Kaichinam Kaichineswarar Temple, Kachanam, Thiruvarur
Kaichinam Kaichineswarar Temple is a Hindu
temple located at Kachanam
in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. The historical name of the place is Kaichinam. The
temple is dedicated to Shiva, as the moolavar presiding deity, in his manifestation as
Kaichineswarar. His consort is known as Palvalai Nayaki. Kaichinam is
surrounded by Tirukolili in the east, Tirunellikkaa in the west, Thiruthuraipoondi in the south
and Tirukaravasal in the north. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Thirugnana Sambandar. This is the 239th
Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 122nd Sthalam on the
south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.
Legends
Indra
got curse due to his misbehavior with Agalikai:
Indira the king of the Devas came near the hermitage of
Sage Gautama living with his wife Aakalika. With an evil design in his
mind, he took the form of a cock and cried indicating dawn. Sage Gautama,
as usual left the hermitage for the river to follow his morning
duties. Indira again took the form of Gautama and spent the time with
Akalika who believed that she was her husband sage. Gautama felt something
fishy with his wisdom and returned to the ashram. Condemning the act of Indira,
he cursed him.
Though Akalika was chaste, with a view to get her
further purified by Lord Rama, he converted her into a stone. For relief,
Indira prayed to Lord Shiva, who advised him to make Linga of sand and worship
it performing abishek. Indira knew that it was not possible to perform abishek
to sand Linga as it would dissolve in abishek water. He had to suffer long
as Lord Shiva was not willing to pardon his dirty crime. He turned his
worship towards Mother Ambica.
Finally, he embraced the Linga and cried aloud that he
would never misbehave with women. His finger prints set on the
Linga. As he sincerely prayed, Lord granted pardon. As Indira’s
finger prints (Kai chinnam-rekhas) were set on the Lord, He is named Kai
Chinneswarar gracing the devotees in this temple with Mother Palvalai Nayaki.
Vel
Valai Nayaki:
Mother is called as Vel Valai Nayaki as Indra offered
white bangles made out of tusk of Iravadha, his White Elephant.
People
worshipped Shiva here:
Sages Drinabindu and Agasthiar worshipped the main
deity. Viduman and Mithrasakan are also said to have been blessed here.
The
Temple
This is one of the 78 Maadakovils, built on an
elevation, by Ko Chenkata Chola Nayanar so that elephants cannot enter the
sanctum. It has 2 prakarams has an attractive 3 tier Rajagopuram and beautiful
vimanas and is administered by the Madurai Adheenam. Presiding Deity is called
as Kaichineswarar / Karachinaeswarar / Hrudaya Kamala Nathar and the Goddess is
known as Suvedhavalai Nayagi / Velvalai Nayagi / Matsayadakshi.
Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy. This is
one of the few Shiva temples with Perumal also. Lord Srinivasa Perumal graces
the devotees in the temple. The image of Vishnu was discovered while excavating
an arable tract of land belonging to the temple. There is a shrine to Rishabha
Dakshinamurthy (Koshtam) here as in Thiruvaimur. The Utsavamurthy here is
Thyagarajar.
Sthala Vriksham is Kongu Ilavam is located near the
Ambal shrine. Vajra Theertham is believed to be dug by Lord Indra with his
Vajrayudha weapon is to the South of the temple and Indra Theertham is to the
North of this temple. Dhakshinamoorthy as Rishabaroodar, Arthanareeswarar and
Dancing Sculptures are the Koshta idols in this temple.
There are shrines for Mothers Durga, Saraswathi,
Jeshtadevi and Mother Mahalakshmi. Shrines for Vinayagar, Vidhooman, Murugan,
Kashi Viswanathar, Agasthiyar Lingam, Arumuga Perumal, Gajalakshmi,
Navagrahas, Bairavar, Vinayagar, Saneeswarar, Bairavar, Kongu Vananathar,
Bairavar and Suryan can be seen in this temple.
Temple
Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from
4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Brahmmotsavam is celebrated in the month of Vaikasi
while Arudra Dharisanam, Tirukarthikai, Panguni Uthiram, Maha Shivarathri, Skanda
Sashti and Navarathri are the other festivals celebrated through the
year.
Singers
This is the 239th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva
Sthalam and 122nd Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in
Chozha Nadu. Tirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this
temple.
Prayers
If a devotee sincerely prays seeking pardon for the
wrongs he/she had committed, it is responded by the Lord gracefully, believe
the devotees. Devotees contribute to the best of their ability for the
renovation of the temple.
Contact
Sri Kaichineswarar Temple, (Tirukaichinnam),
Kachanam – 610 201,
Thiruvarur District
Mobile: +91 94865 33293
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
20 Kms from Thiruvarur, 13 Kms from Thiruthuraipoondi, 7 Kms from
Tirunelikkaval, 10 Kms from Thirukollikadu, 6 Kms from Tirukaravasal and 122
Kms from Trichy. It is located on Thiruvarur
- Thiruthuraipoondi Road. The temple is on the side of the road. Town bus
services from Thiruvarur are available to go to Tirukaichinnam. Nearest Railway
Station is located at Thiruthuraipoondi and Nearest Airport is located at
Trichy.