Karukkinil Amarnthaval Temple Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd April 2018.

Utilizing the opportunity of attending Kumbhabhishekam of Sri Vijaya Vinayagar temple at Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering on 22^nd April 2018, visited 4 temples in Kanchipuram. This is one of the 1000 and odd temples of Kanchipuram. Even though the temple was subjected to a lot of changes, still it retains a few heritage-value structures and statues.

Presiding Deity    : Sri Karukinil Amarnthaval.

Some of the important details are…

The temple is facing north with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. The Temple tank is in front of the Rajagopuram on the right side.  In front of the Sanctum Sanctorum, 6^th century Buddhas ( two ), Thavvai/ Jyeshta Devi with manthan and manthi along with Nagars. Nagars shrines are in three places in the complex. Both Buddhas are in ardha padmasana and one Buddha is in sparse hastham and the other in Thiyana hastham. In this group, there is a female head god worshiped as Manimekalai.  

Navagrahas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. There are two Pallava period pillars one is a squatting lion pillar and the other is of elephant face. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. In ardha mandapam stucco images of Amman, might have been built in recent years. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Amman and Dakshinamurthy. In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Nagars, Amman and Sri Vedapureeswarar. 

Amman is in a ferocious mood killing Mahishan with a trident keeping her right leg on his head and left leg on the thigh.  This place was once a palmyra grove and Amman sat under a palmyra tree, hence Amman is called Karukinil Amarnthaval in Tamil language. Also, there is another version,  Amman to be worshiped during the joining time of evening and night called Karukku. ( Anthi Velai )

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a maha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is rectangular in shape, on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The Bhitti starts with Vedikai. The pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters with square bases, kalasam, kudam, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of Valapi and kapotam. A 3-tier brick Salakara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Amman's various forms are on the Vimana koshtams.   

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Even though the original temple belongs to the Pallava period, nothing was left except two stones of Kumudam in the adhistanam with inscriptions.

 Kumudam stone with inscription - the only proof that this temple belongs to Pallava Period

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, especially Adi month Fridays, Sundays, Amavasya days, etc. Adi Month Fridays Devotees Cook Pongal and offer to Amman.

TEMPLE TIMINGS.

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is in Pillayar Palayam,  about 2 KM from the Bus Stand.

Get down at the MettuTheru bus stop on Kamaraj road, the temple is about 500 meters away.

A Lot of autos are available in front of the Bus Stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

 Gajam - Simham ( May be the remains of Pallava Structure )

In Koshtam - Mahishamardini 

 Nagars 

 Thavvai / Jyeshta Devi

Wrongly written Manthan & Manthi as Varahi & Chandi Devi

May be hero stone 

THE REMAINS OF BUDDHISM - BUDDHA IMAGES

 Buddha in Bhoomi sparsha hastam- shows that Buddha attained gnanam

 Buddha in Thyana posture 

 Worshiped as Manimekalai

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---