2. SRI THIRUMETRALI NAYAGAR TEMPLE THIRUKACHI METRALI

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	2nd Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Thondai Naadu
Thondai Naadu	2nd Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar)

HISTORY:

Metraleeswarar temple (also called kanchi metrali) is a hindu temple dedicated to shiva, located in pillaiyar palayam area in kanchipuram, kanchipuram district in tamil nadu, india. Metraleeswarar is revered in the 7th century tamil saiva canonical work, the tevaram, written by tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as paadal petra sthalam, the 275 temples revered in the canon. The temple is believed to have expanded during the 13th century by later cholas as indicated in the inscriptions.

Saint thirugnana sambandar:

Saint thirugnana sambandar was singing verses praising shiva at the nearby site and shiva was mesmerized by the devotion. The temple deity thus came to be known as urugeswarar (urugu means mesmerize in tamil and the image of the sambandar is located in urugeswarar temple axially outside the temple facing the metraleeswar temple with folded hands. As shiva turned to the west to listen to the songs of sambandar, the place came to be known as thirumetrali and the presiding deity came to be known as metralinathar. An old term is 'thali', which means temple.

Lord vishnu:

Lord vishnu was doing penance to attain the form of shiva. Shiva appeared to him and informed that he had to continue his penance till sambandar visits the place and sings praise of him. The deity at the urugeswarar temple was thus originally vishnu, who was mesmerized by the devotion of sambandar and changed to shiva. It is believed that the 108 rudras performed penance at this place and hence it is called "ananda rudresam" and "maha rudresam".

Saint appar and sambandar:

Saint appar and sambandar, the 7th-century tamil saivite poet, venerated metralinathar in one verse each in tevaram, compiled as the first tirumurai. As the temple is revered in tevaram, it is classified as paadal petra sthalam, one of the 275 temples that find mention in the saiva canon. sundarar mentions that shiva prefers to reside at this most happening place. there are no historical evidence to assess the exact time the temple was built. There is an inscription in the temple indicating benevolent contributions from during the 13th century by later cholas to expand the temple.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        The temple is located in pillayarpalayam area of kanchipuram. Metraleeswarar temple complex has two prakarams (outer courtyard) and a three-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower) facing west.

·        The central shrine faces west and holds the image of metraleeswarar (shiva) in the form of lingam made of granite.

·        The temples in kanchipuram have no separate shrine of parvathi as it is believed that kamakshi of kanchipuram is the common parvathi shrine for all shiva temples. But this temple has a separate shrine for parvathi in the form of metralinayagi.

·        The granite images of nandi (the bull and vehicle of shiva) and the flagstaff is located axial to the sanctum. As in other shiva temples of tamil nadu, the first precinct or the walls around the sanctum of metraleeswarar 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. There is a separate shrine for othu urugeeswarar which is axial to the main entrance. During the weekly and yearly festivals, kachabeswarar is given importance over the presiding deity metraleeswarar.

 TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Thirumetttraleeswarar, Sri Odhavurugeeswarar
Ambal	Sri Parasakthi
Theertham	Vishnu theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Vilwa

BELIEF:

Lord Shiva gave himself to Lord Vishnu. Lord grants all boons to his devotees.

Devotees perform special abishek to lord, offer vastras and nivedhanas.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chaturthi
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Thirukarthikai
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Panguni	Mar-Apr	Panguni Uthiram

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is located to the west of Kancheepuram at Tirumetrali Street, Pillaiyarpalayam. Bus facilities from Kancheepuram are available. The temple is about 2kms from kanchipuram bus stand.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Thirumetttraleeswarar Temple,

Pillayarpalayam,

Kanchipuram,

Tamil Nadu – 631 501.

LOCATION: