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
