Kaichinam Kaichineswarar Temple / Kaichinneswarar Temple / கச்சனம் கைச்சின்னேசுவரர் கோயில் / கைச்சினம்/ Kaichinam – Katchanam, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 239^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 122^nd sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri in  Chozha Nadu. This place was called Kaichinam during the Thevara period and is now called Katchanam.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that  Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunellikaval.

நம்பர்மகிழ் திருஆரூர் வணங்கிப் போந்து

        நலம்கொள் திருக்காறாயில் நண்ணி ஏத்திப்

பைம்புனல்மென் பணைத்தேவூர் அணைந்து போற்றிப்

        பரமர் திருநெல்லிக்காப் பணிந்து பாடி

உம்பர்பிரான் கைச்சினமும் பரவித் தெங்கூர்

        ஓங்கு புகழ்த் திருக்கொள்ளிக் காடும் போற்றிச்

செம்பொன்மதில் கோட்டூரும் வணங்கி ஏத்தித்

        திருமலி வெண்துறை தொழுவான் சென்று சேர்ந்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

தையலோர் கூறுடையான் தண்மதிசேர் செஞ்சடையான்

மையுளா மணிமிடற்றான் மறைவிளங்கு பாடலான்

நெய்யுலா மூவிலைவேல் ஏந்தி நிவந்தொளிசேர்

கையுடையான் மேவியுறை கோயில் கைச்சினமே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                                     -“நையுமன

மைச் சினத்தை விட்டோர் மனதிற் சுவை கொடுத்துக்

கச்சினத்தினுட் கரையாக் கற்கண்டே”

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Kaichineswarar, Sri Karachinaeswarar

Consort    : Sri Suvedhavalai Nayagi , Sri Velvalai Nayagi

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

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Rishabam, and Dwajasthambam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. In koshtam, Dakshinamurthy is as Rishabaroodar,

In the praharam Vinayagar, Vidhooman worshiped Vidhoo Shiva Lingam, Subramaniar, Ambal, Perumal, Kasi Viswanathar, Agasthiya Lingam, Arumugar,  Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas, Bhairavar, Vinayagar, Saneeswaran, Kanguvana Nathar, and Suriyan. Somaskandar, as Sri Thiagarajar, is in a separate Sannidhi. Jyeshta Devi (Thavvai) is also in the prakaram.

ARCHITECTURE

Ambal is in a separate temple. The main temple consists of, sanctum Sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. A Vesara Vimana is in the sanctum. A two-tier Brck Vesara Vimanam is on the Sanctum Sanctorum without many stucco images. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This is one of the Mada Temples constructed by Ko Chenkat Chozhan. Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century, and the same was reconstructed as a stone temple by Chozhas and further extended by  Vijayanagara Nayakas.

The Maha Vishnu with Sangu and Chakra was unearthed from the land belonging to this temple. The same was installed in the north prahara.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Chozha Kings Rajendra Chozha, Vikrama Chozha, Kulothunga Chozha, Rajathirajan-II, Kulothunga Chozha-III, Pandya King Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan, and Vijayanagara Kings Veerabhupathy Veerappa Udayar.

As per the inscriptions, this place was called Rajendra Chozha Valanattu Arvalakootrathu Kachinam (Rajathirajan-II period), Rajendra Chozha Valanattu Vadakkal Vendazhai  Velur Kootrathu Achinapatru (Vijayanagara period Veerappanna Udayar).  And Lord Shiva was called as “Thirukaichinamudayar”, “Kongu Vaneswara Swamy”, “Thirukaichinamudaya Nayanar” and “Karachinneswarar”.

During Rajaraja –II (III), period, records the endowment of burning two perpetual lamps by Arangan Adkondan. For the same 50 kasus were received by 3 bhattars.

Rajendra Chozha’s 30^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning lamps in the early morning and celebrates Thiruvizha in Vaikasi and Margazhi by the King for the same land at Pandya Mandalam was donated.

Kulothunga Chozha-III, period inscription also records the endowment of a burning Sandhi lamp by Annadhana Nangai for the same money that was gifted.

Kulothunga Chozha –III’s 40^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning perpetual lamp by a resident of Kaichinam called Nilapadi Udayan Avaiyambukkan Sivandavanap peruman. For the same, a sum of 2200 kasus was received by the Siva Brahmins.

During Rajathirajan-II’s 12^th reign year, an inscription records that an amount of  100 kasu was received by the Siva Brahmins for burning a perpetual lamp from certain individuals. 

Jadavarman Sundara Pandya’s 10^th  reign year inscription records the celebration of Vaikasi Vasantha Utsavam, for the same land was gifted by Mudumbai Village, Somadeva Bhattan’s son Kesava Bhattan.

During Vijayanagara King Viruppanna Udayar’s period, inscription Saka 1307 ie 1385 CE, The lands situated in the villages in the name of Mutharasar, were gifted to Chathurvedi Bhattars, as Irayili after exempting taxes.

Veera Bhupathi Udayar’s period 1420 CE  inscription records that a Land and housing plot was gifted to Kongu …., who belongs to  Uthirangudi.

In Vikrama Chozha’s 12^th reign year, an inscription records the list of lands belonging to this temple. This inscription also refers to Kulothunga Chozha-I’s 40^th reign year rule. This inscription was inscribed on the Shrine of “Konguvaneswara Swamy”

Rajendra Chozha-III’s 32^nd reign year inscription records the endowment of celebrating Thirupalli ezhuchi, Vaikasi Utsavam, Thirukalappadi, Kalai sandhi worship, and burning perpetual lamps, by Pandiya Nadu Chozha Pandiya Mandalathu, Madhurothaya Valanattu, Palakurichi Aryan Thirumaraikadu Udayan, for the same land was gifted.

LEGENDS

Thirunavindhu, Indira got relieved from the curse and had Lord Shiva’s darshan as Thiyagarajar, Agasthiyar (got rid of Brahmahathi dosham), worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Indiran made this lingam with sand, hence his hand marks are called Kaichinam.

This legend is associated with Indra and Ahalya /Ahilya. Indra had fallen in love with Maharishi Gautama’s wife Ahalya, who was most beautiful and much younger than the Maharishi. It was around midnight, and Indra gave the sound of Cock and a crow. Gautama Maharishi thought it was dawn, and went to the river to take bath and to complete the morning rituals. In the meantime, Indra took the form of Gautama Maharishi and went to the ashram. Ahalya didn’t suspect Indra’s more unusual acts. With Ahalya’s cooperation, Indra seduced Ahalya (Extra-marital affairs), Ahalya. Indra continued to enjoy the dalliance with Ahalya till Gautama Maharishi returned to the ashram. As per Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Ahalya came to bathe in the Svarnadhi (heavenly river), and Indra became infatuated with her when he saw her. Assuming Gautama’s form, Indra had sex with Ahalya until they sank into the riverbed in exhaustion. When Gautama Maharishi realised that it was folly / foul play of Indra. He returned to the ashram and found Indra was escaping. He cursed both, ie Ahalya to be turned into stone (Later, She got her original form after Rama’s feet touched the stone).

Indra went to many Shiva Temples and worshiped Lord Shiva to get rid of the curse. This is one of the temples where Indra made a Shiva Linga out of Sand and worshiped Lord Shiva. Satisfied with Indra’s prayers, Lord Shiva relieved him from the Gautama Maharishi’s curse.

It is believed that persons with some person's spirit (pei pidithal), affected by the Pilli soonyam – Black magic – will get relieved after worshiping Lord Shiva of this temple.    

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on 10 days festival Vaikasi Visakam festival in the month Vaikasi (May – June), Thirumanjanam in the month Ani (June – July), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani (Aug – Sept), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thirukarthigai and Sundays in the month Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi (Dec-Jan),  Skanda Sashti and Thaipoosam in the month Thai (Jan – Feb), Masi Maham and Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb – March), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni (March – April) and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number of Muthusamy Gurukkal is +91 9486319151 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The place Katchanam is on the bus route from Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi.

The temple at Katchanam is 10 km from Thiruthuraipoondi, 19 km from Thiruvarur, 29 km from Mannargudi, 51 km from Vedaranyam, and 350 km from Chennai 

The nearest Railway Station is Thiruthuraipoondi, and the  Junction is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

Ambal Temple entrance

Natarajar Sabha - Only painting of Natarajar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---