'Vada' shrines near Chennai

'Vada' shrines near Chennai

In Indian languages like Tamil or Sanskrit, 'Vada' (வட) stands for 'North' and is normally a shorthand for 'Vadakku' (வடக்கு). Over the course of time, I have been observing a number of shrines which were prefixed with 'Vada' and found in various places surrounding the immediate 'Greater Chennai'. I just thought I would share a few of them for the benefit of readers:

1. Vadapalani: This place has the famous temple of Lord Murugan and also the southern place where the temple of Lord Murugan can be found in Tamil Nadu is called 'Palani' (near Madurai).
2. Vada-Thirunageswaram: This temple can be found near Kundrathur Murugan temple and the temple board says that temple deities can be worshipped and pariharams-poojas be offered akin to Thirunageswaram temple (for Rahu and Ketu).
3. Vada-Thirunallar: Thirunallar is the famous temple town near Karaikal for Lord Saturn ("Darbaranya Kshetram"). I have observed a temple near Madurantakam whilst commuting that way with the board like 'Vada Thirunallar'. Whilst I was searching about this temple, I came across a few other temples for Lord Saturn near Chennai itself also being categorized as 'Vada Thirunallar'. They are the following:
1. Sri Agastheeswar Temple for Lord Siva near Pozhichalur.
2. Vada Thirunallar Sri Saneeswaran Koil in Venkatachalam Street, West Mambalam

I just thought I would share out these observations for the benefit of other readers. If you do have information about similar temples, please share them as comments for the benefit of everyone.