Thenneri Sri Aabathsahayeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram,

Address

Thenneri Sri Aabathsahayeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram,

Thenneri, Kanchipuram District,

Tamilnadu – 631604

Moolavar

Sri Aabathsahayeswarar

Amman

Anandavalli

Introduction

Thenneri Sri Aabathsahayeswarar Temple is dedicated lord Shiva, located in the Thenneri, Kanchipuram District, Tamilnadu. Here the Primary deity is called as Sri Aabathsahyeswarar and Mother is called as Sri Anandavalli. The temple was recently renovated by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

Puranic Significance

A beautiful old temple which was built in the year 1090 CE by Kulothunga Chola I as per the stone inscriptions found here.

In ancient times the lord is believed to have come to the rescue of a king was in crisis and hence his name here is Abathsahayeswarar (one who came to the rescue). It is also said that in a distant Karnataka Village called Elavetti people were perishing every day for some unknown reason. Upon advice by a traveller they came here and worshiped the Lord with Vibhuti and took it back and sprayed the Vibhuti Prasadam across their village and their sufferings ended.

As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as Thiruvananthecharamudaya Mahadevar and the place was called as Kulothunga chaturvedi mangalam. During Uthama Chozha Period this place was called as Utama Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam and during Kulothunga-I (1090 CE) period, this place was called as Thirayanur alias Kulothunga Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam. It is believed that this temple was originally built during Uthama Chozha’s mother Chembian Maha devi and latter reconstructed with stone by Kulothunga Chozha.

Special Features

A large and beautiful outer courtyard leads into the temple which has a single Prakaram. The outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum have a lot of stone inscriptions detailing all those information given above. In the front there are a few miniature carvings below eye level. The idols are all magnificent works of art. The main deity is a large lingam. There is a large and disused temple tank north of the temple.