KARCHAPESHWAR TEMPLE - KANCHIPURAM

KARCHAPESHWAR TEMPLE - KANCHIPURAM

The Karchapeshwar temple is dedicated to lord Shiva, being prayed by lord Vishnu in the form of Karchapa ( Tortoise).

Legend has it that during the churning of the ocean of milk for the nectar of immortality, the mount Meru was slipping and sinking into the ocean. Lord Vishnu in the form of a tortoise (Kurma Avatar) held the mountain on his back. In order to enhance his failing strength, he prayed to Lord Shiva & this temple depicts this entire sequence of the bhakti rasa.

The temple was built in the 7th century by the pallavas and later extended by the Chola's and Vijayanagara Kings.

 The main deity (lord Shiva in the form of a  Linga) of this temple is called as Karchapeswarar. The goddess is called as Soundarambikai. The temple has a five tiered Raja gopuram (temple tower) and about 5 acres area. The temple also houses other idols such as Saraswati, Ganesha, Chadurmukeswarar, Sastha and Bhairav. There are four shrines of Lord Shiva around the temple tank (called as Ishta Siddhi Teerth) - Dharma Siddheswarar, Kama Siddheswarar, Artha Siddheeswarar and Moksha Siddheswarar ( the four paths of life. Near the main deity Kachabeswarar, there is an idol of Lord Ganesha called as Satyamozhi Vinayaka.

Facing the sanctum sanctorum is a beautiful sculpture of Nandi( 5ft) on a pedestal.  Nandi is in the form of a young adolescent bull, which has a wide divine smile. This is unique to not only the Karchapeshwar temple but most of the shiva temples in kanchi, including the Kailasanathar temple. In other temples the Nandi is generally in a pensive mood of reverance or submission to lord Shiva. One exception is the Nandi at lepakshi which has an upright position.

The ishta Siddheshwar sanctum is a must visit for answers to all prayers.

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