Kachanam Sri Kaichina Natheswarar Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Kachanam Sri Kaichina Natheswarar Temple, Kachanam village, Tiruvarur, Tirukkaichinam, Tamil Nadu PH:9486533293

Diety

Kaichina Natheswarar, Amman: Velvalainayagi

Introduction

Kaichinam Kaichineswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Kachanam in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. The historical name of the place is Kaichinam. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, as the moolavar presiding deity, in his manifestation as Kaichineswarar. His consort is known as Palvalai Nayaki. Kaichinam is surrounded by Tirukolili in the east, Tirunellikkaa in the west, Thiruthuraipoondi in the south and Tirukaravasal in the north. It is one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Thirugnana Sambandar. This is the 239th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 122nd Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.

Puranic Significance

Indra got curse due to his misbehavior with Agalikai: Indira the king of the Devas came near the hermitage of Sage Gautama living with his wife Aakalika. With an evil design in his mind, he took the form of a cock and cried indicating dawn. Sage Gautama, as usual left the hermitage for the river to follow his morning duties. Indira again took the form of Gautama and spent the time with Akalika who believed that she was her husband sage. Gautama felt something fishy with his wisdom and returned to the ashram. Condemning the act of Indira, he cursed him. Though Akalika was chaste, with a view to get her further purified by Lord Rama, he converted her into a stone. For relief, Indira prayed to Lord Shiva, who advised him to make Linga of sand and worship it performing abishek. Indira knew that it was not possible to perform abishek to sand Linga as it would dissolve in abishek water. He had to suffer long as Lord Shiva was not willing to pardon his dirty crime. He turned his worship towards Mother Ambica. Finally, he embraced the Linga and cried aloud that he would never misbehave with women. His finger prints set on the Linga. As he sincerely prayed, Lord granted pardon. As Indira’s finger prints (Kaichinnam-rekhas) were set on the Lord, He is named Kai Chinneswarar gracing the devotees in this temple with Mother Palvalai Nayaki. VelValai Nayaki: Mother is called as Vel Valai Nayaki as Indra offered white bangles made out of tusk of Iravadha, his White Elephant. People worshipped Shiva here: Sages Drinabindu and Agasthiar worshipped the main deity. Viduman and Mithrasakan are also said to have been blessed her

Beliefs

If a devotee sincerely prays seeking pardon for the wrongs he/she had committed, it is responded by the Lord gracefully, believe the devotees. Devotees contribute to the best of their ability for the renovation of the temple.

Special Features

This is one of the 78 Maadakovils, built on an elevation, by Ko Chenkata Chola Nayanar so that elephants cannot enter the sanctum. It has 2 prakarams has an attractive 3 tier Rajagopuram and beautiful vimanas and is administered by the Madurai Adheenam. Presiding Deity is called a Kaichineswarar / Karachinaeswarar / Hrudaya Kamala Nathar and the Goddess is known as Suvedhavalai Nayagi / Velvalai Nayagi / Matsayadakshi. Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy. This is one of the few Shiva temples with Perumal also. Lord Srinivasa Perumal graces the devotees in the temple. The image of Vishnu was discovered while excavating an arable tract of land belonging to the temple. There is a shrine to Rishabha Dakshinamurthy (Koshtam) here as in Thiruvaimur. The Utsavamurthy here is Thyagarajar. Sthala Vriksham is Kongu Ilavam is located near the Ambal shrine. Vajra Theertham is believed to be dug by Lord Indra with his Vajrayudha weapon is to the South of the temple and Indra Theertham is to the North of this temple. Dhakshinamoorthy as Rishabaroodar, Arthanareeswarar and Dancing Sculptures are the Koshta idols in this temple. There are shrines for Mothers Durga, Saraswathi, Jeshtadevi and Mother Mahalakshmi. Shrines for Vinayagar, Vidhooman, Murugan, Kashi Viswanathar, Agasthiyar Lingam, Arumuga Perumal, Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Vinayagar, Saneeswarar, Bairavar, Kongu Vananathar, Bairavar and Suryan can be seen in this temple.

Festivals

Brahmmotsavam is celebrated in the month of Vaikasi while Arudra Dharisanam, Tirukarthikai, Panguni Uthiram, Maha Shivarathri, Skanda Sashti and Navarathri are the other festivals celebrated through the year.