A new shrine for the Lord

FROM JULY 9, the Velleeswarar Temple, on South Mada Street, Mylapore, Chennai, will have a separate sannadhi for Sarabeswarar.

Sarabeswarar is seen in the form of carvings on the granite pillars of several temples in and around Chennai and also elsewhere in the State. But, a separate shrine exists only in Kambakareswarar temple, Thirubhuvanam (near Kumbakonam), managed by the Sri Dharmapuram Adhinam, and in one or two other temples. The desire of local devotees to have a separate shrine for the deity has become a reality thanks to generous and liberal financial help from devotees.

The legend is that Vishnu in his incarnation as Narasimha destroyed the indestructible Hiranya Kasipu and established the credence of the child devotee Prahaladha.

But even after the event, He was so ferocious that nothing could pacify him - even the heart-warming prayers of Prahaladha and Lakshmi. So Shiva's help was sought.

Shiva, having failed through his intermediaries, had to assume the form of a Sarabam, characterised by both an animal and human form with four hands, eight legs, two wings, a beak of that of a falcon and fierce flaming eyes, to mollify the angry Narasimha.

The two wings were Kali and Durga. Shiva embraced Narasimha in a tight hold and cooled his temper by fanning his two wings till Narasimha gradually calmed down and assumed the Yoga posture. So Saraba is considered as Shiva. The Velleeswarar temple in Mylapore is next only to Kapaleeswarar temple in importance and is located closeby. The temple of Velleeswarar is itself according to legend, the place where Sukracharya regained his lost sight from Shiva. Sukracharya had lost his sight to Vishnu in the Vamana avatar.

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