Sri Gangadeeswarar Temple / கங்காதீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Thenambakkam, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Gangadeeswarar Temple at Thenambakkam was a part of “Maha Shivaratri 2023- Shiva temples Visit” organised by “தெய்வ வழிபாட்டு குழு காஞ்சி”, under the leadership of Mr Barani Daran and Mr Vels Kumaran.

Moolavar  : Sri Gangadeeswarar

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Kamakshi worshipping Shiva Lingam, Maha Vishnu, Kamakshi, Adi Sankarar and Maha Periyava are on the entrance arch. Moolavar is on a round Avudayar. 

A Deepa sthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam are under the metacolour sheet mandapam. There is no images in the koshtam. Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati is on the top of the mukha mandapam.

A vilakku madam is on the top of sanctum sanctorum entrance. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Murugan and Shiva & Parvati in the form of rishabaroodar are on the top of Sanctum sanctorum entrance.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and a meta colour sheet mukha mandapam. The koshtas are not of shallow type to accommodate koshta murtis. An ekatala vesara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Shiva, Dakshinamuthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the greeva koshtam.  The Temple walls are fixed with granite slabs to make it modern style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple may be constructed during Pallava Period. During our last Visit in 2019, Moolavar was with  sanctum sanctorum and without out basic structure of a temple. The temple was reconstructed to the present status.

LEGENDS

The 18^th Century saint Sri Sivagnana Swamigal, had written the sthala purana of Sri Gangadeecharam of Kanchipuranam, under Sarva Theerta Padalam. Since there are many temples on the same name in Kanchipuram City, we may consider the same sthala purana is applicable to this temple also. As per the legend The River Ganga worshipped Shiva of this temple. 

கங்காவரேச்சரம்

மற்றதன் கரையின் கீழ்பால் வருணெனம் பெருமான் றன்னை

முற்றிழைக் கங்கை யாளோ டிருத்திமுன் தொழுது நீருள்

உற்றுறை உயிர்க்கும் நீர்க்கும் ஒருதனித் தலைவ னாகப்

பெற்றனன் அதன்பேர் கங்கா வரமெனப் பிறங்கு மாலோ

POOJAS AN CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala regular poojas, special are conducted on Fridays, Pradoshams and Maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening and closing time are unpredictable. 

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

This temple is at Thenambakkam, about 1 KM off from Kanchipuram to Walajabad Road.

The temple is 6.4 KM from Kanchipuram Bus stand, 8 KM from Kanchipuram Railway station, and 80 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kanchipuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

OLD PHOTOGRAPHS

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Merku Kailasanathar Temple, Erikarai (West) Kailasanathar Temple Sevilimedu / எரிகரை (வெஸ்ட்) கைலாசநாதர் கோயில் செவிலிமேடு / Sevilimedu, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District Tamil Nadu.

அரவெனும் ராகு ஐயனே போற்றி

கரவா தருள்வாய் கஷ்டங்கள் நீக்கி

ஆக அருள்புரி அனைத்திலும் வெற்றி

ராகுக் கனியோ ரம்மியா போற்றி

கேது தேவே கீர்த்தித் திருவே !

பாதம் போற்றி ! பாவம் தீர்ப்பாய்

வாதம் வம்பு வழக்குகளினிறி

கேது தேவே கேன்மையாய் ரட்சி..!

The Visit to this Sri Merku Kailasanathar, Dakshina Kailasanathar and Uthra Kailasanathar temples  at Sevilimedu was a part of “Maha Shivaratri 2023- Shiva Temples Visit” organised by “தெய்வ வழிபாட்டு குழு காஞ்சி”, under the leadership of Mr Barani Daran and Mr Vels Kumaran.

Since there is also another Kailasanathar temple in the same Village on the east side, this Shiva temple on the west side of the Village is called as Merku Kailasanathar Temple. The temple was under renovation during my last visit in 2019.

Moolavar  : Sri Kailasanathar

Moolavar  : Sri Uthara Kailasanar

Moolavar  : Sri Dakshina Kailasanathar

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

The temple is facing west with an entrance arch on the south side. Stucco images of a Shiva Lingam, Rahu and Ketu, Adi Sankarar and Maha Periyava are on the entrance arch. A balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is of Dhara Lingam with 8 flat surfaces. In Kishtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma Brahma. 

In praharam Dakshina Kailasanathar, Uthra Kailasanathar, SaneeswararNagars, Swarna Akarshana bairavar and Chandikeswarar. Dakshina and Uthara Kailasanathar Sannidhis are on both sides of the Main temple and facing east with balipeedam and rishabam. Uthara and Dakshina Kailasanathar temples moolavars are also of Dhara Lingams. The temple tank is on the north side of the temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple is on a Pada bandha adhisthanam with three patta kumudam. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum and ardha mandapam and an open mukha mandapam. The adhistanam was constructed with stone. The sanctum wall and Ekatala Vesara Vimanam are constructed with Bricks. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati in the form of Rishabaroodar is on the top of the mukha mandapam ( West side ).

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple belongs to Pallava period and latter reconstructed during recent years. No inscriptions was found in this temple to prove its antiquity.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 18th January 1989, 3rd July 2006 and 2020. 

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Devas and Asuras churned the milk ocean to get the amirt, to live immortality. They used Mandara hill as Churn keeping on Tortoise ( the Koorma avatar of Maha Vishnu ) and the Vasuki as string / rope.

After the amrit was churned, Maha Vishnu started distributing to Devas, in the form of Mohini, ignoring Demons / Asuras. Swarnabanu a Demon wished to consume the amrit. Swarnabanu was a demon, born to Viprasithu son of Kasiba Maharishi and Simkigai, called as Simkiyen also called as Swarnabanu. During distribution of Amrit to Devas, Swarnabaanu ( Ketu ) changed his appearance as Deva and received amrit sitting between Chandran and Suryan. When this was informed to Maha Vishnu, Maha Vishnu hit on the head of Swarnabanu with the spoon used for distribution of Amit. On hitting, Swarnabanu’s head and body has got separated. The head has become Ketu with Naga’s body. The body has become Rahu with snake head. Both did penance on Shiva and obtained the position of planets and the people worships Rahu and Ketu as 8^th and 9^th Planets.

It is believed that Rahu and Ketu worshiped Shiva of this temple, hence this temple is believed to be a Parikara sthalam for Rahu and Ketu. The images of Rahu and Ketu are on the top of the Entrance arch.

Devotees prays Ketu for family problem, Child boon, Pithru dosha, Nagadosha, marriage etc,.

POOJAS AN CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since orukala pooja is conducted the opening and closing times are unpredictable.

CONTACT DETAILS

R Mahesh Gurukkal’s mobile number +919677580819 and G Mani’s mobile number +919994921252 may be contacted for further details. 

HOW TO REACH

The temple is at Sevilimedu on the banks of the Sevilimedu Eri.

The temple is about 750 meters off from Kanchipuram to Vandavasi road, 5.5 KM from Kanchipuram Bus Stand, 7 KM from Kanchipuram Railway Station and 86 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station Kanchipuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Please refer my Previous years post in Google photos of this temple

Swarna-akarshana Bairavar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Athipatheeswarar Temple, Aladi Pillayar koil Street, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Athipatheeswarar Temple on Aladi Pillayar Koil Street in Kanchipuram was a part of “Maha Shivaratri 2023- Shiva Temples Visit” organised by “தெய்வ வழிபாட்டு குழு காஞ்சி”, under the leadership of Mr Barani Daran and Mr Vels Kumaran.

Moolavar : Sri Athipatheeswarar

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

He temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. There is no koshtas. In prakaram Vinayagar, Nagars and Chandikeswarar. A rishabam / damaged is kept on the back side

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam ( the Meta colour sheet mukha mandapam was added during recent years ). The temple is about 3 feet lower than the road level. The complete temple was reconstructed during recent years with brick and an Eka tala Vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. The walls and the greeva don’t have the koshtas / niches, hence there is no images.

LEGENDS

The legend of the Kanchipuam temples is also applicable to this temple. Brahma was in the process of conducting the Yaga with out Saraswati. Saraswati has got angry, took the form of Vegavathi river during the night time, tried to destroy the Yaga. As per the instruction of Shiva, Maha Vishnu in the form of Vilakkoli Perumal stopped Vegavathi for conducting the Yaga without interruption. Maha Vishnu installed this Shiva Linga and worshipped.

POOJAS AN CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham and Maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening and closing times are unpredictable. But usually the temple will be kept opened during morning hours.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The temple is close to Moongil mandapam, all the buses towards Bus stand stops at moongil mandapam.

The temple is about 1.8 KM from Kanchipuram Bus stand, 3.3 KM from Kanchipuram Railway station and 82 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kanchipuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Hero stone / Arikandam / Veerakallu / வீரக்கல் / அரிகண்டம் / நவகண்டம், Ukkal, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Navakanda Hero stone at Ukkal, was a part of REACH Foundation’s Epigraphic field visit on 26^th February 2023. The Village Ukkal is on the banks of river Cheyyar a tributary river to Palar. This place Ukkal is about 12 KM from Magaral, a Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam. On the way to Sri Bhuvanamanicka Perumal temple, happened to see this Navakanda Hero stone installed at a Junction of 4 roads and there is another hero stone in a shrine near the 4 road junction.

An old Navakanda sculpture was found lying on the toad side few years before. In place of that a sculpture was installed in the junction of 3 roads. The Hero is shown with big mustache, head gear, ornaments on the neck and half dress below the hip.

உக்கல் என்ற ஊர் திருவண்ணாமலை மாவட்டத்தில் பாலாற்றின் உப நதியான செய்யாற்றின் கரையிலும், பாடல்பெற்ற தலமான மாகரல் என்ற சிவன் கோயிலுக்கு 12 கிலோமீட்டர் தூரத்திலும் அமைந்துள்ளது. இவ்வூர் சிவன் கோயில் செல்லும் வழியில், நான்கு சாலைகளின் சந்திப்பில் இரண்டு தூண்களுடன் அமைக்கப்பட்ட மேடை மீது இந்த நவகண்ட சிற்பம் நடப்பட்டு உள்ளது. இவ்வீரன் நாயக்கர் கால சிற்ப அமைதியில் இருந்து சற்று மாறுபட்டு, மீசை, கழுத்தில் ஆபரணங்கள் மற்றும் தலையில் கிரீடத்துடன் காணப்படுகின்றார். சிலை சமீப காலங்களில் செய்யப்பட்டு இருக்கலாம் என்பது ஆய்வாளர்களின் கருத்து. இவ்வூரில் அதன் அருகே மற்றொரு அரிகண்ட சிற்பமும் காணப்படுகின்றது தனி சன்னதியில்.

HOW TO REACH

This place Ukkal is Kanchipuram to Vandavasi road, 18 KM south of Kanchipuram and 2.5 KM from Koolamandal, 51 KM from Chengalpattu, 66 KM from Tambaram and 95 KM from Chennai.

Nearest railway Station is Kanchipuram.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ----

Sri Saatchi Boodeshwarar Temple / Sri Chatchibhuth Eswarar Temple / Sri Sakshi Bhutheswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ சாட்சி பூதேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Thiruvalangadu / திருவாலங்காடு, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Saatchibuth Eswarar Temple / Sri Saatchi Boodeshwarar Temple  was a part of REACH Foundation Heritage walk to Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple at Thiruvalangadu, Poondi, Thiruvirkolam, Sri Agneeswarar Temple a Neyveli, The Madras Tool factory, etc, on 23rd July 2013. ( This post was separated from the Combined post, written with Architecture, Legends, History etc. Please click the Link to view the previous post )

 

 Sakshi Bhutheswarar temple 

Moolavar     : Sri Saatchi Bhoodeshwarar

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

The temple is facing east with and entrance arch on the mukha mandapam. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati as Rishaba roodar is on the top of the mukhs mandapam. Vinayagar is on the left side of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is the sanctum sanctorum is on a Round avudayar. There is no provision of Koshtams and hence there is no images. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum with a Mukha mandapam. The adhisthanan is of 3 anga. An Ekatala Vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.   

HISTORY

It is claimed that the temple belongs to Pallava Period and there is no evidence found in terms of inscriptions.  

LEGENDS

The memorial constructed for the 70 vellaras who ends their life by jumping in to fire is just opposite to the Temple. The story behind that was the vellalars promised in front of Lord Shiva Sri Sakshi Bhutheswarar temple  to save the life of the merchant from Neeli, a ghost, but could not do so. The Neeli killed the merchant. So they ends their life. It is believed that this incident happened approximately 2500 years before.  In side the pit bas-reliefs are found around the wall.

This incident was recorded in the fom of songs by Cheran, Chozhan and Pandyan in the form of poem as given below ( Displayed at the temple ).

திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்

பழையனூர் திருவாலங்காடு வேளாளர் எழுபதின்மர் வணிகனுக்குத்தாம் அளித்த வாக்கினைப் புரக்கத் தீக்குழி பாயந்து உயிர்துறந்த புலத்தையும் வீரக்கல்லையும் கண்டு பாடியவை

சேரன்

யாவரே காராளர் ! யாவர் இணையாவார் !

நாவலோ ! நாவலோ ! நாவலோ ! - கோவைப்

பொருப்பால் அளித்தார்க்குப் போதுமே உண்மை

நெருப்பால் அளித்தார்க்கு நேர் !

சோழன்

எல்லை பலகடந்திட் டெங்கும் புகழ்பூத்துத்

தொல்லை மனுக்காக்கத் தோன்றிற்றே - கொல்லை

வழியில் ஒரு பேய்நின்று வஞ்சனையால் செய்த

குழியில்எழு செந்தீக் கொழுந்து,

பாண்டியன்

பிழைத்தாரோ காராளர் பேய்மகள் சொற்கேட்டுப்

பிழைத்தார்கள் அல்லர் பிழைதீர்ந்தார் - பிழைத்தார்கள்

எல்லோரும் காண எரியகத்தே முழ்கினார்

எல்லோரும் இன்றும் உளர்.

சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத் தலைமை நீதிபதி

உயர்திரு.மா. அனந்தநாராயணன் I C.S. அவர்கள்

பொய்யா முலகில் புகலரிய சொற்காத்த

வெய்தாமிக் காராளர் வேள்விதனை-அய்யாவோ!

என்னென் றுரைப்பேன் எழில்கூத்தர் கால்கழலின்

பொன்னென் றுரைப்பேனிப் போது."

திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்,

தமிழ்நட்டு முதலமைச்சர் கணம் திரு.M.பக்தவத்சலம் அவர்கள் 25-7-1986 திங்கட்கிழமை திறந்து வைத்தார்கள்,

HOW TO REACH 

The temple is at Palayanur and about a KM from Thiruvalangadu Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple, 18 KM from Thiruvallur Bus Stand, 65 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Manavur and biggest Railway Station is Thiruvallur. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE     : CLICK HERE

 Sthala varalaru

Bas reliefs around the inner wall

 Bas- reliefs of Vellalar entering in to the fire 

A memorial mandapam for the 70 vellalars jumped in to the fire to ends their life. 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---