Ratnagarbeswarar Temple (Kunteeswarar Temple),
Thandarai, Thiruporur, Kanchipuram
Ratnagarbeswarar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located in Thandarai Village in Thiruporur
Taluk in Kanchipuram District in Tamilnadu. This Temple is also called as Kunteeswarar
Temple. Presiding deity is called as Kunteeswarar or Ratnagarbeswarar. Mother
is called as Kamakshi or Swarna Kalikambal.
Legends
According
to Mythology, Kubera and his consort came to this Ratnagarbeswarar, seeking
refuge when his wealth was under siege. When Chandi becomes black after
drinking the blood of the asuras she kills, she prays to her Shakthi within
herself to get the black colour changed to a golden hue, thus becoming Swarna
Kalikambal. So it is said that those who have problems in inheriting their due
wealth or having skin ailments will get solace by worshipping Ratnagarbeswarar
and Swarna Kalikambal.
The
Temple
Ratnagarbeswarar
Shiva temple alias Kunteeswarar Temple is located at Thandurai (now called as
Thandarai) 10 kms off the Uttaramerur - Vandavasi road. The reliefs around the
temple are also amazing. Than Thurai (water body) implying Kanchipuram flooded
with Vegavathi, Parvathi hugging Shiva is well crafted on the side wall.
Also are
interesting the mystic indication of Chandrasekhara sitting on the bull by just
showing a mere crescent moon above nandi. There are a few rare inscriptions in
Tamil and Telugu on the walls of the Kunteeswarar temple. The later Chola
inscriptions and those belonging to the period of Kampanna Udayar (a
Vijayanagar king) and the Nayak reign show the transactions that took place in
Kancheepuram during those days. The Nayak kings renamed the village Seetharama
Puramu. The Telugu inscriptions on the lintel are testimony to this fact.
Even
though the renovation work is on, it's not easy as the vegetation had gone deep
into the walls between the Arda Mandapa and Maha Mandapa. The Perumal temple
adjacent to this Shiva Temple was pulled down due to ignorance of its ancient
heritage.
Contact
Ratnagarbeswarar
Temple (Kunteeswarar Temple),
Thandarai,
Uthiramerur,
Kanchipuram,
Tamilnadu
Phone: 9786981466
Connectivity
Thandarai
is a Village in Thiruporur Taluk in Kanchipuram District of Tamilnadu State,
India. It is located 63 Kms towards East from District headquarters Kanchipuram
and 43 Kms from State capital Chennai
