Siruvapuri Subrahmanyar Temple

The lush greenery of Siruvapuri

Siruvapuri, is a place near Chennai in TamilNadu. A near village, with all its lush green fields and plantains, narrow roads and lily ponds. Also known as Chinnambedu, Siruvapuri has a temple dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya, the younger son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. In the outer prakaram sits the principal deity, Lord Ganapathy, the destroyer of all obstacles and the bestower of good fortunes.

A pond of pink lilies

In the inner prakaram, is Lord Shiva as Annamalaiar, Goddess Parvathi as Unnamulai Amman and Subrahmanya with Valli in the Kalyana Kolam (marriage pose). In the Garbagraha or the Sanctum Sanctorum, is the main presiding deity of the temple, Lord Subrahmanya. He stands alone with a smiling and radiant face. Only the Arathi or the Deepam is shown to this deity. The chantings and offerings are done to another Lord Subrahmanya’s deity in the outer prakaram referred to as the "Adhi Moolavar Sannadhi". There are also the deities of Muneeswarar, Venkatrayar, the one who had helped build the temple, Bhairavar and the Navagraha in the outer prakaram.

The Rajagopuram

Siruvapuri is also famous for its being mentioned in the Thiruppugazh, a collection of hymns on Lord Subrahmanya. The name comes in four hymns.
1) Andarpadhi kudiyera....
2) Seedhala vaarija paadha namonama....
3) Vel irandenu...
4) Piraviyaana....

A Rose garden on the way back