SHRI AIRAVATHISWARAR TEMPLE / AIRAVATEESWARAR TEMPLE, WEST RAJA STREET, KANCHIPURAM, TAMIL NADU.

The list of Shiva temples in and around Kanchipuram with link to GooglePhotos, Location link on Google Map and Location QR Code are posted already in this blog.  

Maha Shivaratri 2020 – Kanchipuram  Shiva Temples  Visit- 24

21st February 2020.

The visit to this Airtavateeswarar Temple on West Raja Street, Periya Kanchipuram was a part of 2020 Maha Shivaratri Temples Visit, on 21st February 2020. After Sri Kachabeswarar Temple’s Visit, our next destination was to this temple. The entrance to this temple is through a small passage between two commercial complexes.  Thanks to Babu of Kanchipuram for providing me the day light photos.

The 18^th Century Sivagnana Swamikal  had written this temple’s sthala purana in Kanchipuranam. The same is reproduced as given below...

ஐராவதேசம்

அத்த ளிக்குட பாலதன் றிமையவர் கடைபோ

தத்தி மேலெழும் வெண்கரி அருச்சைன ஆற்றி

அத்தி கட்கர சாகிவிண் ணரசினைத் தாங்க

அத்த னாரருள் பெறுமயி ராவதேச் சரமால்

துவற்று தேத்துளி துறுமலர்ப் பொதும்பர்சூழ் கிடந்த

இவற்றுள் ஒன்றனில் எந்தைதாள் வழிபடப் பெற்றோர்

கவற்றும் வல்வினைப் பிறவிவித் தாயகா மாதி

அவற்றின் நீங்குபு மழுவலான் அடியினை சேர்வார்.

Moolavar : Sri Airavateeswarar

Some of the salient features of this temple are....

The temple is facing east with a mini 3 tier 3 stucco kalasa Rajagopuram. Lord Shiva’s stucco image is on the middle level of the Rajagopuram. Shiva Linga in this sanctum Sanctorum is of Dhara Linga with 16 flat surfaces. SomasKanda panel with Devas on both sides is on the back wall of the sanctum sanctorum. There is no Vimana over the sanctum sanctorum.  In Deva koshtas Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai. On south and north walls has the sand stone images of Brahma and others Devas worshiping Lord Shiva. On all the corners of the sanctum sanctorum, there are Simha Pillars with soldiers and swords in their hands.

On the left side wall of the Arthamandapa, sculptures of Lord Shiva as Chakradhana murthy and Maha Vishnu is worshiping Lord Shiva and on the right wall Lord Shiva as Oorthuva Dhandava Murty with Ambal Uma with recent plastering.  On the side is the full panel of Mahisasuramardhini. Below are the Tripurantakar, Brahma as charioteer, Pichadanar and Kalasamhara murthy.

In the inner mandapa pillars are with Simhas facing each other.  The sculpture of Indra worshiping Lord Shiva  and  Lord Shiva with Parvati blessing  him are also in the inner mandapa.On the north wall of inner mandapa, the sculpture of Lord Shiva’s oorthuva thandava. Dwarapalakas are  on inner and outer of inner mandapa.

In the prakara Vinayagar is on the south west corner, Sandikeswarar, Balipedam and Nandhi.

HISTORY

As per the architecture the original temple might have been built during 8^th Century Pallava King Narasimha Varma-II ( 700 – 729 CE ) popularly known as Rajasimha. The temple was built with brick and pillars & sculptures are with sand stone. Happy to see the original structures are being maintained without re-construction / renovation. There is no inscriptions found in this temple.

LEGEND:

As per the legend Indra and his vahana Airavatham, the White elephant worshiped Lord Shiva of this Temple. Hence Lord Shiva obtained the name of Airavateeswarar.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 1.0 KM from Kanchipuramn Bus Stand, 1.3 Km from Kanchipuram Railway station, 30.0 KM from Arakkonam and 68 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kanchipuram and Railway Junction is Arakkonam.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---