Paranjothi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram

Address

Paranjothi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram

Railway Rd, Periya, Kanchipuram,

Tamil Nadu 631501

Amman

Paranjothi Amman (Goddess Draupadi)

Introduction

• Location:
  • The Paranjothi Amman Temple is located in Kanchipuram City, which is in Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.
  • It is also referred to as Pandaveswarar Temple and Dharmeswarar Temple.
• Puranic Significance:
  • According to legend, during their exile, the Pandavas and Draupadi arrived at Kanchipuram. The Pandavas installed Shiva Lingas dedicated to their names and worshipped them, and the temple is closely associated with this story.
  • The temple is considered one of the 108 Shiva temples mentioned in the Kanchi Puranam.
• Age of the Temple:
  • The temple is believed to be 1000 years old.
• Architectural Features:
  • The temple faces east and features an entrance arch, with a stucco image of Paranjothi Amman, flanked by lions, placed atop the arch.
  • After the entrance, there are shrines dedicated to Paranjothi Amman, Pandaveswarar (a form of Lord Shiva), and Lord Krishna along with his consorts Bhama and Rukmini, all facing east.
  • The shrine of Pandaveswarar also houses an idol of Vinayaga (Lord Ganesha), and Kanthu can be seen in front of the Shiva Shrine.
  • The stucco images of Rishabaroodar, Paranjothi Amman, and Lord Krishna with Bhama and Rukmini are seen on top of their respective shrines.
  • The presiding deity of the temple is Draupadi Amman, housed in a separate shrine adjacent to the Krishna Shrine.
  • Balipeedam (sacred pedestal for offerings) and Dhwaja Sthambam (flagpost) are situated facing the sanctum.
  • The stucco image of Draupadi can be found on top of the entrance to her shrine.
• Other Shrines and Idols:
  • The temple features several other shrines dedicated to various deities, including:
    • Siddhi Vinayagar (Lord Ganesha)
    • Saptha Kannigais (the Seven Virgin Goddesses)
    • Botha Raja
    • Dharmaraja
    • Sikandeeswarar
    • Dharmeshwarar
  • The Dharmeshwarar and Pandaveswarar Shiva Lingas are said to have been part of an ancient Pallava-era Shiva temple, discovered near the railway track in the 19th century CE.
  • Idols of Nagas (serpent deities) are placed beneath a Peepal tree in the temple premises.
• Significance:
  • This temple is a blend of both Shaiva (Shiva worship) and Vaishnava (Vishnu worship) traditions, with the inclusion of Lord Krishna along with his consorts in the temple’s shrines, reflecting the inclusive spiritual atmosphere of the temple.

This has been extracted from,

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2021/07/paranjothi-amman-temple-kanchipuram.html

Century/Period

1000 years old

Nearest Bus Station

Kanchipuram

Nearest Railway Station

Kanchipuram Station

Nearest Airport

Chennai

Location on Map

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