George Town Sri Kachaleeswarar Temple, Chennai

Address

George Town Sri Kachaleeswarar Temple, Chennai Armenian Street, George Town, Chennai – 600 001 Phone: +91 44 – 2522 7177

Diety

Sri Kachaleeswarar Amman: Soundarambikai / Azhakambigai.

Introduction

The Kachaleeswarar Temple, situated in the George Town area of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is a significant and historically rich temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva, who is worshiped as Kachaleeswarar or Kachabeswarar. The temple also houses the goddess known as Soundarambikai or Azhakambigai

Puranic Significance

Historical Background: The Kachaleeswarar Temple was constructed in 1725 by Kalavai Chetty, a Dubash (a merchant or financial intermediary) working for the British East India Company. The temple was built on land belonging to him. It has historical significance as it was the site of the first major conflict between left and right-handed castes in Madras city at the time.

Origin of the Name: The temple’s name is associated with a devotee named Dalavai Chettiar, who had previously worshiped Lord Shiva as Kachaleeswarar at Kanchipuram. According to legend, during a period of heavy rainfall and flooding, Dalavai Chettiar prayed to Lord Shiva for help in returning home to attend to important business. Lord Shiva assumed the form of the devotee and completed all the tasks, which included finishing his work, in his absence. In gratitude, the devotee built a temple for Kachabeswarar in Chennai. The temple was completed in 1720 CE.

Unique Representation: The lingam in the temple is unique, as Lord Shiva is portrayed with five different forms or seats, including a tortoise (Koormasanam), eight serpents (Ashtanagasanam), a lion (Simhasanam), time (Yugasanam), and a lotus flower (Kamala Vimalaasanam). This representation is rare and not commonly found in other temples.

Goddess Soundarambikai: The temple also houses the goddess Soundarambikai in a separate shrine. On either side of the goddess’s shrine, idols of Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswathi can be found. Worshiping these three Shakthis (female power deities) together is believed to bestow devotees with good education, wealth, and potential for personal development.

Special Features

Worship and Rituals: Daily worship services are conducted at the temple following the Veda Aagama Procedure. Various pujas, parayanam (recitation of holy texts), and processions of deities are regular practices. Tuesdays and Fridays are particularly significant, with parayanam and songs for the welfare of the people. Durga is worshiped during Rahu Kaalam on Tuesdays, believed to relieve people from their troubles. Special abishekams on the nights of new moon days to Kaala Bhairava are thought to dispel sorrow.

Festivals

The temple hosts several festivals throughout the year, including the Brahmotsavam celebrated in Chithirai (April-May). Other important festivals include Vaikasi Visakam, Aani Thirumanjanam, Aadi Pooram, Avanai Utsavam, Navarathri, Kandha Sasti, Ayyappan Poojai, Dhanurmatha Pooja, Pongal, Maha Shivarathri, and Panguni Uthiram.