A Wandering Heritager: Sathyanatheswarar Temple / Satyanathaswami Temple / Thirukkalimedu Shivan Temple / Thirukalimedu Sivan Temple, Kachineri Karaikkadu, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Now this place is called as Thirukali Medu a part of Kanchipuram. This is the 5^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam of Thondai Nadu. Kanchipuram was called as Athiyur and this place was in the outskirts of Kanchipuram during Chozha period. It is believed that this temple is much older than Sri Ekambaranathar Temple.

Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. As per Thirugnanasambandar, this place was called as Karaikadu, hence called as Thirukachineri Karaikadu. But how this name was changed to Thirukalimedu is not known.

வாரணவு முலைமங்கை பங்கினரா யங்கையினில்

போரணவு மழுவொன்றங் கேந்திவெண் பொடியணிவர்

காரணவு மணிமாடங் கடைநவின்ற கலிக்கச்சி

நீரணவு மலர்ப்பொய்கை நெறிக்காரைக் காட்டாரே.

The 18^th Century Saint Sri Sivagnana Swamikal had written the sthalapurana of this temple under Thirunerikaaraikattu padalam. In this Sivagnana Swamikal mentions this temple as Sathya Viratha Natham, one of the 12 names of Kanchipuram. Lord Shiva as Sathyanathar

7. திருநெறிக்காரைக்காட்டுப்படலம் (445 -500)

445 மெய்த்தவர் யாவரும் அங்கது கேட்டு விழித்துனை நீர்வாரக்

கைத்தலம் உச்சி முகிழ்த்து மயிர்ப்புள கங்கள் மலிந்தயர்வார்

முன்தி பெற்றற்குயர் காரணம் இன்று தொகுத்து மோழிந்தனைநீ

அத்தல மேன்மை அனைத்தும் விரித்தரு ளென்றலும் அச்சூதன்

(மலிந்து – நிறைந்து. அயர்வார் - பரவசப்படுவார்.

அயர்வாராகி எனப்பொருள் கொள்க)

448 சத்திய சத்தியர் சத்திய சோதகர் சத்திய சங்கற்பர்

சத்திய காமர் இருத்தலின் அப்பதி சத்திய விரதமதாம்

சத்திய நன்னெறி யார்க்கும் விரைந்தருள் செய்துறு தானமதிற்

சத்திய மாவிர தத்தடம் ஒன்றுள தத்தட நீராடி

(சத்தியம் – உண்மை. சத்திய சத்தியர் - அழியாத உண்மையை

உடையவர். சத்திய சோதகர் – உண்மையைத் தொழிற்படுத்துபவர்.

சத்திய சங்கற்பர் – உண்மை நினைவுடையவர்.நினைத்ததை

நினைத்தவாறே முடிப்பவர் என்றும் பொருள். சத்திய

காமர் – உண்மையை விரும்புபவர். நன்னெறி - முத்திக்கு

வாயிலாகிய நெறி; ஞானம்.

500 சத்திய விரதம் காநநத் தருவளஞ் செறித லாலே

சித்திசேர்ந் தவர்க்கு நல்குந் திருநெறிக் காரைக் காடென்

றித்திருப் பெயரின் ஓங்கும் எநநபரால் மாசு தீர்ந்த

உத்தமக் கேள்வி சான்ற உணர்வடை உம்பர் மேலோர்

காரைத் தருவனம் – காரை என்னும் ஒருவகை மரங்கள் பொருந்திய காடு

Moolavar : Sri Sathyanatheswarar, Sri Sathyanathar

Consort ( Urchavar ) : Sri Bramarambika

Some of the important features of this temple are…..

The temple is facing west with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Rishabam Balipedam and Dwajasthambam are in front of Vijayanagara period Rajagopuram. At the entrance of sanctum of Dwara Ganapathy is on the left and Subramaniyar on the right. Moolavar is of swayambu little large and high with slight red in colour ( sand stone ). In the sanctum idol of Ambal Bramarambika ( Mach reka, Dhanya reka, Fish and paddy bunch symbols are engraved ). In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. There is a special feature in Dakshinamurthy’s image, in which there are 7 sages against the usual 4 sages.

In the inner prakaram Natarajar Saba, ( Natarajar with Shivakami ), Nalvar, Indiran, Budhan, Bhairavar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi, Neelakanda Sivachariyar and Lakshmi samedha Thirumalavan, Mahavishnu with his consorts. Urchavars are Somaskandar, Sandeswarar, Chandrasekarar, Pradosha Nayagar and Naalvar.

In the outer prakaram Navagrahas, Bhudhan and Shani Bhagavan. The Vimana above Sanctum sanctorum was built with stone and Vesara style.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS

Since the 7^th Century, Thirugnanasambandar had came to this place and sung hymns on Lord Shiva, this temple might have been existed before th Century. Also it is believed that this temple is the 1^st temple, before Ekambaranathar and Kailasanathar Temples. Buddha’s bas reliefs are found on the steps pedestal of Dakshinamurthy.

As per Rajendra Chozha’s inscription this place Thiru Neri Karaikadu was a Part of Kachi pedu, where Chozhas Place was in Kachpedu during Uthama Chozha’s period ie 420 to 502 CE.

There are 6 inscriptions recorded in this temple, under South Indian Inscriptions Volume VIII (8), Veppangulam and the temple was Tirukkalisvara Temple. As per the inscriptions Lord shiva was called as Thirukaraikadudaya Mahadevar and place was in Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu Eir Kottathu Kanchipuram.

The 1^st Inscription belongs to Rajendra Chozha-II, with his full meikeerthi / title records the gift of 90 Kalanju gold deposited in the treasury, after selling a land for the Thiruvathirai 7 days pooja.

The Second inscription belongs to Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy....., 6^th year reign, records the the construction of Murugan sannadhi with mandapam.

The Third inscriptions starts with the full meikeerthi / Title of Rajathi Rajan’s 28^th year reign, records the gift of paddy to the Siva Brahmanar who does the poojas, through 3 Village sabhas.

The 4^th inscription belongs to Athi Rajendran’s 3^rd year 161^st day’s reign, records the payment of Taxes to temple as Saree, Silver Coin and 25 kasu from the Valangai and Idangai.

The 5^th Inscription of Rajarajan – I, records the receipt of 100 Kalanju gold from the treasury and as a an interest, 200 kalam paddy to be paid to this temple and measurement should be measured in Arulmozhithevan marakkal.

The 6^th inscription belongs to Rajaraja-I, with his meikeerthi / Title, of 6^th year reign records the burning of a perpetual lamp, for which donation of 90 Sava moova peradu by Thoruvan Karanai Ponthaipakkizhan’s son.... .

LEGEND

Indiran and Budhan are believed to be worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. One of the legend revolves around the planets. As per that legend, Chandra ( moon ) fell in love with Guru’s ( Jupiter ) wife Dhara. Chandra conducted a Yagna on Maha Vishnu, in which Guru and his wife Dhara participated. Chandra made Dhara to stay back with him. Budhan ( Mercury ) was born to them. When Budhan came to know this, he was ashamed of his birth. So he came to Kanchipuram and worshiped Lord Shiva. Satisfied with his devotion Lord Shiva gave him as one of the Status of Navagrahas as a boon.

In another legend Indra, who can take different forms, fell in love with Ahalya, wife of Sage Gautama. Indra came to ashram and gave the morning call in the form of rooster. Believing this Gautama Maharishi went to river to take bath. In the mean time Indra took the form of Gautama Maharishi and attained Ahalya. After bath Sage Gautama, sensed the misconduct of Indra. When he was entering inside the Ashram, Indra took the form of cat and ran away. Sage Gautama cursed Ahalya, turned to stone and Indra to get eyes on allover his body. To get rid of this curse , Indra came to Kanchipuram and worshiped Lord Shiva, Sri Sathyanatheswarar of this temple.

POJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are offered on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Somavaram, Sukravaram, No moon day, Full moon day, Markazhi Thiruvathirai and Aipasi Annabhshekam.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opned between 07.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The Land line and Mobile numbers are 044 - 2723 2327, 2722 1664.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is on the Thirukkali Medu a branch road from Railway road opposite to Head Post office. Town buses available only up to Head Post office and a KM distance from there.

The temple is 2.2 KM from Kanchipuram bus stand, 2. 0 KM from Kanchipuram railway station, 34.00 KM from Arakkonam and 70 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kanchipuram and Railway Junction is Arakkonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE