Metraleeswarar Temple / Thirumetraleeswarar Temple / Thiru Metrali Nathar Koil / Sri Metraleeswarar Temple, Thirukachi Metrali / திருக்கச்சி மேற்றளி , Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 2^nd Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam of Thondai Nadu. Now called Thirumetraleeswarar Temple, in Pillayar Palayam, part of Kanchipuram. Sundarar and Thirunavukkarasar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

 

The 18th-century saint Sri Sivagnana Swamigal had written the sthala purana of this temple, in which he mentions that Maha Vishnu transformed into Shiva Linga for Thirugnanasambandar’s hymn, and the hymn is not traceable.

        நொந்தா வொண்சுடரே நுனையேநி னைந்திருந்தேன்

        வந்தாய் போயறியாய் மனமேபு குந்துநின்ற

        சிந்தாய் எந்தைபிரான் திருமேற்ற ளிஉறையும்

        எந்தாய் உன்னையல்லால் இனி ஏத்த மாட்டேனே.

.... சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

        மறையது பாடிப் பிச்சைக்கு என்றுஅகம் திரிந்து வாழ்வார்

        பிறையது சடைமு டிமேற் பெய்வளை யாள்த னோடும்

        கறையது கண்டம் கொண்டார் காஞ்சிமா நகர்தன் உள்ளார்

        இறையவர் ஆடல் பாடல் இலங்கு மேற்றளிய னாரே

... திருநாவுக்கரசு தேவாரம்

Moolavar: Sri Metraleeswar, Tirumetralinathar.

Consort  : Sri Metrali Nayagi

Some of the important features of this temple are …..

A 3-tier Rajagopuram on the east side of the temple complex with Vinayagar and Subramaniar sannadhis. Balipeedam and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram,  in the praharam. There are two Shiva Shrines inside this temple. The main shrine of Sri Metraleeswarar faces west. The other shrine, Otha Urugesar, is facing east with a Mahavishnu’s pada/footprint in front of Lord Shiva. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, and Durgai. Even though Sri Metraleeswarar is the main deity, Rajagopuram, Rishabam, and balipedam are in front of the Sri Otha Urugeeswarar Shrine.

Sri Otha Urugeeswarar Shrine.

 Maha Vishnu - Brahma

Durga - Chandikeswarar

In the main shrine, Moolavar is of swayambhu, facing west. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, and Durgai. Utsavars ie. procession Deities Chandrasekarar, Vinayagar, and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar are in the ardha mandapam. In Natarajar Saba, Natarajar is painted, and the original idol/ moortham is kept at Kachabesar Temple. Sthala Purana stucco image of Maha Vishnu transforms to Shiva Linga, to Thirugnanasambandar’s song is at the entrance mandapa. 

Sri Metraleeswarar temple 

Sri Metraleeswarar temple 

Sri Metraleeswarar temple 

In the inner praharam Sannadhi for  Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Kasi Viswanathar, Naalvar, Chandikeswarar, and Bhairavar.

In the outer praharam Sannadhi for Navagrahas. Balipeedam with Rishabam is in front of the Sanctum. The Ambal sannidhi in this temple was constructed at a later stage, since, for all Kanchipuram Shiva Temples, Sri Kamakshi Amman is treated as only one deity. Jyeshta Devi’s statue is on the open ground with Manthan and Mandhi.

LEGEND

Maha Vishnu  wishes to get a Shivasaroopam, ie, Shiva Linga idol form. and asked Shiva. Initially, Lord Shiva refused, and Maha Vishnu started penance of Lord Shiva. Finally, Lord Shiva advised Maha Vishnu to go to Kanchipuram and worship him, who is in the form of Swayambhu Linga at Metrali. Maha Vishnu came to Kanchipuram, worshiped Lord Shiva at Thirukachi Metrali, and started penance on Lord Shiva. Thirugnanasambandar, who came to kanchi, on seeing Mahavishnu’s backside and mistook that is Lord Shiva and sang the pathigam. For the Thirugnanasambandar’s song, Vishnu melted with the remains of his foot at the end of his song, and Vishnu got the Shiva Linga form. Even though the Legend says that Thirugnanasambandar has sung the hymn, the same is not available. But Saint Sivagnana Swamigal mentions the above legend in Kanchipurana.

27. திரு மேற்றளிப் படலம் (992- 1002)

1000     சம்பந்தர் பாடலால் திருமால் சாரூபம் பெறுதல்

        என்ற வாய்மொழி திருச்செவி ஏறலும் எங்கோன்

        ஒன்று கூறுத லுற்றனன் உவணமீ துயர்த்தோய்

        நன்று தேர்வைவச் சுதமனு வந்தரம் நணுகும்

        அன்று நாலிரண் டீற்றுடை இருபதாங் கலியில்  

1001     காழி மாநகர்க் கவுணியர் குலத்தொரு காளை

        ஏழி சைத்தமிழ் ஞானசம் பந்தெனம் அடியான்

        யாழ நீபெற எம்முரு இங்குவந் தளிப்பான்

        ஆழி யோயது காறுமிவ் வைரப்பினில் அமர்ந்து. 10

1002     ஈட்ட ருந்தவம் இயற்றுகென் றருளிநீங் குதலும்

        கோட்டம் இன்றிமால் அம்முறை வதிந்துபூங் கொன்றைத்

        தோட்ட லங்கலாற் றொழப்புகும் முத்தமிழ் விரகர்

        பாட்ட லங்கலால் பரஞ்சுடர் திருவுருப் பெற்றான்

Thirugnanasambandar’s sannidhi is at the end of the street. It is believed that Lord Shiva came here and listened to Thirugnanasambandar’s hymns. Hence, there is a Sannadhi available in the middle of the street by the name “Utrukketta Muktheeswarar”; the details of this temple will be posted separately.

108 Rudras, Sikandar, Veerabhadra, Mandalathipathis, Ikrothar, and Pudhan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was built by Pallavas during the 7^th Century. Old Pallava, Sambuvarayar, and Vijayanagara period Tamil inscriptions are found. As per the inscriptions, this temple was reconstructed/renovated during the  Chozha period. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was held on 31-08-2014.

As per Annual Reports on South Indian Epigraphy for the year 1921, No. 86-91; year 1923, No. 101-104. The inscriptions belong to the 16^th reign year of Raja Narayana Mallinathan, Vijayanagara King Mahamandaleswara Sadasiva Deva Maharayar (1484 CE), and Pallava King Thandivikramavarman. As per the inscriptions, this temple was called Thirumetrali Thirukoil, and Lord Shiva was called Thirumetrali Udaya Nayanar.

The Raja Narayana Mallinathar inscription records the gift of 2 veli of Land from the Village Nanthavansutharvilakam of Eyir Kottam.

The Sadasiva Deva Maharayar inscriptions record the collection of 5.5 panam for each thari (a hand-weaving M/c) towards daily worship and burning of Lamps.

Another inscription, ARE 1921 SL 89, of the Danti Vikramavarman period, records that at the request of Kaduvetti Muttaraiyan (an endowment of), four patti of land was made to the Palan-Tiru-Merrali temple with a madam, exempting the taxes as Parikara (what for..?)

Ref:

Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy, Year 1921

POOJAS AND FESTIVALS

Apart from regular poojas, Panguni Uthiram, Kanda Sashti, Thirugnanasamndar’s Guru pooja, and Maha Shivaratri are celebrated grandly.

During Kachabesar, Urchavar Natarajar & Ambal will be brought to this temple, and poojas will be conducted in this mandapam.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple is kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and 17.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple Archakar Chandramouli may be contacted through mobile numbers 9865355572 and 9994585006

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 2 km from the bus stand. It can be reached by Auto/car.

The temple is about 3 km from Kanchipuram Railway Station, 33 km from Arakkonam Junction, and 74 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Kanchipuram, and the Junction is Arakkonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

When the temple was under palalayam

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---