Vellore Fort Visit…

A week before my hubby’s birthday was my birthday. As I was in Vellore, we thought to visit Jalakandeswarar Fort Temple…  Lord Shiva is my hubby’s favourite God…

Vellore Fort is a large 16th century fort located in Vellore city near Chennai, in the State of Tamil Nadu, India. It was once the headquarters of the Vijayanagara Empire. This Fort is well known for its grand ramparts, wide moat and robust masonry.

The Fort's ownership passed from Vijanagara Kings, to the Bijapur Sultans, to Marathas, to the Carnatic Nawabs and finally to the British, who held the fort until India gained its independence. During British rule, the  Tippu Sultan's family and the last king of Sri Lanka, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha were held in as royal prisoners in the fort.

Also the fort houses a Christian church, a Muslim mosque and a Hindu temple, the latter of which is famous for its magnificent carvings.

Sri Jalakandeswarar Temple

“Jalakandeswarar” or "Siva residing in the water", got its name from the natural underground spring upon which it resides. This is one of the reasons why the moat has never dried no matter how severe the drought is.

In 1981, the idol was removed due to Muslim invasion and kept away from the town. It was forgotten by the generation. In 1983, a Christian missionary spoke about this empty temple. This evoked a quick response from the Vellore elites and all gathered together and promptly placed the idol and started their prayers.

The temple has a large wedding hall adorned with elegant reliefs and monolithic sculptures. The Britishers thought to loot and take this large wedding hall piece by piece to England. Latter it was dropped. The temple is now maintained by a Trust.

In the North West corner of the outer prakara, there is a well which has a stone door way opening on a point which is usually below water level. The under ground mandapa or Neerazhi Mandapa is said to lead to a subterranean passage leading to the River Palar. We used to put coins into this well. It has steps. If we put a coin, which settles on the step, then it’s said that our wish will come true.

Also, the Nandhi Bhagavaan in the outer prakara is famous. People used to tell their sufferings in to his ear by closing the other ear by hand. This indicates that, he won’t let the message to spread in air. People believe that he will directly tell our worries to Lord Shiva…

Nowadays, People used to go boating in this moat….