Lord Shiva graces the devotees from a square shaped stage peeta. Velli is another name of planet Venus Shukra. As Lord granted darshan to Velli the Shukra, He is praised as Velleeswara. As the name Bhargava also is for Shukra, Lord is also known as Bhargaveswarar. As Ambica is in the Mangadu temple, there is no Ambica shrine here too as in Kancheepuram temple. Only the feet of Ambica are before the Lords shrine. People use to light lamps in Lords shrine in coconut shells.
Lord Vinayaka in the front mandap enjoys special attention. He is holding paddy stalks in His left upper hand and a mango in the lower hand. Farmers offer paddy and mango as nivedhana to Him praying for good farm yields. Another Vinayaka in the goshta has an umbrella and fan Shamara in hand. There are two Vinayakas in the temple in different forms.
According to
the legend, when Goddess Sri Kamakshi performed Thapas here in Mangadu, Lord
Shiva came down to earth to give dharshan to Her and marry Her. It is said
that, Sri Sukran (Venus) worshipped Lord Shiva here. When Sri Kamakshi came
here to have dharshan of Lord Shiva, she saw Sri Sukran worshipping the Lord.
The Goddess went back as She did not want to disturb the prayers of Sukran.
Later Lord
Shiva directed the Goddess to come to Kanchipuram and married Her there. As Sri
Sukran (Velli in Thamizh) worshipped Lord Shiva here, the Lord came to be known
as Sri Velleeswarar and also called as Sri Bhaargaveswarar.
This temple
is Sukran Sthalam among the Navagraha Temples of Chennai (or Thondai Mandalam).
Sri Sukran blesses people with wealth, prosperity, good family, vehicles, fame
and social status.
The main
deity Sri Velleeswarar is huge and looks very grand, facing east. Lord Ganesha
and Lord Muruga are seen at either side of the entrance of the sanctum. Lord
Ganesha here is holding a Mango fruit in His hand and is called Maangani
Vinayagar. The place Mangadu itself had got its name as it was once a vast
Mango forest.
Lingothbavar
is seen on the outer wall behind the sanctum. Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu are
present on either side of Lingothbavar worshipping Him.
There is a
separate shrine for Sri Veerabadhrar behind the sanctum. Sri Veerabadhrar is
said to have got created from the sweat of Lord Shiva to defeat Dhakshan.
Sri
Subramanyar shrine is present at the North West side of the outer praakaaram.
Sri Subramanyar is so beautiful and seen with His consorts Sri Valli and Sri
Dhevasena. All the 3 deities are made of a single stone. Lord Murugas Vaahanam
(carrier) peacock is present outside the shrine facing the shrine. A beautiful
Nandhi is present outside the sanctum, facing towards west. It is said that
people visiting Sri Kamakshi Amman temple should also have dharshan at Sri
Velleeswarar temple and Sri Vaikunda Perumaal temple in Mangadu, as all these
three temples are interconnected with the history of Sri Kamakshi Amman.
Mother Durga
in the temple graces with a discus in Her hand. This is a rare form of Mother
Durga.
Tirukarthikai
in (November-December), Arudra Darshan in (December-January) and Shivrathri in
(February-March) are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Those with
impaired vision pray to Lord and Mother for relief.
Devotees perform
special abishek to Lord and Mother and offer nivedhana prepared with a pulse
called Mochai Payaru in Tamil.
The temple
is open from 6.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Sri Mangadu
Kamakshi (Velleeswarar) Temple, Mangadu - 602 101, Kanchipuram district. Contact Number +91 44
2627 2053, 2649 5883, 94444 61383.
Do:
- Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
- Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
- Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
- Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
- Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
- Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
- Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
- Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
- Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.
Dont's:
- Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
- Do not smoke at Temple.
- Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
- Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
- Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
- Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
- Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
- Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
- Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
- Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
- Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.