Vadapalani Dandayudhapani temple - Chennai

துதிப்போர்க்கு வல்வினைபோம் துன்பம்போம்

நெஞ்சில் பதிப்போர்க்குச் செல்வம் பலித்துக் கதித்தோங்கும்

நிஷ்ட்டையும் கைகூடும்

நிமலர் அருள் கந்தர் சஷ்டிக் கவசம்தனை

அமரர் இடர்தீர அமரம் புரிந்த 
குமரன் அடி நெஞ்சே குறி


- Kandha Shasti Kavasam in the evergreen voice of Sulamangalam sisters rings in our ear as we enter the temple to worship Lord Dandayudhapani.

At last the Vadapalani Andavar gave his darshan, a long pending temple visit fulfilled this month. The temple is located in the middle of the very busy commercial area of Chennai - Vadapalani or Kodambakkam. While travelling from Koyambedu one has to cross vadapalani terminus and forum vijaya mall to reach the temple arch on the left hand side. You have to maneuver through the traffic to reach the arch and the temple in due course.

Temple gopuram stands huge with colourful statues depicting Skandha puranam. Parking space is  available for two-wheelers near the gopuram along with the near by footwear depositing complex. On entering the temple you will know how big it is, marriages happen in this temple premises. Built in the 19th century this temple is less ancient in terms of age. There is another gopuram/entrance for this temple on the opposite side near the temple tank.

The Varasiddhi Vinayakar sannadhi comes first on the left as soon as you enter. In this outer prahanram are the sannadhi's for - Chokkanathar, Meenakshi Amman and Kali Ma. At the right of the outer praharam is Lord Shanguma along with Valli and Devasenai. Going further in the outer praharam towards the entrance we have the sannadhi's of Anjaneyar and Arunagirinadhar.

As we enter the inner praharam we have the Andavar himself in the Palani avatar. There he stands in all glory, full of mercy in his eyes giving us his dharshan. On the day we went it was sandhana kappu and we felt blessed to the fullest - Arogara! After this as we move around the inner praharam we get the darshan of Dhakshinamurthy, Mahalakshmi, Durga, Chandekeshwarar, Murugar's friend Veerabagu and the urchavar Lord himself along with his pairs. Were also fortune to worship Murugar glowing in pachai pattu in golden chariot.

One can't avoid remembering Kirubananda Variyar while inside the temple. He's been the man behind this temple. The numerous discourses by him are eye openers to the devotees and the society. Temple prasadams were available in the counter. As Chennai's fight against Dengue, nilavenbu kudineer was provided to all of us before the exit.