VYASARPADI SHIVA TEMPLES

1. RAVEESWARAR TEMPLE

Vyaasarpaadi is a place in North Chennai. This place was known by different names such as Ravipuram, Bhaanupuram, Kadhirpuram and Thirumaalpuram also in ancient days. Let us look into the stories from the Puranas about the temple.

Lord Surya’s wife Usha could not bear the immense heat of the sun God. So she created a woman from her shadow and named her as Chaya (Prathyusha) and left her in her place and left to another world. When Chaya Devi went near Lord Surya he realised that she was not his wife. Lord Surya went in search of his wife. On the way, Brahma was performing a large yaaga. Surya passed that way without noticing Brahma and the Yaaga. Brahma was angry for the disrespect by Surya. He cursed Surya to be born on Earth. As cursed by Brahma Surya was born on Earth and he grew into a man. One day, he met Naradha and asked him what should he do to get relieved from the curse. Naradha said that the time has come for Surya to go back to his world and live with his wife Usha. He told Surya to form a Shiva linga and place it under a Vanni tree and worship Shiva. As told by Naradha Surya formed a linga under a Vanni tree and also created a pond opposite to the tree. In an auspicious day Lord Shiva appeared before him with goddess Parvathi and blessed him with all his powers and his wife Usha Devi came back and joined him. Therefore, as wished by Surya (Ravi) this place was called Ravipuram, Bhaanupuram or Kadhirpuram and the Shiva was named Raveeswarar. The pond has at least some water and the water does not evaporate fully even in the hottest summer. 

Once Parvathi wanted to marry Shiva in this place so Shiva blessed her to live on Earth. A Vijayanagara King named Vichavaran did not have a child. He visited many temples and prayed for a Child. Once when he went for a hunt he saw a green coloured Child under a tree. He brought the Child home and named her Maragadhavalli (maragadham means green). As years went by She grew older and attained the age of marriage. She gained many states for her father by conquering many Kingdoms. She finally conquered Bhaanupuram and visited the temple. She fell in love with Lord Raveeswarar and wanted to marry him. The temple was small. She renovated and built a big temple for the Lord. She gave her wealth for the betterment and development of the temple. She performed yaaga and as a result Lord Shiva appeared before her and married her. Still people believe that everyday Ambaal Maragadhavalli performs Pooja to Lord Raveeswarar. The temple Purana says that Mahavishnu married Shridevi and Bhoodhevi in this temple and thereby this place was called Thirumaalpuram.

A Maharishi called Pulagar attained old age that he was so old that he could not even walk. He came to Bhaanupuram in a stage in which he could even stand to perform Pooja. So every day he performed Pooja to Shiva and Ambaal in a sitting posture and performed Dhyana without fail. Ambaal Maragadhavalli was fascinated by his devotion (bakthi) and so one day when he was in his dyanam Ambaal Maragadhavalli placed the vibhuthi on his forehead. Pulagar suddenly became young and got transformed into a 24yr old youth. This is another amazing incident about this temple.

The name of Mahavishnu hear is ‘Munaikaatha Perumal’. This place Vyasarpaadi was the place where Ganapathy wrote the Mahabaratha with his Dhandham (Ivory) as Vedha Vyasa recited it. Mahabarath is a very big epic. Since the Dhandham used by Vinayaka to write the Mahabaratha may reduce in size as the script progresses, Mahavishnu stood here as Munaikaatha perumal and took care of the tip such that it does not break or grow thinner. 

The name of the Moolavar is Raveeswarar and that of Ambaal is Maragadhaambaal. In the prahara we find Hanuman, Vinayak, 63 Nayanmars, Vallalar, Vedha Vyasa, Munai Kaatha Perumal, Naagar Valli Dheivanai Muruga, Ayyappan, Bhairavar and Navagrahas. The Koshta deities are similar to those in other temples. The Saptha Maadhas, Nataraja, Soorya, Chandra and Naalvar are the other Sannidhis found in this temple. Though the temple is not big it is very pleasant to worship here. 

Vedha Vyasa visited this place in the early morning. He bathed in the pond and he was not aware of the temple. So he took out his Rudhraksha Maala for worship after his bath. Suddenly the maala disappeared. The annoyed Vyasa went in search of the Maala and found the Shiva temple there. The astonished Vyasa went inside the temple and found his Maala on Raveeswarar head. He regretted for his mistake of thinking that there was no Shiva temple nearby. He pleaded to God to pardon him and he wished to stay here and worship the Lord. When the people in the place was in need of money he prayed to Parvathi Devi and she bestowed them with wealth. One day when Vyasa’s disciples planned to go decided to go to Thiruvotriyur Thyagaraja temple sage Vyasa also prepared to leave the place. Lord Raveeswarar did not want Vyasa to leave him. So when Vyasar came out of this temple he could see only Shiva lingas and no path. If he had to leave the place he had to walk on the Shiva lingas to get away from here. Realising that this was a miracle of Lord Shiva he stayed inside the temple itself. Since he stayed in the temple for many years this place was called Vyaasarpaadi.


2. PARAMESWARAR TEMPLE

This temple is situated opposite to Dr. Ambedkar College in Vyaasarpadi. This temple was called as Karapureeswarar as this temple was worshipped by Karan, the Brother of Ravana. A Shiva Devotee learnt that the name of this temple was Karapureeswarar. He also came to know that there is a Karapuranadhar temple near Thiruvarur. He visited the temple and he wanted to build a temple for Karapureeswarar here. He earned some money and built a small temple for the Shiva here beside the Palathamman temple who was the Grama Devathai. Later the temple got destroyed and the Linga was submerged in the ground with the only the Baana Popping out. A few years back the Linga was taken out and installed in the Palathamman temple itself and named as Parameswarar.