Thiruchinnapuram Anandeeswarar Shiva Temple, Cuddalore

Address

Thiruchinnapuram Anandeeswarar Shiva Temple, Cuddalore

Thiruchinnapuram, Kattumannarkovil vattam,

Cuddalore District,

Tamil Nadu –608303

Moolavar

Anandeeswarar

Amman

Soundaranayaki

Introduction

Thiruchinnapuram Anandeeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Thiruchinnapuram town, Kattumannarkovil circle, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. There are more than forty temples in the Kattumannarkoil circle, of which only five are sanctified and only few are in Good condition, while the rest are repaired and displayed in the inner villages. One of them is Trichinnapuram, three km north of the Kattumannar temple, along the banks of Veeranam Lake. Here the presiding deity is called as Anandeeswarar and Mother is called as Soundaranayaki.

Puranic Significance

The Temple is believed to be 1500 years old. The Agatheeswarar Lingam, where Agatheer is said to have been worshipped, is in the Mahamandapam. It was once a big temple and later came to its present state. The temple is spread over 1.03 acres. Remaining areas are taken up for schools and government buildings. Local children from the village have come for a period of puja at this temple with many special features. Nithiya Pooja is being performed by a priest in Kattumannar Temple. Again, if the paint is cleaned off, new inscriptions can be found.

Near the front of the temple there is a big royal tree and under it there are some Naga’s. An ancient Ganesha is placed behind the Nandi Mandapam on the façade. The Lord is towards the East and the goddess is towards the South. Lord Periyalinga Murthy is in the sanctum.

At the gate of the sanctum sanctorum there are black stone gatekeepers. With an umbrella above his head, there is a standing Vinayaka, who may be Goshta Vinayaka, and a seated Vinayaka, with a lingam of Agastheeswarar nearby. On the other hand there are Vallitheivanaisamedhamurugan. There are also idols of Sambandar, who could not be identified as Appara without a tiller in hand. Adikesavaperumal and Mahakshmi is also nearby the sanctum. Dakshnamurthy in the sanctum sanctorum line and Umama Keswarar Brahman durga behind the sanctum sanctorum. There is also a big bow tree in the northeast side of the temple.