Tamilnadu Tourism: Amareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Amareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Amareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Amareswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kanchipuram City in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. Amareswarar Temple is one of the lesser known Pallava period temples of Kanchipuram. Presiding Deity is called as Amareswarar / Tripurantakesa and Mother is called as Abhirama Sundari. The temple is situated in a small lane on the West Raja Street (Big Kanchipuram). This Temple is considered as one of the 108 Shiva temples mentioned in Kanchi Puranam. The Temple is also called as Kanchi Amaresam.

Legends

As per the legend, the Devas won the battle against the Asuras due to the blessing from Shiva. However, their victory turned them proud and ignorant. Lord Shiva appeared to them as a Yaksha. He challenged them to cut a thin piece of straw. None of the Devas could do that and they all felt themselves very low in front of the Yaksha. Then, Lord Shiva appeared with his consort Uma before them. Devas (Amaras) felt bad about their behaviour. Devas installed a Shiva Linga at the site and performed poojas. As Devas (Amaras) worshipped Lord Shiva here, Lord Shiva came to be called as Amareswarar.

History

The Temple is believed to be built by Rajasimha Pallava (700 – 729 CE).

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with an entrance arch. The entrance arch stucco images of Lord Shiva & Murugan in sitting posture flanked by Parvathy and Indra. A Yogi in sitting posture can be seen near Indra. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam. The Mukha Mandapam is a pillared Mandapam connects the entrance arch with Ardha Mandapam. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found in the Mukha Mandapam facing the sanctum.

Presiding Deity is called as Amareswarar / Tripurantakesa. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Linga. Linga is having 16 stripes (Shodasa Linga). Kanchi Puranam calls him as Tripurantakesa. The Somaskanda panel can be seen behind the Lingam in the sanctum. The vimana is two tiered Nagara vimana. Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. All were stucco images of recent origin.

There were lion idols similar to Pallava style on the sanctum walls, also of recent origin. The old icons of Brahma and Sukanasa Murti are found in the griva koshtams. Few original relief images of Ganesha are found above the niches. The Bhuta mala icons are old, but they are painted badly. Mother is called as Abhirama Sundari. Her Idol is housed in a 4 pillared Mandapam. There are shrines for Vinayaga and Navagrahas in the Temple premises.