5 Famous Temples To Visit In Kanchipuram

Visited on: 26^th August, 2016 and 22^nd November, 2016

Location

Thakkolam is situated at a distance of about 26 kms from Kanchipuram on Kanchipuram to Arakkonam route. From Arakkonam, it is about 12 kms.

From Thiruvallur it is about 27 kms.

Thakkolam has a railway station and this temple is 5 kms away from the station.

Other Paadal Petra Shivasthalams near Thakkolam are – Ilambaiyangkottor (10 kms), Thiruvirkolam (16 kms), Thirumalpur (17 kms), Thirupachur (26 kms) and Thiruvenpakkam/Poondi (35 kms). 

General Information

There are two adjacent temples situated on the banks of the river Kusasthalai, also called as Kallaru - Sri Jalanatheeswarar Temple and Sri Gangadheeswarar Temple.

During both my visits, the Gangadheeswarar temple was locked. For some reason this temple has been closed for a long time. The renovation works are half done and the consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam) is also pending for a long time. 

It is believed that Saint Thirugnanasambanthar rendered his hymn at Sri Gangadhareswarar temple only.

Sri Jalanatheeswarar Temple

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 12^th Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu.
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This lingam is not touched by human hands, not even by the priests, as it is “Theendathirumeni”.
• The 3-tiers main tower (Rajagopuram) is facing the west and has two corridors. The Moolavar’s shrine is facing east.

Visited on: 26^th August, 2016 and 22^nd November, 2016

Location

Thirumalpur is at a distance of about 14 kms from Kanchipuram on the Kanchipuram to Arakkonam route. There is a Railway Station at Thirumalpur. The temple is 5 kms away from this railway station.

From Thiruvallur it is about 40 kms.

Other Paadal Petra Shivasthalams near Thirumalpur are - Thakkolam (17 kms), Kuranganil Muttam (30 kms), Thiru Magaral (30 kms) and Thiru Vanparthan Panangattur (37 kms).

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 11^th Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu.
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi, (self-manifested).
• It is believed that the Moolavar of this temple is made of sand by Goddess Parvathi herself.
• This lingam is not touched by human hands, not even by the priests, as it is “Theendathirumeni” and is always covered by a metal sheet (kavacham).
• Lord Mahavishnu got his discus (Sudarshana Chakaram) from Lord Shiva here.
•  This is an east facing temple that has two corridors and a main tower (Rajagopuram) with 5-tiers.

History of the Temple

This ancient temple is located on the banks of Virudhasheera river (Palaru) and is said to be more than 1500 years old. The temple is said to have been built by King Paranthaka Chola-I.

Visited on: 27^th August, 2016 and 22^nd November, 2016

Location

Thiru Vothur is situated at a distance of about 30 kms from Kanchipuram. From Kanchipuram, there is a straight road to Thiruvothur.

From Vandavasi, it is about 16 kms on the Vandavasi - Arcot route and from Thusi it is about 20 kms on the Kanchipuram - Vandavasi route.

Other Paadal Petra Shivasthalams near Thiruvothur are – Vanparthan Panagattur (20 kms), Kuranganil Muttam (24 kms) and Thirumagaral (28 kms).

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 8^th Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu.
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi, (self-manifested).
• This temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 7-tiers
• This is one of the few temples where palm tree is the sthala viruksham – they are – Thiruvothur, Thirupananthal, Thirupanaiyur, Thiru Vanparthan Panangkattur,  Puravar Panangkattur, Thiru Mazhapadi and Thiru Valampuram.

History of the Temple

It is believed that this temple was constructed during 6^th century CE.

Visited on: 27^th August, 2016 and 22^nd November, 2016

Location

Thiru Vanparthan Panangkattur is at a distance of about 19 kms from Kanchipuram. From Kanchipuram, first reach Thusi (10 kms) on Kanchipuram to Vandavasi route. After travelling a distance of 6 kms on Kalavai – Venpakkam -Perungkattur route, you can find a beautiful arch at the beginning of the road to Thirupanangkadu. From the arch the temple is at a distance of about 3 kms.

Other Paadal Petra Shivasthalams near Vanparthan Panangkattur are – Kuranganil Muttam (10 kms), Thiruvothur (20 kms), Thirumagaral (26 kms) and Thirumalpur (37 kms).

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 9^th Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. 
• There are two main presiding deities in this temple.
• Lord Thalapureeswarar was installed and worshiped by Sage Agasthiyar. This lingam is said to be a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• Lord Krupanatheswarar was installed and worshiped by Sage Agasthiyar’s disciple, Sage Pulasthiyar.
• This is an east facing temple and it has an arch type entrance with two corridors. There is no main tower (Rajagopuram) in this temple.
• The vimanam (roof tower) of both the sanctum sanctorum is designed in a special way that is exclusive to Pallava architecture - the Gaja Brishtam, that looks like the rear of an elephant (Gaja - elephant, brishtam - rear).
• Of the 276 Paadal Petra Shivasthalams, very few temples have Palm tree (Panai) as their Sthala Viruksham. This temple is one of them. Some of the others are Panaiyur, Panankattur, Puravaar Panankattur, Cheyyar, Thirumazhapadi, Thiru Valampuram and Thiruppanandal.
• The last consecration ceremony (Mahakumbabishekam) was conducted in the year 1995.

History of the Temple

It is said that in ancient times this place was full of palm (Panai) trees and hence the place is called Panangkattur and the lord here is named “Sri Panangkatteeswarar”. However, now this place is known as Thirupanangadu.

As per the stone inscriptions installed in the temple, Devakottai Sri A.Ekappa Chettiar’s family had renovated and constructed this temple. The consecration ceremony (Mahakumbabishekam) was also conducted by them in the year 1928. Sri Ekappa Chettiar’s statue can be seen in the main hall of the temple. It is believed that in the year 1915, Ekappa Chettiar who was in a property litigation case, prayed to Lord Shiva for help. Further, after browsing the devaram book he selected the pathigam of this temple and started reciting it. He also committed himself to do something for this temple if the judgement in the legal case fell in his favour. Later, after he won the case he visited this temple and found that it was in ruins. He renovated it using all the money that he had got from the settlement.

Visited on: 27^th August, 2016 and 22^nd November, 2016

Location

Thiru Kuranganilmuttam is on the Kanchipuram to Vanthavasi route. After travelling about 10 kms from Kanchipuram, you can reach village Thusi and from here take a diversion road to Kuranganilmuttam. The temple is at a distance of about 2 kms from Thusi. 

Other Paadal Petra Shivasthalams near Kuranganilmuttam are – Vanparthan Panangattur (10 kms), Thirumagaral (13 kms), Thirumalpur (25 kms), and Thiruvothur (Cheyyar) (25 kms).

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 6^th Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. 
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This is a west-facing temple with two corridors and no main tower (Rajagopuram).
• The last Consecration ceremony (Mahakumbabishegam) was held on 04.02.1985.

History of the Temple

The temple is situated on the southern bank of Palaru river and it is believed to have been built by Pallava King Mahendra Verman in 637 CE. 

Legend

The legend is that once Vali (the monkey king of Kishkindha), Indhran (the king of the celestial gods) and Yama (the lord of death) were cursed by sages for their wrong doings and were made to take the forms of a monkey, a squirrel and a crow respectively.