Arulmigu Karaneeswarar Temple, Karaneecharam, West Saidapet, on the banks of river Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

 06^th November 2016

Still, I remember my last visit to this temple on the Tsunami day in 2004, when I was staying at Jafferkhanpet. After a gap of 12 years visited the temple on 6^th November 2016.  A lot of things have changed inside the temple praharam and sub sannadhis are also added.

Moolavar    : Sri Karaneeswarar

Consort      : Sri Swarnambigai

Some of the important features are..

The temple faces east with a 7-tier Rajagopuram on the south side. The Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishaba mandapam are in the outer praharam on the east side sanctum entrance. In koshtam Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy,  Vishnu in place of Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. Ambal Swarnambigai sannadhi is in the maha mandapam facing south.

In the outer prakaram sannadhis for Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Sri Tripura Sundari samedha Sri Vedagiriswarar, Saneeswarar, Palani Andavar, Anjaneyar and Agora Veerabhadra.

In the inner prakaram 63var, Urchavars and 63var seppu thirumenikal,  Natarajar Saba and Bhairavar.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a maha mandapam. A Two tala stucco Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum. Sudhai or the stucco images of Kayilai view with Shiva’s family, Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvanaikaval, Chidambaram, and Thiru Kalathi are on the back side wall of the sanctum in the outer praharam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Even though it was claimed that the temple is very old no concrete evidence was found, except two inscriptions dated 1887 and 1919 CE. The inscriptions speak about the donation for conducting regular poojas and functions.

The temple is under the control of the Tamil Nadu HR & CE Board. The Mudaliyar community had done a lot to this temple and they controlled the temple before HR& CE took over.

The 18th March 1887 year inscription records the gift of a bungalow situated at Nos 6, Parangimalai - Mount Road east side, from 15th March 1886 to this temple (  through registration ), by Arunuga Mudaliar's son Subraya Mudaliar of Sengunthar Community. The rent income from the property after maintenance has to be used to meet the Brahmotsavam and Arudra Darshan expenses. Also burning of ghee lamps at Selva Vinayagar, Gnana Vinayagar, Subramaniar, and Ramaswamy temples. ( The same is recorded in Chennai Managara Kalvettukal )

In another 1919 year inscription, two houses were gifted to this temple by P. Andiyappa(M)'s wife Ammayi  Ammal in the year 1912. Since the income from one house was not regular in 1918, She had sold one house to Rs 400 and took it pledged in the name of the temple. The income after the maintenance has to be utilized for the morning one kala pooja.

  

LEGENDS: 

As per the legend, the temple's history goes like this… Indira gave Kamadhenu to Vashista  for his yagam. The Kamadhenu was not returned even after a long time and understood that Kamadhenu was cursed to become an ordinary cow because it obstructed the poojas and Homam. So as per his Gana’s advice, he constructed a temple for Lord Shiva between Thirumayilai and Thiuvanmiyur on the banks of river Adyar and prayed. He also ordered Clouds ( Kar ) to rain in this place to become green with trees. Lord Shiva gave back Kamadhenu and granted the status of Gopathi. The pond created is called Gopathi Saras.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 21.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The temple website: CLICK HERE

Telephone numbers are 044 23811668 and 23811665

HOW TO REACH :

A walkable distance from Saidapet sub-urban railway station.

The nearest bus stop is Saidapet Bus terminus and the temple is about 1.5 KM and a lot of autos are available.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Pattinathar

 Pathragiriyar 

 --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---