Thursday, January 7, 2021

Karkeeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Karkeeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Karkeeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kanchipuram City in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Karkeeswarar / Kalkeeswarar & Lakshmeeswarar and Mother is called as Kamakshi. This Temple is considered as one of the 108 Shiva temples mentioned in Kanchi Puranam. The Temple is also called as Karkeesam and Lakshmeesam.

Legends

As per legend, Kalki Avathar is the last Avathar of Lord Vishnu. His birth will be the end of the Kali Yuga, the final of the four eras (Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga), in the endless cycle of existence within Hinduism. This will subsequently start a new cycle with Satya Yuga. Kalki Avathar is not in existence but Lord Vishnu before his birth in earth, in Kalki form along with his consort Lakshmi visited Kanchipuram. Both of them worshipped Lord Shiva here and obtained boons. The Linga worshipped by Kalki came to be called as Karkeeswarar / Kalkeeswarar and the Linga worshipped by Lakshmi came to be called as Lakshmeeswarar. Those who worship Lord Shiva here will attain salvation.

The Temple

This temple is facing is facing towards east with an entrance arch facing south. The entrance arch has stucco images of Rishabaroodar flanked by Nandis. The temple has two sanctums. One sanctum houses Karkeeswarar / Kalkeeswarar and the other sanctum houses Lakshmeeswarar. Both the Lingas are housed in a round Avudaiyar. Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu and Brahma are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum of Karkeeswarar. Sthala Vriksham is Neem tree and it is not found in the temple premises.

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2021/01/karkeeswarar-temple-kanchipuram-connectivity.html

Location