Temples in Kanchi

Kanchipuram is famous as a city of temples. Srimatam is surrounded by several important and famous temples and one can just walk to these temples which are at a very short distance.

A note on temple timings: Most temples open quite early in the morning and remain closed from 12 noon to 4 pm. The temples reopen at 4 pm and close at around 8 pm.

Places to visit from 12 noon to 4 pm:

• Cultural Exhibition & Shiva Statue at VEDAL (5 kms from Kanchipuram)
• Palm-leaf Manuscripts collection in the International Library & Adi Sankara's 60 feet Statue at SCSVMV University, Enathur (4 kms from Kanchipuram, and on the way to VEDAL) Sri Adi Sankara's majestic vigraha with the International Library in the background

Other pilgrimage centres near Kanchipuram

Tiruttani: A town in Thiruvallur district at a distance of about 40 kms from Kanchipuram on the Kanchi - Tirupati route. It is one of the main tourist centres in Thiruvallur district, about 85km from Chennai. Tiruttani hill temple is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga. The hill has 365 steps indicating the 365 days of the year. The beautiful temple of Lord Muruga at Tiruttani crowns a single rock 700 feet above sea level.

Tirupati: A trip to the South by devout Hindus often includes both Kanchipuram and Tirupati. These two cities have a direct road link of 120 kms through Puttur, Nagari (Andhra side, about 60 kms), Tiruttani, and Arakkonam (Tamil Nadu side, about 60 kms). A direct train too travels between the two towns everyday, though buses are much faster.

Sri Ekambareswarar Temple

Description: This is one of the most revered temples to Shiva; it is one of the Panchabhoota Stalams signifying the 5 elements of wind (Kalahasti), water (Tiruvanaikka), fire (Tiruvannamalai), earth (Kanchipuram) and space (Chidambaram). It is a vast temple with many an endowment from the Vijayanagar rulers, as seen in the long corridors, towering gopurams and mandapams. This is the 1st of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region of South India.

There are several Shiva temples scattered all over Kanchipuram, and it is to be noted that there is no separate shrine for Parvati in any of them. The Kamakshiamman temple is the only Ambal shrine in Kanchipuram. In Kanchi, the Ekambreswarar, Kamakottam temples with Kumarakottam in between denote Somaskandar.

History: This vast temple with high rising Gopurams dominates the skyline of Kanchipuram, the historic capital of the Pallavas. Kanchipuram is considered to be the foremost among the seven prime pilgrimage centers in India. Along with Mamallapuram and Tirukkalunkunram, this town attracts several tourists. Also in Kanchipuram is the grand Varadarajar temple along with several other temples revered by the Tamil hymns of the Alwars of the 1st millennium.

The Pallavas, Cholas and the Vijayanagar Kings, especially Krishna Deva Raya, have contributed to this temple. Second century AD Tamil poetry speaks of Kamakottam, and the Kumarakottam. Tiruvacakam, Tirukkovaiyaar, Kanchipuranam, Manimekalai etc. speak of the glory of Kanchi. The existing structure was rebuilt by the Pallava Kings, and Cholas also made several contributions later.

Architecture & Deities: The temple covers an area of over 40 acres. The Raja Gopuram (entrance tower) rises to a height of 172 feet and was built by Krishnadevaraya. The presiding deity is Ekambareswarar, worshipped as the Prithivi Lingam. A Somaskanda panel featuring Shiva, Parvati and Skanda adorns the rear of the main shrine. It is believed that Parvati worshipped him in the form of a Prithivi Lingam improvised out of sand under a mango tree. Legend has it that the Vegavati river overflowed and threatened to engulf the Lingam and that Parvati embraced the Lingam, after which Shiva materialized and married her.

There is another shrine of Shiva and Kamakshi under the Stala Vruksham (mango tree said to be 3500 years old) which bears fruits of four different tastes each season. The Saint poet Sundaramoorthy Nayanar is said to have recovered his eyesight (left eye) after offering worship here.

Festivals & Services: Six worship services are offered each day. Colorful festivals such as Ani Tirumanjanam (June-July), Adi Kritikai (July-Aug), Avani Moolam (Aug-Sep), Navaratri (Sep-Oct), Kartikai Deepam (Nov-Dec), Thai Poosam (Jan-Feb), Panguni Uthiram (Mar-Apr), Chitra Pournami (Apr-May) and Vaikashi Vishakam (May-June) mark the annual calendar. The Panguni festival lasts for 13 days and celebrates the wedding of the presiding deity.

Kailashnatha Temple

Description: The Kailashnatha temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is the oldest temple of Kanchi. It reflects the freshness and simplicity of the early Dravidian style of temple architecture and was built by the Pallava king Rayasimha. It is the worthy successor of the rock temples at Mahabalipuram. The bases of the pillars at Mahabalipuram have seated lions, while at Kanchipuram, the confident grimacing lions stand on their hind legs, as if ready to pounce on anyone trying to harm the temple. Constructed in the late seventh century AD, Rayasimha's son added the front portion later.

The eighth-century remains of murals within the temple are an indication of the magnificence of the original temple. There are a number of small shrines within this temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and their sons Ganesh and Murugan.

Sri Kamakshi Temple

Official Website: https://www.kanchikamakshi.org

Description: The impressive Kamakshi Amman Temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati in the form of Kamakshi or the goddess of Love. The sanctum sanctorum of this temple can be reached by passing through a large mandapam (hall) with ornate pillars.

Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple

Description & History: Varadaraja Perumal temple is known as Hastigiri. Bhutattaalwar, one of the earliest of the Alwars, has sung of this temple. The original wooden image here was made from Attimaram (fig wood) and is worshipped for 10 days once in 40 years.

The first prakaram is on Hastigiri hill, housing the sanctum. Kulottunga Chola I and Vikrama Chola expanded the temple in the 11th/12th centuries, followed by the Vijayanagar rulers who added the towering Eastern Gopuram (180 feet high, 9 tiers) and the beautiful 100-pillared Kalyana Mandapam (96 monolithic pillars with geometric designs, yalis, and horsemen).

Sri Ashtabuja Perumal

Description & Deities: The Moolavar here is Adikesava Perumal, also known as Gajendravaradan or Chakradharar, in a standing posture facing west. The deity has 8 arms holding 8 weapons (discus, sword, arrow, conch, bow, shield, and mace). The Taayaar is Alarmelmangai or Padmasini. The temple tank is known as Gajendra Pushkarini.

Legends & Festivals: The temple is associated with the legend of Gajendra Moksham, where Vishnu saved the elephant Gajendra from a crocodile. It is also believed that Vishnu took the 8-armed form to ward off titans trying to disrupt Brahma's ritual. Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the month of Chittirai.

Vaikunta Perumal Temple

Description: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple was built shortly after Kailashnatha. The covered passages inside the outer walls are supported by lion pillars. Sculptures within the temple depict the history of the temple with explanatory inscriptions in eighth-century Pallava Grantham script. The main shrine is on three levels and contains images of Lord Vishnu in standing, sitting, and reclining postures.

Sri Ulagalanda Perumal

Description: This Divya Desam is home to four Divya Desam shrines: Oorakam (Trivikraman), Neerakam, Kaarakam, and Kaarvaanam. The stone image of Trivikrama is mammoth, about 35 feet high and 24 feet wide, depicting him dominating the three worlds and subduing demon king Mahabali. The temple covers 60,000 sq feet and has a three-tiered Rajagopuram.

Festivals: The annual Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the month of Thai. Other festivals include Vamana Avatara Utsavam and Vaikuntha Ekadasi.

Kumarakottam Sri Murugan Temple

Description: This ancient temple enshrining Subramanyar has been revered by the hymns of Arunagirinathar. It forms the Somaskanda formation, being situated between the Kamakshi (Ambal) and Ekambareswarar (Shiva) temples. The priests here trace their lineage to Kachiappa Sivachariyar, who composed the Skanda Puranam.

Pandavadootha Perumal Temple

Description: This temple commemorates the episode in the Mahabharata where Lord Krishna visited the court of the Kauravas as an emissary of peace for the Pandavas. When the Kauravas attempted to trap and kill Him in a deep pit covered by a seat, Krishna assumed His colossal **Vishwaroopa** form. Janamejaya, the great-grandson of Arjuna, performed severe penances here to get a glimpse of that form, and the Lord obliged by manifesting here as Pandavadootha Perumal.