Sri Kanchaneswarar Temple / Jyoti Linkeswarar Temple / Kanchanagiri shivan malai / Thiru Kanchanagiri Devasthanam / Murugan Temple, காஞ்சனகிரி சிவன் மலை, Lala Pettai, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Kanchanagiri Hill temples, was a part of Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Shiva Temple and Kanchanagiri Temples Visit around Walajapet, on 15^th October 2023. Thanks to Ramesh Krishnamurthy, who took me to these places. The Hill consists of Jyoti Lingeswarar Temple, Murugan Temple, Sri Kanchaneswarar / 1008 Adi Swayambhu Lingas and a Bell rock.

SRI KANCHANESWARAR TEMPLE /1008 ADI SWAYAMBHU LINGAS

Moolavar  : Sri Swambhu Sri Kanchaneswarar

Consort    : Sri Kanchaneswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

Temple also called as Vettaveli Parabrahmam.  This temple is open to Sky with Various Shapes of Shiva lingas in Green Stones. It was told that these Shiva Lingas are collected from this hill by Sri Siva Gnana Swamigal, whose Samadhi is in front of this open to Sky temple.

HISTORY AND LEGENDS

About 80 years before ie in 1938, an industrialist of Malesiya Sivagnanam, latter called as Sri Sivagnana Swamigal came to this Kanchanagiri, spent everything that he earned for this Kanchanagiri Hill.  He built the Murugan temple, Temple Tank, Saptakannis Sannidhi and Anjaneyar sannidhi. He attained Samadhi in 1973. After he attained Samadhi, his disciple Gengammal looked after these temples. It was told that the present trustees are her descendents.  

It is further believed that the blood spilled on this hill turned in to a Shiva Lingam. These Shiva Lingams on the hill, are collected and installed at this place. The Siddhar Sri Sivagnana Swamigal’s Samadhi is in front of this temple.  

Sri Sivagnana Swamigal Samadhi

Sri Sivagnana Swamigal's painting on the south side wall of Dandayuthapani's sannidhi

THE STHALA PURANAM 

The Rishaba in the inner prakara and Stucco Rishaba are facing the same direction as moolavar of Sri Vilvanatheswarar Temple of Thiruvalam. There is an interesting legend behind this. The Demon Kanchan was an ardent devotee of Shiva. He did a penance on Shiva of Thiruvalam. Shiva didn’t gave darshan. Disappointed Demon, tortured the Gurukkal who brought water to Shiva’s abhishekam from this Kanchanagiri - the hill is just opposite to Sri Vilvanatheswarar Temple. When the same was reported to Shiva, Shiva ordered Rishabam to take care of the Gurukkal. Rishabam, killed the demon, tore him in to pieces and throw the pieces around the Hill. The Village names are being called in the names of the Demon’s parts of the body ( Legs – Thengal & Vadagal,  Hands - Maniyambattu, Eeral / Liver / Eerakulai  - Avarakarai, Heart – Lala Pettai, Head – Sikarajapuram, Hip – Kugaiyanallore, Chest / Marbu – Maveri ). The atma of Kanchan begged Shiva to pardon him. Shiva pardoned him and named the hill as Kanchanagiri. 

Also the Rishaba at the temple faces the Hill, to watch the demon, shouldn’t come again. Hence the Rishabas are facing east. This Sthala puranam in Stucco is in the Mukha Mandapam and there is bas-relief carved on the mandapam pillar also.

Sthala puranam Basrelief from Thiruvalam Sri Vivanatheeswarar Temple 

Sthalapurana bas-reliefs

Sthala purana bas-reliefs

Rishabam kills the demon Kanchan - the sthala puranam

Sthala purana bas-reliefs- The priests are carrying water for Moolavar abhishekam

The Rishabam - looking opposite direction 

The Kanchan, A Demon related to sthala puranam

JYOTI LINGESWARAR TEMPLE.

Moolavar : Sri Jyoti Linkeswarar / Jyothi Lingeswarar 

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

This temple is on the flat surface of the Hill under a metacolour sheet shed. A Stucco Rishabam is in front of the Shed. A Big Shiva Linga is inside the Shed. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are around the Big Shiva Lingam. A Small Shiva Linga ie Jyoti Linkeswarar is in front of the Big Shiva Lingam.

Maha Vishnu - on the back side of Big Shiva Lingam

SRI SUBRAMANIA SWAMY TEMPLE / MURUGAN TEMPLE

This temple is on the South side of the Jyotir linga Temple and the temple tank created by Sri Sivagnana swamigal is in front of Temple.

Moolavar  : Sri Subramaniar

Consorts  : Sri Valli Devasena.

Some of the Salient features f this temple are..

The temple is facing east with a Vel, balipeedam and Peacock vahana are in front of sanctum sanctorum. In Sanctorum, Sri Subramaniar is with Sri Valli Devasena.

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum and a mukha mandapam. A two tala dravida stucco Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Murugan’s Various forms along with Sri Valli Devasena.

BELL ROCK, KANCHANAGIRI.

A flat stone on the top of the hill is called as Bell rock. Since the stone gives musical notes like bronze bell when tapped with a small stone. It is believed that this flat stone is the throat of the Demon Kanchan.

The Link to the Video 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS IN ALL THE TEMPLES.

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Mutrum Othuthal on Sundays from 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Thaipoosam, Kiruthigai, Pournami Poojas. Annadhanam will be served on all the above days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temples will be kept opened for darshan from 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Trustees Lion K Balakrishnan +919043011007, +91 9443247459, +916369144099, Secretary L C Subramani +916381899831 and Treasurer R Vadivel +917010826286 may be contacted for annadhanam and further details.

HOW TO REACH

The Temple is just opposite to Sri Vilvanatheswarar, Temple at Tiruvalam and can be accessed from Lala Pettai. A 4 KM Tar topped road is provided from the base of the hill up to the temple.

The hill base is about a KM from Lala Pettai. The Hill is about 8.7 KM from Thiruvalam Shiva Temple, 9.6 KM from Ranipet, 16.3 KM from Arcot, 28.4 KM from Vellore and 127  KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Ranipet.    

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

Temple Tank 

 Nagars with Vinayagar under cannon ball tree

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---