Sounageswarar Temple,
Kanchipuram
Sounageswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kanchipuram City in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Sounageswarar / Thiru Kancheeswarar 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 Sounagesam. The Temple is situated in a small lane branching out from Thanappan Nayagar Street in big Kanchipuram (Periya Kanchipuram).
Legends
Sounageswarar:
As per legend, it is believed that Sounaga Rishi
installed the Shiva Linga and worshipped Lord Shiva to get relief from a disease.
Also, he attained salvation here. Hence, Lord Shiva came to be called as
Sounageswarar.
Sakothara
Theertham:
It is believed that Lord Agni hid in this Theertham when
Lord Varuna visited this Theertham. Lord Varuna found Agni hidden in the
Theertham. Lord Agni pleaded Lord Varuna that Varuna was like brother to him
and asked Varuna not to disclose his location to anyone. Hence, the Theertham
came to be called as Sakothara Theertham.
The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found immediately after the entrance facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Sounageswarar / Thiru Kancheeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
Vinayaga, Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum. 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. Theertham associated with this temple is called as Sakothara Theertham.
For brief details, please refer
below link;
https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2021/07/sounageswarar-temple-kanchipuram-connectivity.html
