Kanchipuram Macheswarar Temple (Macha Avathara)

Address

Kanchipuram Macheswarar Temple (Macha Avathara)

Periya Kanchipuram,

Kanchipuram district,

Tamil Nadu 631502

Moolavar

Macheswarar / Sippeeswarar / Machesa Peruman

Amman

Kamakshi

1. Introduction:
   • The Macheswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
   • The presiding deity is known as Macheswarar (or Sippeeswarar / Machesa Peruman), and the goddess is Kamakshi.
   • It is considered one of the 108 Shiva temples mentioned in the Kanchi Puranam and is also referred to as Machesam.
2. Puranic Significance:
   • The temple is believed to have been originally built by the Pallavas and reconstructed in the second half of the 20th century.
   • According to the Mathsya Purana, a demon king named Somukasura once stole the four Vedas and hid them under the sea. Brahma, the creator, sought Lord Vishnu’s help to recover the Vedas.
   • Lord Vishnu took the form of a fish (Macha Avathara) and defeated Somukasura, returning the Vedas to Brahma. However, Vishnu’s violent actions in the ocean caused harm to both humans and celestial beings.
   • In response, Lord Shiva took the form of a stork (Narai) and taught Vishnu a lesson. Vishnu, realizing his mistake, worshipped Lord Shiva here to seek forgiveness.
3. Special Features:
   • The temple faces east and features a three-tiered Rajagopuram (gateway tower).
   • Immediately after the Rajagopuram, one will find Nandi and Balipeedam facing the sanctum.
   • The sanctum consists of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Ardha Mandapam (half hall), and Mukha Mandapam (front hall).
   • Stucco images of Rishabaroodar (Nandi) and Lord Vishnu in his Macha Avathara, holding a garland and worshipping Lord Shiva, are depicted on top of the Mukha Mandapam.
   • Shrines of Lord Subramanya with his consorts Valli and Devasena, as well as Vazhi Thunai Vinayaga, are located near the entrance to the Ardha Mandapam.
   • The main deity, Macheswarar, is housed in the sanctum in the form of a Lingam and faces east.
   • Koshta idols of Vinayaga, Dakshinamoorthy, Brahma, Vishnu, and Durga adorn the walls around the sanctum.
   • The temple does not have a separate shrine for Parvati, as it is believed that the Kamakshi Temple in Kanchipuram serves as the common Parvati shrine for all Shiva temples in the region.
   • The Vimana (temple tower) over the sanctum follows the Nagara style and is a single-tier structure.
   • Other shrines within the temple complex include those for Vinayaga, Srinivasa Perumal, Maha Lakshmi, Garudazhwar, Bhairavar, Lord Rama with Sita and Lakshmana, and Anjaneya.
   • There is also a Macheswarar hall adjacent to the temple.

References

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2021/01/macheswarar-temple-kanchipuram.html

Century/Period

20th Century.

Nearest Bus Station

Kanchipuram

Nearest Railway Station

Kanchipuram Junction

Nearest Airport

Chennai

Location on Map

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