Anegathangavadeswarar Temple / Anekadhangavadeswarar Temple / Kachi Anekathangavatham / ( கச்சி அநேகதங்காவதம் ), Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 4^th Devaram Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, at Pillayar Palayam a part of Kanchipuram. Since there are two Padal Petra Sthalangal, to differentiate this temple is called as Kachi Anekadhangavadeswarar and the other one is in North India on Himalayan Hills.  This temple is about 200 meters from the famous and ASI maintained Sri Kailasanathar Temple.

    அங்கண் அமர்வார் அனேகதங்கா

                 வதத்தை எய்தி உள்அணைந்து

    செங்கண் விடையார் தமைப்பணிந்து

                 "தேனெய் புரிந்து" என் றெடுத்ததமிழ்

    தங்கும் இடமாம் எனப்பாடித்

                 தாழ்ந்து, பிறவும் தானங்கள்

    பொங்கு காத லுடன்போற்றிப்

                 புரிந்துஅப் பதியில் பொருந்துநாள்.

                                            …. பெரிய புராணம்

    தேன்நெய் புரிந்துஉழல் செஞ்சடை எம்பெரு

                 மானது இடம்,திகழ் ஐங்கணையக்

    கோனை எரித்துஎரி ஆடி இடம்,குல

                 வானது இடம், குறை யாமறையா

    மானை இடத்ததொர் கையன் இடம், மத

                மாறு படப்பொழி யும்மலைபோல்

    ஆனை உரித்த பிரானது இடம், கலிக்

                கச்சி அனேகதங் காவதமே.

                                                                .... சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

The 18^th Century Saint Sivagnana Swamigal had written the sthala purana of this temple in his Kanchipuram.

28. அனேகதங்காவதப் படலம் (1003- 1014)

1003 கலிவிருத்தம்

    அச்சத ருத்திரத ராதியர் போற்றுபு

    மெச்சிய பரிறளி மேன்மை விளம்பினாம்

    எச்சமில் மேற்றளி யின்வட சாரமர்

    கச்சி யநேகதங் காவதங் கூறுவாம் 1

1014 விநாய கப்பிரான் அருச்சைன புரியவீற் றிருக்கும்

    அனேக பேசனை அனேகதங் காவதத் திறைஞ்சின்

    இனாத வெந்துயர்ப் பிறவிதீர்ந் தென்னையா ளுடையான்

    றனாது வெள்ளியங் கயிலையிற் சார்ந்துவை குவரால். 12

Moolavar : Sri Anekadhankavadeswarar

Some of the important features of this temple are …

The  Temple is facing east with an entrance mini Rajagopuram on the north side. An entrance arch is also there on the main road. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala and Artha mandapam. A Shed is in front acts as a mukha mandapa. Rishabam and Balipeedam are in front of the temple. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durga.

In the Prakara, Sri Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar and Chandikeswara. The adhisthana is a simple padabandha adhisthana.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhisthanam. The sanctum sanctorum is of two tiers from adhisthanam to prastaram was built with stone and above prastram was built with stucco. The Bhitti starts with Vedhigai, Karnapathi and salaipathi are separated with brahma kantha pilasters. Kumbha panjararas with kodikarukku are between salaipathi and karnapathi.

Prastram consists of Valapi, kapotham and Viyyalavari. Adho padmam is in the Valapi against usual feature of Bhuta Ganas. The Stone structure adi tala and 1st tier are Nagara style and the Sigaram of of vesara style. Stucco image of Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the 1st tier and Greevam koshtas.

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

This 7^th to 8^th Century temple is believed to be existed before the construction of the Kailasanathar  Temple, by Pallava King Narasimhavarman-II ( 698 – 728 CE ). There was a lot of change in the temple between my first visit  in the year 2011 and this visit. Kumbhabhishekam was performed after constructing the moolavar vimanam, Naalvar sannadhi, Ganapathi and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar sannadhi. There was also an arch constructed near the main road leads to Sri Kailasanathar Temple. The entrance mini rajagopuram was not touched and kept as it was. 

As per the Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy in the year 1890, Sl No 22 – 24, Three inscriptions are recorded.

The Kulothunga Chozha-I’s 34^th year reign records the gift of 2 veli land at Kanchipuram, on the north side of Rajasimeswaram or Kailasanathar Temple.  Also the same Kings 20^th year reign records the gift of 3 veli land to this temple, by the King and the land was at Thamar Village ( now called as Damal ) also called as Niththavonothanallur in Thamar Kottam a sub division of  Thamar Nadu.

The third inscription not mentioning the King’s name, records in Nala year, 1400 Kuzhi of land was given to Kaikolar ( the weaving community ), by the official committee of the temple.

LEGEND

Anekam – Elephant faced lord Sri Vinayagar  installed and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. The Lord Shiva was also worshiped by Kuberan. Anekadhangavadeswarar, killed the Hiranyapura Demon Kesi and arranged the marriage of Vinayagar  with his daughter Vallabha a Shiva Bhatha. As per the sthala purana, written by Sivagnana Swamigal, those who worships Lord Anekadhangavadeswarar will be get relieved from the cycle of birth and death.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple is kept open between 08.00 Hrs to 11.00 hrs and one time pooja is conducted.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The land line number 044-2722 2084, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Can be reached through Auto / Share Auto from Kanchipuram bus stand. This temple is before the Pallava period Sri Kailasanathar temple maintained by ASI, on the left side.

This temple is about 1.8 KM from Bus Stand, 3.0 KM from Kanchipuram Railway Station,  32 KM from Arakkonam Junction and 73 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station if Kanchipuram railway station and Junction is Arakkonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---