord Shani Bhagavan and as well as Saptha Matrikas has been constructed. A remarkable feature of this temple is the existence of Jyeshta Devi.

Legend and Stories

After the Pralaya ended, creation of new life was supposed to happen. Lord Brahma, the creator, started his taks of creation of life again. While in the process of creation it is believed that it is at Nemam that he first sprinkled the holy nectar (amirtham). The Devas had also offered the Amirtham first to Goddess of this place, Amirthambigai. Henceforth this Kshetram had been known as the Amirtha Janma Bhoomi. Being a Janma Bhoomi from where creation started, the Goddess grants prayers of childbirth with kindness and compassion.

Over time, the temple had been covered by sand and Lord Shiva waited patiently for the time to come to show himself to the world again. During this time, the cows that were being grazed through this area, used to shower their milk over the hidden lingam. The cowherd did not understand why the cows were showering their milk on a sandhill and in a fit of anger, raised his whip and started beating the cows. It is believed that Lord Shiva rose from the sandhill and hugged the cows close whereby the whiplashes fell on him. Till today, the marks of a whip striking against him can be seen on the Murthi. As he protected the cows, he came to be known as Aavundeeswara. This temple is a preferred place of worship for those people whose name starts with the sylabble "Go" like Gopalakrishnan, Gomathy, Govindarajan, Govardhan etc.

Festivals

Monthly Pradoshams, Maha shivratri, Navaratri are the main festivals celebrated in this temple in a grand manner.

Rare Facts

The Amrita Shakti is of 3 types: The amrita of the Ksheerabdhi ocean of milk (Thirupaarkadal), Mother's milk which is the amrita for infants and Cows milk. These are the 3 kinds of jeeva amrita shakti that is said to protect everyone. Goddess Amirthambigai at Nemam blesses us with the amrita shakti needed for surviving in this world and leading a good life. In order to get us the above 3 types of amrita shakti, Mother Amirthambigai did severe tapas in this sacred spot and requested the grace of Lord Sri Avundeeswara Shiva. The Lord not only blessed Her with this shakti, He also married Her here. It is desirable for every woman born in this world to worship Goddess Amirthambigai at least once in their life time. Those girls seeking suitable marriage alliances, offer garlands of glass bangles to the Goddess Amirthambigai on fridays and during Navarathri. Childless couples seeking childboon perform Go Puja, circumambulate them 12 times, and offer Abhishekam to the Lord and Goddess with the fresh milk and take the milk as prasadam. After childbirth, they perform the abhishekam again as a gesture of gratitude. This temple is also believed to be a Parihara Sthalam for those born under Makam and Pooram Stars.

Accessibility

Airport

Chennai has both domestic and international airports. The airports are well connected to the rest of the city by road.

Railways

Chennai Central station and Chennai Egmore station.

Road

Nemam is reach by bus from Chennai, Poonamallee and Sriperumbudur.You can also reach Nemam from Vellavedu which is on the Poonamallee - Tiruvallur road. It is 4 km from Vellavedu.

Temple Address