Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 5th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Thondai Naadu |
Thondai Naadu | 5th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
Sathyanatheswarar
Temple (also called Karaivananathar Temple or Thirukalimedu
temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in the town of Thirukalimedu, near
Indira Theertham Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Sathyanatheswarar and his
consort Parvathi as
Pramarambikai. Sathyanatheswarar is revered in the 7th-century Tamil Saiva
canonical work.
Lord Indra:
Lord Indra, the king of
celestial deities and Bhudan (Venus) worshipped Shiva at this place located in
a forest called Kaaraivanam. Since it was located in Kaaraivanam, the presiding
deity came to be known as Karaivananathar (Sathyanatheswarar). Tirugnana
Sambandar, a 7th-century Tamil Saivite poet, venerated
Sathyanatheswarar in one verse in Tevaram,
compiled as the First Tirumurai.
Lord Chandra:
Lord Chandra (moon)
was under the tutelage of Guru (Jupiter). He wanted to marry Guru's wife,
Dhara and did a yagna seeking
the boon from Vishnu. Guru attended the function with Dhara, when she
was allured by Chandra. Budha was born to Chandra and Dhara. When Budha became a
youngster, he came to know about his birth, felt ashamed and started doing a
penance praying to Shiva to include him as one of the Navagrahas at
this place. Shiva was pleased by his devotion and appeared as Sathyanatheswarar
to offer him the boon. As per another legend, Indra, the king
of Devas, the celestial deities, was attracted by the beauty
of Ahalya,
the wife of sage Gautama.
He took the form of a rooster to wake the sage early in the day. The sage
started his day by going to the river, leaving Ahalya alone in the house. Indra
entered the house to attain Ahalya, but the sage sensed something was wrong in
the day. He returned to the hermitage and saw Indra escaping as a cat. He cursed
Indra to have eyes throughout his body. Indra was roaming around and started
doing penance at this place to regain his appearance.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
The temple has a
three-tiered rajagopuram, the entrance tower and all the shrines are
enclosed in a granite wall.
·
The temple
covers an area of 22,500 square feet (2,090 square metres). Sathyanatheswarar
temple complex has two prakarams (outer courtyard), a lotus tank and a
three-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower) raising to a height of 50 feet
(15 metres) facing West.
·
The central shrine faces east and holds the
image of Sathyanatheswarar (Shiva) in the form of lingam made of
granite and is believed to be a swayambumoorthy (self
manifested).
·
As in
other temples in Kanchipuram, there is no separate shrine of Parvathi as
it is believed that Kamakshi of Kanchipuram is the common
Parvathi shrine for all Shiva temples.
·
There is a shrine facing South where the
festival image of Pramarambikai is housed. All the rituals performed for the
deity is similar to the ones done for the presiding deity.
·
The granite
images of Nandi (the bull and vehicle of Shiva), a tall flag
staff and a Balipeeta, the place of offering, axial to the sanctum.
·
As in other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the
first precinct or the walls around the sanctum of Sathyanatheswarar has images
of Dakshinamurthy (Shiva as the Teacher), Durga (warrior-goddess)
and Chandikeswarar (a saint and devotee of
Shiva).
·
The temple
precinct is surrounded by granite walls.
·
Based on
the historical significance of the temple, it was in the proposal of
Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle, as one of the seven temples to
be included as an archaeological monument.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Tirukaleeswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Pramarambikai |
|
Theertham |
Indira,
Satyavradha Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Karai
plant |
BELIEF:
During
Wednesdays, devotees take a holy dip in the temple tank located outside the
temple and worship Shiva with green pulse,
which is considered a sacred aspect for Budha (Mercury).
Devotees
pray for achieve excellence in education, proficiency in language
skills,eloquence and for removal of any ill effect.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Annabishekam |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thirukarthikai |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
HOW
TO REACH:
This
sivasthalam temple is located in the north-eastern part of Kancheepuram in the
locality known as Tirukaalimedu. The road opposite to Kancheepuram Head Post
Office leads you to Tirukaalimedu.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Kaarai
Tirunatheswarar Temple,
Tirukkalimedu,
Kancheepuram,
Tamil Nadu – 631501.
LOCATION:
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