Vadapalani
Encyclopedia
Murugan Koyil
Built about 125 years back, this much-hallowed and regularly frequented Lord Muruga sannidhi has emerged from a thatched shed, an unostentatious one enshrining a Murugan picture only, and established for itself a name on par with ancient places of worship. Around 7,000 couples are married here each year.According to the sthalapurana, one Muruga devotee by name Annaswami Nayakar with his limited means built a small thatched hut and kept a Murugan painting for his personal worship primarily. During his meditation and worship, he used to experience some divine power entering his body and inspiring him to utter some mysterious things—whatever he said in his trance was found true. His utterance went by the name of 'arulvakku' ('God blessed statements') and relieved people in several ways, like curing diseases and getting jobs, solemnising marriages, etc.
There are very many sannidhis in the vast courtyards of the temple, like Varasiddhi Vinayaka, Chokkanāthar, Meenakshi Amman, Kāli, Bhairava, Shanmuga with Valli and Devasenā.
The moolavar in standing posture resembles the Palani Muruga in every respect. In the inner prakara, there are many niches housing Dakshina Murti, Chandikeswar, Mahalakshmi, et al. It has a spacious hall used for conducting marriages and religious discourses. It is one of the most-frequented Murugan shrines in the city of Chennai.
The entrance to this temple is crowned with a rajagopuram adorned with several stucco images depicting legends from the Skanda puranam. In front of the temple is the temple tank. The eastern tower rises to a height of 40.8 metres. The 108 bharata natyam dance gestures can be seen on the eastern tower as well.
Daily pujas:
- 0500 am: Nadai
- 0530 am: Palli Arai
- 0700 am: Milk Abhishekam
- 1000 am: Vibhuti Abhishekam
- 1100 am: Santanam Abhishekam
- 1200 noon: Uchi Kâla Puja
- 0900 pm: Palli Arai Puja
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- Location: Andavar Koil Street, Vadapalani, Chennai
- Main deity: Palani Andavar
- Other deities: Arunagirinathar, Chokkanatha, Ganapathi, Kaliamman, Kasi Viswanatha, Kuthuvar, Manikkavachakar, Meenakshi Amman, Six-faced Muruga with Valli and Devanai, Vairavar, Varasiddhi Vinayaga, Virabagudevar, Virabhadra, Visalakshi
- Festivals: Skanda Sashti is celebrated here in the month of Aippasi. Other festivals celebrated here include Panguni Uttiram. The Karttikai asterism in each month attracts large crowds to the temple.
Vengeeswarar Koyil
Beside the 100 feet road (Inner Ring Road), there is a Sivan Temple. This temple is much older compared to Vadapalani#Murugan Koyil. The 'moolavar' or the main deity is called Lord Vengeeswarar and the goddess is called Santhanayaki Ambal. The entrance to this temple is crowned with a big rajagopuram adorned with several stucco images. Other deities: Ganapathi, Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi, Bairavar, Lord Subramanya, Goddess Gajalakshmi. There is a separate shrine for Lord Saneeswarar.Festivals:-Pradhosha pooja is one of the most important among the poojas performed to the Graceful Lord Shiva. In Shukla Paksha (15 moon days from New moon to Full moon) and Krishna Paksha (15 moon days from Full moon to New moon) the evening of the trayodasi (thirteenth moon day) between 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. is called Pradhosham. It comes once in fifteen moon days. Pradhosha time is especially meant for praying Lord Shiva. Praying during that time is believed to free the believers from their sins and gives 'moksha' (heaven) finally (hence the name Pradhosham).
Software Industry
HCL TechnologiesHCL Technologies
HCL Technologies Limited is a leading global IT services company headquartered in Noida, India. It is primarily engaged in providing a range of software services, business process outsourcing and infrastructure services. HCL Technologies is fourth largest IT company in India and is ranked 48 in...
and Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services Limited is a global IT services, business solutions and outsourcing company headquartered in Mumbai, India. It is the largest provider of information technology in Asia and second largest provider of business process outsourcing services in India...
had huge offices at Vadapalani in their earlier days. Now SRM University
SRM University
SRM University is a co-educational private university from the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It was founded in the year 1985 as SRM Engineering college in Kattankulathur, under Anna University. The university now has four campuses in Tamil Nadu , one in Modinagar, near Delhi...
and other establishments have replaced it with their corporate offices.But still HCL Technologies
HCL Technologies
HCL Technologies Limited is a leading global IT services company headquartered in Noida, India. It is primarily engaged in providing a range of software services, business process outsourcing and infrastructure services. HCL Technologies is fourth largest IT company in India and is ranked 48 in...
running in Vadapalani itself.
MCCI Interconnect solutions Pvt Ltd is also one of the software company located near to Vadapalani Signal.
Film Industry
The Vijaya-Vauhini Studios, the Prasad Colour Lab and Studios, Efx Studios,Prime Focus and AVM Studio are in Vadapalani. There are many actors and actresses living in Vadapalani. Not so famous film personalities working as stunt artistes, dancers, extras and television artistes can be spotted regularly in Vadapalani.Schools
Saraswati Vidyalaya is one of the old school established in 1964, JRK,JRM, Karthikeyan Matriculation, Vadapalani Senior Secondary School are some Important schools in this area.Many children do their schooling in also Ashok Nagar, Chennai#Educational institutions, Avichi Higher Secondary School located in Virugambakkam
Virugambakkam
Virugambakkam is a residential neighbourhood of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is an important residential area and is famous for its schools, market, residential colonies and residences of film artists...
on Arcot Road, General Carippa Higher Secondary school in Saligramam
Saligramam
Saligramam is a residential locality situated in the western part of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. Saligramam is surrounded by Vadapalani in the East Virugambakkam in the West, KK Nagar in the South and Koyambedu in the north. Saligramam was having the Majority of Film Studios...
, Child Fruit Matriculation School and Ramalinga Mission Middle School (Tamil Medium School) which was established in 1952 at Gangappa Street in Saligramam.
Colleges / Universities
SRM has established one of its Campus at Vadapalani in 2009 . SRM University - Vadapalani Offers Faculty of engineering & technology, Faculty of Science & Humanities & Management.SRM Technologies(IT Firm) also there in SRM University campus.