Chennai: Having one of the biggest tanks in South India sprawling over 7.35 acres, Veeraraghava Perumal temple in Tiruvallur, believed to be several thousand years old, is gearing up for the samprokshanam on June 7. The temple, patronised and developed by the Pallavas, Pandavas, Cholas and Vijayanagara kings, has several inscriptions highlighting its historic significance. Besides, the holy place is considered one of the 108 Divya Desams (where the presiding deity is praised and sung in verses by some of the 12 Alwars who are believed to have lived during the 7th and 8th century) by Vaishanavites.
Thousands throng the temple every new moon day to worship the presiding deity, Lord Vaidya Veeraraghava Perumal, who is reclining on a serpent (Adi Sesha) couch and His consort, Goddess Kanakavalli or Vasumathi, in a separate shrine and take a dip in Hrith-Thapa-Nasini tank which they believe would relieve them of their diseases.
The temple also has small shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Krishna, Lakshmi Narasimhar, Goddess Andal, Nammalwar, Chakratalwar, Vedanta Desikar and Ramanujar. While Ahobila mutt jeeyars have been hereditary trustees of the temple, Hindu religious and charitable endowments department plays a supervisory role. “The last samprokshanam was done in 1998 and the previous one, 40 years ago. The temple, this time, has been given a facelift with the active support of donors, Ahobila mutt, HR&CE and devotees,” said Sampath Iyengar, the honorary agent of the temple.
Detailing the steps taken as part of the renovation, he said, “Renovation of all gopurams is over. Fresh weathering course has been laid on 35,000 square feet, besides setting up rainwater harvesting structures. We have also constructed a beautifully decorated double arch at the entrance leading to the temple after removing the encroachments.” The new set of granite slabs on the praakaara makes it easy for devotees to circumambulate the temple. The pillars in mandapams have been removed of the paint and given two coats of acrylic touch.
