Yoga Hayagriva Temple / Sri Varadaraja Perumal or DevanathaSwamy Temple @ Chettipunyam

Hayagriva

Hayagriva, also spelt Hayagreeva;  is a horse-headed avatar of the Supreme God Vishnu in Hinduism. In Sanskrit, Hayagrīva means haya=Horse, grīva=Neck.

Hayagriva is also considered an avatar of Vishnu. He is worshiped as the God of knowledge and wisdom, with a human body and a horse's head, brilliant white in color, with white garments and seated on a white lotus. Symbolically, the story represents the triumph of pure knowledge, guided by the hand of God, over the demonic forces of passion and darkness. 

jnAna-Ananda-mayam devam
nirmala-sphaTikAkRtim
AdhAram sarvavidyAnAm
hayagrIvam upAsmahe!

This verse is originally from the Pancaratra Agamas but is now popularly prefixed to the Hayagriva Stotram of the 13th century poet-philosopher Vedanta Desika. It is very popular among devotees of Hayagriva.

History

 
The idol, small but bewitching, was brought to Chettipunyam from Thiruvahindrapuram in 1848, and attracts many devotees. Lakshmi Hayagriva is the presiding deity of the Parakala Math in Mysore. There are also sannidhis for Hayagriva in the Desikar temple in Mylapore and also in the Soundarraja Perumal temple in Dadikombu near Dindigul.

The idols of Thayar, Sridevi, Boodevi and Andal were installed after this. The idols of Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman were brought to Vandalur in Chennai, in the year 1868, on Oct 5, by Mudumbai Ramaswamy Iyengar, from the Tanjore Palace. When Ramaswamy Iyengar migrated to Bangalore, he had all these Gods installed in the Devanathaswamy Temple, since Chettipunniyam, was his native village. There is a separate sanctum sanctorum for Sri Rama in this temple. It has to be mentioned here that the first Mysore Dewan Veeravalli Rangachar (1831-1883) also hailed from this village.

About the temple

The presiding deity of the temple is Sri Varadaraja perumal. However the temple is more popular as the temple for Sri Yoga Hayagrivar who blesses the devotees with education and knowledge. The moolavar is Sri Varadaraja perumal while the utsavar is known as Devanatha perumal. The thayar here is known as Hemambuja nayagi. There is a seperate shrine for Rama, Lakshmanan, Sita and Hanuman. 

Usually Hayagreevar is seen along with Sri Lakshmi in many places. But here unusually, he is seen meditating in Yogic posture with his legs folded. Many students visit this temple praying for their good scores in examinations. One can see students coming here with their pens, pencils, hall tickets etc. keep them at the Lord’s feet before taking their exams.

 

Sannadhis

Sri Varadaraja perumal

Hemambuja nayaki thayar

Andal

Yoga Hayagrivar

Alwars

Garudan

Rama, Lakshma, Seeta and Anjaneya

Specialty of the temple

Lord Hayagreevar's utsava moorthy is also seen in the main sannadhi in a yogic pose with folded legs and students pray here during examinations with pencils, hall tickets and books to get good results.

The idols of Devanadha perumal and Yoga Hayagriva are believed to have been brought from Thiruvendhipuram divyadesam to protect them from invasions several years back.

The utsavar Devanadha perumal has a Prayoga chakra in his right hand

How to reach

The temple is about 50 kms from Chennai and around 5-6 kms from Singaperumal koil. Travelling on the GST from Chennai, take the right just opposite Mahindra City gate after Singaperumal koil. Cross the railway gate and continue straight on the road for about 3-4 kms. Once you reach the village you need the take a left and the temple is on a small lane in the right side. The nearest station is Singaperumal koil on the Chennai Beach-Chengalpet route.

Temple timings

The temple is open from 8 am to 12 noon in the mornings and from 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm in the evenings.

Temple Address  

Sri Yoga Hayagriva Seva Samithi, Perumal Thirukoil, Chettipuniyam Village, Singaperumalkoil, Chennai 603204