Macheswarar
Temple, Kanchipuram
Macheswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kanchipuram City in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Macheswarar / Sippeeswarar / Machesa Peruman 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 Machesam.
Legends
According to Mathsya Purana, a demon king called
Somukasura once stole the 4 Vedas and kept them in his custody under the sea.
Brahma, who is the creator, was worried as the whole world cannot function
without the presence of Vedas. He went and pleaded to Lord Vishnu to save the
Vedas and the universe. Lord Vishnu took the form of fish (Macha Avathara) and killed
Somukasura.
Lord Vishnu restored the Vedas back to Lord Brahma. Lord
Vishnu was so happy in his accomplishment and started playing violently in the
ocean. Human beings and celestial beings suffered due to the action of Lord
Vishnu. Hence, Lord Shiva took the form of Narai (Stork) and taught him a
lesson. Lord Vishnu realised his mistake and worshipped Lord Shiva here for
forgiveness.
History
The temple is believed to be built by Pallavas and
completely reconstructed in the second half of 20th Century.
The Temple
This temple is facing towards east with three tiered Rajagopuram.
Nandi and Balipeedam can be found immediately after the Rajagopuram facing the
sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam.
Stucco images of Rishabaroodar and Lord Vishnu in his Macha Avathara with
garland in his hands worshipping Lord Shiva can be seen on top of the Mukha
Mandapam.
Shrines of Lord Subramanya with his consort Valli &
Devasena and Vazhi Thunai Vinayaga can be seen on either side of the entrance
of Ardha Mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Macheswarar / Sippeeswarar /
Machesa Peruman and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of
Lingam.
Vinayaga Dakshinamoorthy, Brahma, 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.
The Vimana over the Sanctum follows Nagara style and is
of single tier. There are shrines for Vinayaga, Srinivasa Perumal, Maha
Lakshmi, Garudazhwar, Bhairavar, Lord Rama with Sita & Lakshmana and
Anjaneya in the temple premises. There is a Macheswarar hall adjoining the
Macheswarar temple.
Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 07.00 am to 12.00 noon and 05.00
pm to 08.00 pm.
Connectivity
For brief details, please refer
below link;
https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2021/01/macheswarar-temple-kanchipuram-connectivity.html
