Vengeeswarar Temple, Vadapalani

Vengeeswarar Temple stands in Vadapalani, Chennai. The temple structure is over 1,000 years old, which makes it one of the city's oldest Hindu temples, though the sthalam itself is dated to the Vedic age. It is dedicated to Shiva as Lord Vengeeswarar, with the goddess Saanthanayaki Ambal. Road widening and metro rail work have taken much of its space over the decades.

A big rajagopuram with stucco images crowns the entrance. Inside are Ganapathi, Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi, Bairavar, Subramanya and Gajalakshmi, and a separate shrine for Saneeswarar. Pradhosha pooja is among the important rituals, held between 4.30 and 6 pm on the thirteenth moon day, once every fifteen days, a time believed to free worshippers from their sins.