Kalpattu Saneeswarar Temple, Villupuram

Address

Sri Saneeswarar Temple, Kalpattu, Villupuram – 605 302. Phone: +91- 4146 – 264 366, 97868 65634 , 94451 14881

Diety

Saneeswarar

Introduction

The Kalpattu Saneeswarar Temple, dedicated to the planet Saturn (Saneeswarar), is located in Kalpattu, Vilupuram district, Tamil Nadu. This unique temple is known for its distinctive idol of Lord Saturn and other deities.

Presiding Deity: The main deity of the temple is Lord Saneeswarar, representing the planet Saturn. The idol of Lord Saturn is an impressive 21 feet tall. Saturn is depicted as having a merciful expression, wearing black and blue-colored attire, with his left leg on the ground and the right leg resting on a gigantic crow, his divine vehicle.
Other Deities: In addition to Lord Saneeswarar, the temple features shrines for various deities, including Uchishta Ganapathi, 11 feet tall Panchmukha Easwarar (Bhuvaneswarar), Bhuvaneswari, Gopalakrishnan, 18 feet tall Ashtadasbhuja Durga (Mother Durga with 18 hands), Panchamukha Anjaneyar (Lord Hanuman with five faces), and 8 feet tall Dandayuthapani (Lord Murugan with a staff) with Vimanas (roof towers) over their respective shrines.
Historical Significance: The temple is believed to be around 1,000 years old and has a rich historical and religious heritage.
Saturn’s Impaired Leg: Legend has it that Ravana, the demon king, wished to grant his son Indrajit eternal life. To achieve this, he performed intense penance and obtained control over the planets, including Saturn. However, Saturn managed to cast his aspect on the child, frustrating Ravana’s plans. In response, Ravana broke Saturn’s leg, leaving him lame. As a result, the idol of Lord Saturn in the temple has one leg resting on the crow to conceal this disability.
Prayer Center: The temple is not only a place of worship but also a serene prayer center where devotees can seek solace and offer their prayers.
Vinayaka Idol: The Vinayaka (Ganapathi) idol in the temple is known as Valampuri Vinayaka.
Significance of the Temple: Devotees visit this temple to seek relief from the adverse aspects of the planet Saturn. Saturn transition days, which occur approximately once every two and a half years, are of particular significance for devotees.