TEMPLES IN KANCHIPURAM

Ashtabuja Perumal Temple

The deity in the shrine has got eight hands which is something super natural. Lord Vishnu is portrayed in a standing posture, facing the Western side. This is a very old temple and tourists can find many stone carvings in this temple.

Ekambareswarar Temple

This Ekambareswarar Temple is one of the old temples found in Kanchipuram. The pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar rulers renovated this temple respectively to their own taste. The tomb is 57 metres in height and it is the tallest towers of the Southern India. There are fine big corridors and a thousand pillar hall. The huge and one among the five Lingas of South India, ‘Prithvilingam’, is found in this temple.

Kamakshi Amman Temple

This Temple was built in the 14th Century by the Chola artisans. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi. Goddess Kamakshi is workshipped which is in the form of a chakra, placed in front of the idol. There is also an image of Sankaracharya, whose statue is also worshipped. It is in this temple Sankaracharya defeated the Buddhist philosophers who had a debate. Sakthi worship in India is in three places – Madurai, Varanasi and Kanchipuram. There is also a golden tomb in the centre of the shrine. The annual chariot festival is held in this temple.

Kumarakottam Sri Subramaniya Swami Temple

The temple was finally renovated in 1915. There is lot of things to be spoken about this temple. Hindu mythology finds a very specific and important position for Sri subramaniya swami, in this temple. The Hindus on their pilgrimage should surely visit this temple. The mention of the location of the temple in the Hindu books is a rare phenomenon. There is a posture of “Soma Skandha” indicating Lord Shiva seated with Goddess Shakthi to his left and their son, Lord Subramanya seated between them. Lord Shiva is Sri Ekambaranathar and Goddess Shakthi is portrayed as Kamakshi Amman. The Kandakottam shrine is situated between these two shrines.

Kanchi Kamakodi Peetham

Sankaracharya’s life is associated to the Kamakodi Peetham and Kamakshi Amman Temple. The Sri Chakra has enshrined the Kamakoti Peetham just in front of Sri Devi. All Pooja ceremonies and offerings are performed before the chakra.

Mangadu

This place is a suburb of Chennai. There is a Kamakshiamman temple which is also very famous. The idol of the shrine is presented in a posture of penance. The temple is opened to pilgrims from 6 AM to 1 PM and then from 3 PM to 8 PM.

Melmaruvathur

This place lies on the Villupuram Chennai Main Road. The speciality of this place is it has an Adi parasakthi Temple. The motto is “There is only one God and all are equal in front of God”, practiced in this temple. The devotees believe in “One mother who is equal to her children”. In this temple the devotees are allowed to enter the inner chamber that is the Sanctum sanctorum and worship the Goddess. Apart from the Hindus, the Christians, the Buddhists, the Jains and the Muslims are allowed to enter this temple and worship and offer prayers in their own way of customs and practice.

Nanganallur Anchaneyar Temple

This Anchaneyar Temple at Nanganallur is something special and unique. The presiding deity of this temple, swamy Vigraha’s idol is a 32 feet high single rock sculpture. Lord Anjaneya guides every moment, every work and every detail in our life. He has just made the people feel that, they are just instruments in Anjaneya’s Hands. The temple is situated in 1,8th street, Ram Nagar, Nanganallur, Chennai – 61 and the worship time for devotees is 6 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 9 pm.

Singaperumal koil

This temple is a very small one and located on top of a small hill. This temple is 20 kms from Tambaram and Chennai. The temple has a shaped up, ornamented and beautifully carried 6 feet idol of pataldri Narasimha. Narasimha is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Narasimha is half-man and half-lion. The name of the temple Singaperumal (Singa-lion, perumal – god) – Lion god temple helps the tourists understand the name exactly. The hill where is temple is located is red coloured and so this temple is named as ‘Padaladri’.

Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple

This temple is undertaken and preserved by the Archeological Department of India. The temple is located exactly at the end of an alley, which is away from the main tourist spot. This temple was built by Nadivarma pallava during the 7th century. The sculptures and the inscriptions carved in this temple tell the tourist about the history of the time and about the city itself. The inner walls are decorated with pillars of lion shape. The temple gets importance on the holy might of Vaikunda Ekadasi, the holy night of the Vaishnavites. This is practiced like that of the Kailasanathar Temple. Other than this holy day, the tourists are allowed to visit this temple. The Vaishnavite temples are closed for the afternoons and so the best time to visit is mornings.

Srikailasanathar Temple

RajaSimha and his son Mahendra, the pallava rulers of the 8th century built this Sri Kailasanathar Temple. The temple is noted for its technical and unique construction and not to forget about the sculptures. The mainshrine is covered by 58 minor shrines which in look presents a compound wall structure to the main shrine. Fresco style of paintings is done on the inner walls. The temple was constructed with sandstones.

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

This temple was built by Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, spiritual and charitable trust. In this temple we can find almost all the idols of deities. Vallabha Ganapathy with ten hands, Tri Murthy (Brahma, Vishnu and Siva), Thattariya Lingam, Parvathi and Durga Statues are found in the inner shrine. Above all the 108 temples, this was the first built one by the initiations taken by the Guruji of Delhi temple and C.P. Satpathy who is an IPS officer. Every Sundays and Thursdays, the poor people are offered food. The prayer is performed from 6 am to 9 pm. The temple is exactly located at Saipuram near Injambakkam.

Tirupporur

This temple in Tirupporur is an ancient one and history proves that it must have been built during the Pallava rule. This is one of the major temples of Tamilnadu. Lord Vishnu is worshipped in this temple. The place is well connected by bus from chengalpet and Chennai. The place has got other names such as Poriyur, Yuddhapuri and Samarapuri.

Thiruneermalai

This village is 18 kms away from Chennai. There is a Vaishnavite Temple in this place. Pilgrims from various other districts come to worship the deity present here. This temple must have been built by the later Chola Kings of the 12th century. Near this temple is a hillock where the Ranganathan temple is located. Ranganathan is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Thirukazhukundram

This place is located on the Chengalpet – Mamallapuram main road, and belongs to the Kanchipuram district. There is a Vedagiriswarar Temple in this place. The other names for this temple are, Uruthrakodi, Nandipuri, Indrapuri, Narayanapuri, Brahmapuri, Dinakarapuri, Muniganapuri and patchi Theertham.

Vallakkottai

This is a very small village, located in the Kanchipuram district. This is 12 kms away from Sriperumputhur. This is also 24 kms away from Tambaram. One on the poet, Saint Arunakirinathar has praised. The temple in his seven songs. The idol of Murugan in this temple is the tallest of all the Murugan temples in Tamilnadu. It is seven feet high.

Varadarajan Temple

This temple is gorgeous and very perfect. The wonderful sculptures of this temple are noteworthy on the Hundred-pillar-hall which is said to be masterminded by the Vijayanagar rulers. There is the ornamental ring, which is carved out of one particular stone in a chain, at the four corners, is really beautiful. Other features of the temple are the riders on horseback, perfectly sculptured Rathi and Manmatha, and the temple jewellery. The 16th century pillared pavilion is found in this temple. The annual Garudothsavam festival held during the month of May and June attracts several thousands of devotees due to its electrifying atmosphere.

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