Description
The Velleeswarar Temple is located in Mangadu, in Chennai city. The temple is around one and a half km from the Manghadu bus stop, and is situated in Velleeshwarar Kovil Street (behind the Kamachi Amman temple). While going to Punamallee from Poruur, Manghadu can be reached by taking a left turn from Kumananchawadi (before Poonamalli) and further around 3-4 km towards Kundhrathur. The Velleehswarar Temple is devoted to Sri Shiva as Velleswarar. As a thumb rule, the people coming to pray to Lord Mangadu Kamakshi should avoid to skip to pray to Lord Velleeshwarar in the temple & God Vishnu in the nearby temple.
History
The story of Velleeshwarar is a part of history of Mangadu Kamaksi temple. Lord Parvati landed on earth cause of the curse given by God Shiva, as she covers her eyes in playful mood resulting in a standstill of the activities of the world. She came to this place, stood on one leg amidst five types of fire, seeking the grace of Lord to take accept her back. Planet Venus-Shukra, at the same time also performed penance on Lord Shiva in this place intending to have his eye back which he had lost for blocking the charity offered by Mahabali to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu then covered all the worlds in 2 feet and for the third, Mahabali offered his own head to honor his promise to Lord. When Lord Shiva came to grace Lord Parvathi, he granted his first blessing to Shukra the devotee, establishing the rule that priority goes for devotees than its own consort. As Sukra was performing Shiva Pooja, Lord could not leave this place to bless Mother Kamakshi and so he recommended her to go to Kanchipuram to do the penance. Ambika followed the Lord's suggestion, continued penance in Kanchi and joined her almighty. Lord granting dharshan and eye to Sukra-Velli, stayed in this place as Velleeshwarar.
Facts/Mythology
Mother Durga in the temple graces with a discus in her hand. This is a rare form of Mother Durga. There is a square shaped stage peeta on which Lord Shiva stands gracing the devotees. Velli is yet another name for planet Venus-Shukra. Lord granted darshan to Velli the Shukra, and hence is praised as Velleeswara. Bhargava is also named as Shukra, Lord is also known as Bhargaveswarar. Since Ambika is in the Mangadhu temple, there is no Ambika shrine here as in Kanchipuram temple. Only the foot of Ambika are in front of the Lord's shrine. People used to light little lamps in Lord's shrine in the coconut shells. Lord Vinayaga is in the front mandapam enjoy individual attention. The deity is holding a mango in the lower hand and paddy stalks in his left upper hand. Farmers offer paddy and mango as nivedhana to him praying for good crops. Vinayaka in the goshta has an umbrella and fan-Shamara in hand.
Festivals/Events/Gatherings
Devotees carry out a special abishekam to Lord and Mother, and offer nivedhan prepared with a pulse called Mochai Payaaru in Tamil. Those with impaired eye sight pray to Lord and Mother for respite.
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