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 Kachi Anekadhangavadeswarar and the other one is in North India on the 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 faces 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 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 adhistanam. The sanctum sanctorum is of two tiers from adhistanam to prastaram was built with stone and above prastram was built with stucco. The Bhitti starts with Vedhigai, Karnapathi, and Salaipathi are separated by Brahma kantha pilasters. Kumbha panjararas with kodikarukku are between salaipathi and karnapathi.

Prastram consists of Valapi, kapotam, and Viyyalavari. Adho Padma is in the Valapi against the usual feature of Bhuta Ganas. The Stone structure adi tala and 1st tier are Nagara style and the Sigaram of Vesara style. Stucco images 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 sannidhi, Ganapathi, and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar sannidhi. There was also an arch constructed near the main road leading 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 34th-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 lands to this temple, by the King, and the land was at Thamar Village ( now called Damal ) also called 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 worship Lord Anekadhangavadeswarar will be 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 landline number 044-2722 2084, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

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

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

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

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---