Sri Siddheshwar Temple, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

23^rd April 2018.

After the darshan of Sri Karukkinil Amarnthaval, while returning to the Bus stand happened to see the front mandapam of this temple through Rajagopuram. The mandapam was built during the Nayak period, Kodungai. This made me peek into this temple.

Moolavar: Sri Siddheshwar

Some of the important features of this temple are…

This temple faces east with a 2-tier Rajagopuram on the roadside. Balipeedam and Rishabaam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. In the prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar and nagars.  While doing renovation, niches are not provided for koshta Murtis and are installed separately. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

Moolavar is a little large swayambhu about 4 feet tall. Siddhar's stucco images are  in the mandapam along with Kasi Viswanathar.

As per the legend, when Iraivi, with turmeric kappu (paste applied on her body), was doing thabas on the banks of the river Kambai, the turmeric paste on her body dissolved into the water and  turned yellow. Lord Shiva appeared  in the form of Linga on the banks of the river with turmeric paste dissolved in water called Turmeric water koothar (Manjal neer koothar). From another legend, Iraivan was worshipped by the Siddhars and got many siddhis; hence, Iraivan is called Siddheesar. It is believed that one will be relieved from births who takes a bath in Sidheertham and worships Lord Shiva (a well inside the temple) on Saturdays and Sundays.

The temple was built with simple walls without adhistanam (which may be done during renovations). Both granite and sandstone are used on the sanctum walls. The front mandapa was built during the Nayaka period with Kodungai. Above the koshta relief of the respective moortham is shown in the thorana. It was claimed that the temple was built during the Chozha Period, but no inscriptions have not found anywhere. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on Vallal Pachaiyappan Mudali Street, near Pachaiyappa’s School.

Just a km distance from the Bus Stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Dhakshinamurthy in makara torana above Dakshinamurthy koshtam

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---