Dhandeeswaram Temple

Overview

Dhandeeswaram Temple (Shri Dandeeswarar Temple) is a Shiva temple situated in Velachery, a suburb of Chennai. The temple was built during the Pallava reign and was repaired and rebuilt during the Chola reign. The temple complex consists of a main temple complex and a tank.

About the temple

Generally Lord Veerabadra appears in temples in a standing posture with a Danda. With all Lord Shiva attributes, Lord Veerabadra in this temple graces the devotees in a sitting form holding the traditional deer, Mazhu. He is praised as protector of women.

Saptha Kannikas the seven virgins set out to destroy a demon killed a sage by mistake. The demon also came to know that the Kannikas would be coming to kill him. While being afflicted with the dosha of killing the sage by mistake, the Kannikas were also afraid of the demon. To protect the Kannikas, Lord Shiva deputed Veerabadra. He killed the demon and also protected the virgins. Based on this event, Lord Veerabadra is along with the Kannikas as their guardian deity.

Lord Veerabadra is in a sitting posture with His right leg folded and holding Rudraksha mala instead of a Danda and a Mazhu, something like an axe. Nandhi is on a peeta. Special abishek and aaradhanas are performed on Purnima (full moon day). As He is Guardian Deity of women, they pray to him for relief from the atrocities faced by them in society from various quarters. They offer milk abishek with betel leaves garlands. They worship Chamundi as Chelliamman. Saptha Kannika shrine is called Chelliamman Sannidhi.

Sri Nandhi appears in a polite form with His head bowing. It is also noteworthy that the Sri Chakra installed by eminent Vedic Scholar Sri Appiah Dikshithar is in the Shrine of Mother Karunambika. The rays of Sun fall on the Shivalinga on the first day of Thai month, almost on the 14th January or a day before or after in some years rarely. As Lord Shiva removed the Doshas that fell on Vedas, Lord Dakshinamurthy in the temple is revered as Yoga Dakshinamurthy. There is Nandhi on His peeta. Lord Shiva hit Yama the Lord of Death when he tried to take off the life of His devotee Markandeya. He also dismissed him from the job. To regain the position, Yama created a spring here and worshipped Lord Shiva and at various places. Lord Shiva pardoned Yama, gave him back his danda and reinstated him in the job. Hence, Lord is praised as Dandeeswarar. People who lost their jobs pray to Lord Dandeeswarar to regain the job.

Legend and stories

Demon Somasura snatched the Vedas from Lord Brahmma. Lord Vishnu recovered them from the demon. As the Vedas stayed with the demon for some time, their sanctity was lost. They performed penance on Lord Shiva to become as pure and holy as they were earlier. Lord Shiva purified the Vedas with their original glory. As Vedas worshipped here, the place was called Vedacherry, which in the days that followed changed as Velachery. The scriptural name is Vedasreni.

Festivals

Chitra Purnima in April-May; Aadi month Sundays in July-August; Shivrathri in February-March and Aipasi Annabishekam in October-November are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

How To Reach Dhandeeswaram Temple

Road

The Nearest Bus stop is Dhandeeswaram bus stop or Velachery bus stop.

Railways

The nearest Railway Station is Velachery or Guindy.

Airport

The Nearest Airport is Chennai airport.

Temple Address

Dhandeeswaram Temple,
Karunabigai Colony,
Velachery, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu - 600042.