Kucheswarar
and Athreeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram
Kucheswarar and
Athreswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kanchipuram
City in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu.
Presiding Deities are Kucheswarar & Athreswarar and Mother is called as
Kamakshi. The Temple are also called as Kuchesam and Athreesam. This Temple is
considered as one of the 108 Shiva temples mentioned in Kanchi Puranam. This Temple
is also considered as second and third Saptha Sthana temples of Kanchipuram.
Legends
Once, Seven sages (Athiri, Kucha, Vasishta, Brighu, Gautama,
Kashyapa and Angira) performed penance on Lord Brahma in Himalayas. Lord Brahma
appeared before them and shared his divine knowledge with them. Lord Brahma,
during the course of his divine advice to the seven sages laid emphasis on the
greatness of Lord Shiva and Kanchipuram. Lord Brahma stated that a good deed
done at Kanchipuram is equal to many good deeds done at other places.
As per Lord Brahma advice, the seven Sages went to
Kanchipuram, took bath in Sivaganga Theertham of Kanchipuram Ekambaranathar Temple
and installed Shiva Lingas under their respective names. These temples are
collectively called as Saptha Sthana Temples of Kanchipuram. It is said that Athiri
and Kucha installed and worshipped Shiva Linga at this Temple. Hence Lord Shiva
of this temple are called as Kucheswarar and Athreswarar. This Temple is
considered as second and third Saptha Sthana temples of Kanchipuram.
History
This Temple was believed to be built by Pallavas and
completely rebuilt in 90s. The recent Kumbabhishekam was held in 2012.
The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east. The Sanctum Sanctorum
consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam. Nandi and Balipeedam
can be seen in the Mukha Mandapam facing the Sanctum. Presiding Deities are Kucheswarar
and Athreeswarar. Both are housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
Athreeswarar Lingam can be seen on the left side and
Kucheswarar Lingam can be seen on the right side of the sanctum. Vinayaga,
Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava, Vishnu and Durga are the Koshta Idols located
around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location.
As in other temples in Kanchipuram, there is no
separate shrine of Parvathi as it is believed that Kamakshi of Kanchipuram
Kamakshi Temple is the common Parvathi shrine for all Shiva temples. There is a
shrine for Saraswathy, goddess of education, in the temple premises. This
Shrine is newly added in the temple complex in 2012. There is a Navagraha
shrine in the prakaram.
Connectivity