Vedapureeswarar Temple
Amidst the chaos of city life of Pondicherry, there is located the revered shrine of Vedapureeswarar. Devoted to Lord Shiva, Vedapureeswarar Temple is also known as Eswaran Dharmaraja Koil. Here at this temple, Lord Shiva is commemorated as Vedapureeswarar, and his wife Goddess Parvati is worshipped as Tiripurasundari. With more than 230 years of age, Vedapureeswarar is one of the oldest temples in the Pondicherry which receives a heavy footfall of tourists throughout the year.
During Governor Dupleix's rule in the year 1748, the original construction of the Vedapureeswarar temple was demolished to the ground. However, later in 1788, the present construction of the temple was built. Inside the temple, the idol of the presiding deity, 'Swayambhu Linga' (another form of Lord Shiva), is worshipped.
As per the beliefs, the presiding deity of the temple was transferred from Mission Street Samba Easwaran Temple about 100 years ago. Besides, on the southern side of this temple, there is also a separate shrine which is dedicated to Lord Dakshinamurthy.
A custom of 'Abhishekam' is performed at this popular temple where devotees bathe the deity with honey, milk, fruit juice, ghee, and other liquids. The mix of all the liquids from which the deity is bathed is preserved in a container to serve as prasad (holy offering) to the devotees.
This entire ritual of pouring liquids depicts the love and respect of devotees towards the deity. It is said that devotees who perform this ritual with all conviction and belief can consecrate their mind, body, and soul from all sins and impurity. Throughout the year, several festivals are celebrated at this popular temple in Pondicherry. Of those, the most significant festivals that are observed at Vedapureeswarar Temple with all zeal and devotion are Navratri (September - October), Sankatahara Chaturthi, Chitra Poornima (March - April), and Shivaratri (February - March).
Besides, Deepawali, Tamil New Year, and Pongal are a few more important festivities that are observed at Vedapureeswarar Temple.
History of Vedapureeswarar Temple
The Vedapureeswarar Temple here belongs to the 18th century. Constructed in the Dravidian architectural style, the temple was razed by French soldiers in 1748. In 1788, the temple was expanded by Dewan Kandappa Mudaliar with the help of public contributions.
The temple has a glorious history going back 238 years. Supposedly, the presiding deity was in the Mission Street Samba Easwaran Temple originally and was shifted to this place more than a hundred years ago.
Architecture of Vedapureeswarar Temple
Vedapureeswarar Temple has a traditional architectural design which is beautifully adorned with a seven-tiered gopuram having a height of 75 ft. The main entrance through Artha Mandap and Maha Mandap leads to the sanctum of the temple. The idol of Nandi's face is installed in the Maha Mandap.
Besides, the temple complex also includes two separate shrines Vinayagar and Murugan. Along with that, the temples of Durga, Shani Dakshinamurthy, Chandikeshwara, and Navagraha are some more temples located inside the vicinity of the temple. Along with that, the presiding deity of the temple is also installed in the temple’s sanctum in the form of Lingam.
