Kachi Mayaneswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Address

Kachi Mayaneswarar Temple, Inside Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram – 631 502 Phone: +91 44 2722 2084

Diety

Kachi Mayaneswara Amman: Kamakshi

Introduction

Kachi Mayaneswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Kanchipuram Town in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. The Temple is famously called as Kachi Mayanam. The temple is more than 1000 years old shiva temple. The Temple is situated in front of Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar Temple. Presiding Deity is called as Kachi Mayaneswarar / Mayana Lingeswarar and Mother is called as Kamakshi Amman. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple. This Temple is considered as one of the Pancha Mayanam Temples.

Puranic Significance

Due to a mythical boon, a demon called Pandakasuran used to mix up with the body of Vishnu, Brahma and other Devas and reduced their ability. Hence Lord Shiva decided to destroy him. So, Lord Shiva appeared in form of fiery column of fire accompanied by divine mother and started a Yaga. He sacrificed all the living beings including Brahma in the Yagna fire. Pandakasuran came to see the Yagna and Lord Shiva sacrificed him also to the Yagna fire. At last, the Yagna fire took the form of Linga and came to be called as Mayana Lingam. Present Sivagangai Theertham is considered as the Yagna Kundam. The Temple is situated in front of Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar Temple. This Temple is technically inside Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar Temple and located towards the right side of Dwajastambam of Ekambareswarar Temple. This Small Temple is facing west. Presiding Deity is called as Kachi Mayaneswarar / Mayana Lingeswarar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Brahma, Durga, Lingodbhava and Vinayaga are the Koshta Idols located around the sanctum wall. Mother is called as Kamakshi Amman. There is a 16 pillared Mandapam on the western side of the Temple. There is a beautiful painting of Lingodbhava can be found in this Mandapam. The temple contains 15 inscriptions belonging to Kakatiya Kings, Uthama Chola, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajathiraja Chola I, Kulothunga Chola I, Vijaya Kandagopala, Sadasivaraya of Vijayanagar Empire. Theertham of this Temple is Sivagangai.

Special Features

Mayanam means cremation ground. Lord Shiva is told to be in Mayanams generally. Mayanam are the places where Lord Brahma was reduced to ashes by Lord Shiva. Mayanams here are nothing but temples. But these following temples are told to have highest spiritual importance. There are five Shiva’s Mayanams and they are the following: 1. Kachi Mayanam (Kanchipuram) 2. Kazhi Mayanam (Sirkazhi) 3. Veezhi Mayanam (Thiruveezhimizhalai) 4. Naalur Mayanam (Thirunallur Mayanam) 5. Kadavur Mayanam (Thirukkadaiyur Mayanam).