Kolappaakkam has a beautiful Shiva temple where the main deity is Sri Agatheeswarar (also called Sri Vaakeesa Mahadhevar) and Goddess Sri Aanandhavalli.This temple is said to be over 1300 years old. According to legend, Sri Surya Bhagavan had worshipped Lord Shiva at this temple. Sri Surya Bhagavan has a separate shrine inside this temple facing the Lord towards west. This temple is one of the Navagraha temples of Chennai devoted to Sri Surya Bhagavan.
The Sun God is given prominence in this temple, where all important deities of the temples are facing Surya Bhagavan shrine.A temple as old as 1300 years exists in a place called Kolapakkam in Chennai, dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of a lingam named Sri Agatheeswarar or Sri Vaageeswarar & along with his consort Sri Anandavalli Ambal.
The temple has been patronized by two sages namely Sage Agasthya & Sage Vageesha and hence the name of the Lord is Sri Agatheeswarar or Sri Vaageeshwarar.The temple has had many a kings as patron. The earliest inscriptions record the renovations done to the temple by Aditya Chola in 878 AD. Subsequently many a kings including Raja Raja Chola I,Raja Raja Chola II,(1152 AD) Kulaothunga Chola III ( 1188 AD),Sundara Pandian(1200 AD),Veera Rajendra Chola,Vijayakanda Gopala a telugu Chola King and Vijaya Maharaja of Sumatra( Indonesia).The temple has a south facing entrance without a Rajagopuram. As you enter, you come into a square compound.
The entrance to the shrine is on climbing a few steps and you enter into the Mukha Mandapam with the sanctum of the Goddess straight in front of you facing south. The goddess is standing and is about 3 feet in height. To the left of the goddess is the Ardha mandapam which leads to the Sanctum sanctorum of Lord Vaageeshwarar in the form of a lingam with a Square Avudayar or Chathuranga Pindika. The Garbhagriha is also Chaturangam with a Vimana. The gurukal Shri Shankar ( 9444321725)was saying that a Chathuranga lingam with a Chathuranga Vimana is very Auspicious.
In the Prahara, on the south western side of the temple is the shrines for Raja Ganapathy,Kasi vishwanathar & his consort Visalakshi, Subramaniar with Valli and Devasenai. The vahana of Subramaniar Mayil(Peacock) is made out of green granite and is called Maragada Mayil. In between is the shrine of “Rhunahareswarar” or the lord of removing obligations. On the North east corner is the sanctum of Bhairavar. All the deities are facing Surya Bhagavan. The sanctum wall on the Prahara has the images of Ganesha, Dakshinamoorthy,Mahavishnu,Durga and Shandikeshwarar.The temple is a place for worship of the Sun. Surya himself paid his reverence to the Lord. There is a separate shrine for Surya facing the Lord.
The color of Vasthram (clothing) meant for Sri Surya Bhagavan is Red. The Dhaanyam (grain) dedicated to Him is Wheat and the auspicious day to worship Sri Surya Bhagavan is Sunday. Worshipping Sri Surya Bhagavan on Sunday, by offering red cloth, red flowers and wheat gives success to one in all his deeds. Also, it is said that worshipping Sun God makes one gain the Thejas.It is said that, apart from Surya Bhagavan, Sage Agasthiyar too had worshipped Lord Shiva here and hence the name Sri Agatheeswarar. Another Rishi called Vaakeesa Muni also had worshipped Sri Agatheeswarar here.The temple is built facing south on a vast land. Sri Agatheeswarar is seen facing east. Ambaal Sri Aanandhavalli is facing south and is in standing posture. Nandhi is seen facing the Lord towards east.
There is a separate shrine for Lord Ganesha called Raja Ganapathy here. Also, Sri Kaasi Viswanathar and Sri Visaalakshi have separate shrines facing east at the south west portion of the temple. Lord Subramanyar also has a shrine in the temple in which a Maragatha Mayil (Peacock made of green granite) is found.Sri Kaala Bhairavar is very popular in this temple and is said to be more powerful. Special Poojas and Abishegams are performed to Sri Kaala Bhairavar every Sunday during Raahu Kaalam (4.30 pm to 6 pm) timings. It is said that people worshipping Sri Bhairavar here for 6 consecutive Sundays, get their wishes fulfilled.Many kings have patronized this temple during various periods. A king called Aadhithyan is said to have done renovations to the temple during 878 AD.
Also Raja Raja Chozha I, Raja Raja Chozha II (1152 AD), Kulothunga Chozha III (1188 AD), Sundara Pandiyan (1200 AD), Veera Rajendra Chozha, a Telugu Chozha king called Vijayakanda Gopala are said to have contributed much to the temple, according to the inscriptions found in the temple.According to another inscription, a king by name Sri Vijaya Maharaja of Sumatra Island (Indonesia) is said to have gifted 250 Kuzhi (குழி - in Thamizh is an unit to measure lands) of lands to Sri Agatheeswarar at Kolappaakkam, during the 8th year of his reign. Inscriptions reveal that Sri Vijaya Maharaja was contemporary to Raja Raja Chozha and also had very cordial relationship with the then Chozha kingdom. The inscription also gives details about some Buddhist activities nearby this temple and Sri Vijaya Maharaja was a Buddhist.
In the recent past, the ASI have explored the area and found ruins of a Buddhist shrine near the temple. A couple of Buddha statues and pillars were discovered near this temple, which is kept in the street sides of the temple. A carving of Lord Ganesha is also found on one of these pillars. Archeologists predict that Sri Vijaya Maharaja, who visited the Buddhist temple at Kolappaakkam, could have also visited Agatheeswarar temple and made donations to the temple.The Sthala Viruksham for this temple is ‘Arasa Maram’ (Peepul tree) and Theertham is called ‘Amirtha Pushkarani’ (pic above) which is found adjacent to the temple and is less maintained.
