The visit to this Sri Kasi Vishwanathar Temple was
a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit”, on the banks of the Palar River.
Moolavar : Sri
Kasi Viswanathar
Consort :
Sri Kasi Visalakshi
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with a mottai gopuram on the
south side. Balipeedam, dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are on the east side of the
mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of the open mukha mandapam.
Moolavar is on the round avudaiyar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha
Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.
In the praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar,
Nagars, Navagrahas, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Chandran, and Suryan.
Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south. Ambal
is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The original temple was reconstructed and
doesn’t follow any architectural style. The proof for the old temple is the
prastaram and the vyyalavari. The vimanam above the bhumi desam was constructed
with bricks. The vimanam is of 2 talas, greevam, and a dravida sigaram. Shiva,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams. The
mukha mandapam is open on two sides, and the pillars are carved with images of Hindu
deities.
Natarajar is in a separate sannidhi with a 3-tier Gajabirushta
Vimanam, which includes the adi tala. All three talas are square in shape, and greevam was constructed in the Gajaprishta style. Stucco image of Natarajar is
in the Lalada Nasi. Dakshinamurthy, Narasimhar, and Brahma are in the tala and
greeva koshtams.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple authorities claim that the temple was
constructed by the Lala family. When Lala went to Kasi to bring the Shiva Linga,
the temple construction was completed by his grandson Rama Suklala.
As per the structure (Yazhivari in the prastaram),
the temple may be 600 to 700 years old. The whole temple was reconstructed on an elevated level in 19-20th centuries.
Kanchi Mutt Kamakodi Sri Sankaracharya Swamigal,
Kirubananda Variyar, Sadhuram Swamigal, and Mayilai Guruji Sundara Rama
Swamigal worshipped Shiva of this temple.
As per hearsay, when the temple was kept
locked during the Muslim invasion, the Urchavaras were brought to Chennai and kept
in the Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple.
LEGENDS
Since the Shiva Lingam was brought from Kasi, it is
believed that worshipping the Shiva of this temple is equivalent to worshipping
Kasi Viswanathar.
It is said that those who could not go to Kasi can offer their prayers at this temple.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, and other important Hindu religious
functions.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to
11.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The temple is on the State Highway from Arcot to
Kalavai, Cheyyar, and Vandavasi.
The temple is about 1.8 km from Arcot bus stand,
9.5 km from Walajah Road Junction, 17.5 km from Ranipet, 28.5 km from Vellore, 30.5
km from Arani, 31.5 km from Sholinghur, and 46.5 km from Kanchipuram.
The nearest Railway Station is Walajah Road
Junction.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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