SRI YOGA HAYAGRIVAR — Attraction in Chettipunniyam

Chettipunym is a small village that is located 30 Kms from Tambaram. Chettippunyam village got its name because of the community named Chettiyars, who used to live here. According to the history of our ancient India, Chettiyars are the community of people who do trading and business. In Chettipunyam, there were weavers and the sought the hill nearby to dry their products. Lord Hayagreeva as the name says in Sanskrit is a God with Horse's head and human body. The word Hayagreeva = Haya (Horse) + Greeva (neck) itself means Horse's neck. He is also worshipped in the name of Hayasirisa meaning Horse head. When Lord Brahma was not able to create after he lost the vedas he approached Lord Narayana for help. Lord Narayana arrived as Hayagreeava to save the Vedas from the two asuras, Madhu and Kaithaba. It is said that Lord Hayagreeva taught the vedas again to Lord Brahma and thus he is celebrated as the God of Knowledge. Lord Hayareeva is the God of Knowledge. The temple is said to have built about four hundred years ago. But initially the temple had only sri Varadharaja Perumal. On the 22nd day of tamil month vaigasi during the magam star, Sirasdar Rao Sahib Rangachar brought the idols of Dhevanandha Perumal and Hayagreevar from one of the Hundred and Eight holy places named, Thiruvaheendrapuram situated near Cuddalore. They brought the idols here to safeguard it from the invaders. Desika, a famous poet has written 32 verses of Hayagriva Stotram , this is to depict the 32 Brahma Vidyas. It is also said that Goddess Saraswathi, Lord Dhakshnamoorthi who are all Lords of Knowledge are said to be a part of Lord Hayagreeva. Sri Varadharaja Perumal and Goddess Hemambhuja Nayagi are the important Deities of the temple. Dhevanandha Perumal idol is the utchavar uswed in the temple and he is found having a prayoga chakra in his right hand. Sri Garuda is on the Dwajasthambha which is made of stone. Bhoodevi, Sridevi, andal, Tahyar are the other deities of the temple, but they were installed later. Mudumbai Ramaswamy Iyengar brought the idols of Rama, hanuman, Sita, Lakshmanan from the palace of Tanjore and later he installed these idols in Chettipunyam Devanathaswamy temple. The idols of the temple remain mind blowing images. Initially the temple had only Varadaraja perumal's moolavar and utchavar. The temple has a rare idol of Hayagreevar. Hayagreevar is genrally found with Lakshmi but in this temple Yoga Hayagreevar is found in a meditating pose. That is the specialty of the temple. Students from different places come here to get blessings before going to their exams. Students give their offerings and then place their pen, hall ticket etc in the foot of the Yoga Hayagreevar idol and worship the God of knowledge. Sri Hayagreevar is believed as the Lord of Education and knowledge and so the temple always has a crowd of students praying for their exams. The temple is Devanathaswamy temple but truly the temple is most visited for Hayagreevar. The northern side of the temple has the famous and holy Azhijal tree. Devotees have the habit of praying for their education, marriage, children by tying up a cloth or thread in the tree. The Yoga Hayagreevar Temple at Chettipunyam can be reached by going to Singaperumal Kovil and its very close from that temple. There are no direct buses to Chettipunyam. But it is situated three kilometres west of Singaperumal temple. The temple is open from 7 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM. The temple is a must visit for students and it is also a very beautiful temple. The idols remain in our memory for a long time. The peace can be felt from deep within the heart after the sight of the sculptures. It is an ancient temple with amazing history. When you travel from Chennai towards Chengalpatu on the GST road, you need to cross Singaperumal Koil and take right opposite to Mahendra World City. You need to travel approximately 1.5 to 2 kms to reach the temple...

This temple is located ~3 kms off the GST road, right opposite to Mahendra City. You can combine visiting Singaperumal Koil and this one if you're on the Guduvanchery-Chengelpet route

This is an ancient and popular temple for Lord Vishnu, who graces us here in the form of Lord Varadaraja Perumal. Though Lord Varadaraja Perumal is the main deity here, the temple attracts devotees for a different reason. This temple became popular because of Lord Yoga Hayagriva (Lord Vishnu in the form of horse-faced, man), whose Utchavar (idols used for procession) is placed in the main sanctum along with Lord Devanatha Perumal (again Utchavar idol)

The temple sanctum is full of scribbles by students wanting Lord Hayagriva's grace in important exams (High school, entrance, C.A. etc.). They write their exam ticket numbers, names, and preferred marks/ percentage. There is not an inch of wall that is available for writing these details anymore! Students also visit the temple with their academic books, pens, and notebooks to get Lord Hayagriva's blessing to fare well in their exams

About Lord Hayagriva in this temple - He is different from His usual form along with Sri Lakshmi Devi seated on his lap. Here He is in Yoga nidra (posture) with both His hands on his knees and seated on the peedam. Since Lord Hayagriva incarnated to save the Vedas from demons and bring them back to safety with Lord Brahma, He is considered the Lord of Knowledge and Wisdom, which is why the students throng this temple for gaining His good graces

Both Lord Hayagriva and Lord Devanatha swamy's idols were originally brought to this temple from Thiruvahindapuram temple, in Cuddalore to protect them from invasions and they've remained here from then on

In the main sanctum, there are shrines for Sri Hemambuja Nayagi, who is Lord Varadaraja Perumal's consort as well as for Sri Andal, Lord Garuda, and Guru parampara. Lord Varadaraja Perumal and Lord Devanatha swamy, both grace us with their consorts, Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Outside, you will find a separate shrine for Lord Kothandaram (one with the bow), along with Goddess Seetha, Lord Lakshman and Sri Hanuman

There are 3 roads leading to the temple, but all of them are small lanes, so it is best to park your vehicle ~0.5 kms away from the temple and...

Chettipunym is a small village that is located thirty kilometres from tambaram near Chennai. The Hayagreevar temple is situated in the west of GST road. Chettippunyam is very close to Chengalpatu. The temple is situated three kilometres from Singaperumal Kovil, a highly visited temple. One can always make it a point to visit both the temples together.

Sri Varadharaja Perumal and Goddess Hemambhuja Nayagi are the important Deities of the temple. Dhevanandha Perumal idol is the utchavar uswed in the temple and he is found having a prayoga chakra in his right hand. Sri Garuda is on the Dwajasthambha which is made of stone. Bhoodevi, Sridevi, andal, Tahyar are the other deities of the temple but they were installed later. Mudumbai Ramaswamy Iyengar brought the idols of Rama, hanuman, Sita, Lakshmanan from the palace of Tanjore and later he installed these idols in Chettipunyam Devanathaswamy temple. The idols of the temple remain mind blowing images. Initially the temple had only Varadaraja perumal's moolavar and utchavar.

The temple has a rare idol of Hayagreevar. Hayagreevar is genrally found with Lakshmi but in this temple Yoga hayagreevar is found in a meditating pose. That is the speciality of the temple. Students from different places come here to get blessings before going to their exams. Students give their offerings and then place their pen, hall ticket etc in the foot of the Yoga hayagreevar idol and worship the God of knowledge. Sri Hayagreevar is believed as the Lord of Education and knowledge and so the temple always has a crowd of students praying for their exams. The temple is devanathaswamy temple but truly the temple is most visited for Hayagreevar. The northern side of the temple has the famous and holy Azhijal tree. Devotees have the habit of praying for their education, marriage, children by tying up a cloth or thread in the tree. The temple gets its funds from the 55 acres of agricultural land and the ancestral house of Thiru Renagaswamy ayengar,...