Karaneeswarar Temple, Mylapore

Last updated

Karaneeswarar Temple, Mylapore
Mylaporekaraneesvarartemple.jpg
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
District Chennai
Deity Shiva (Karaneeswarar)
Location
Location Mylapore in Chennai
State Tamil Nadu
Country India

The Karaneeswarar Temple is a 12th-century Hindu temple in the neighbourhood of Mylapore in Chennai, India. The temple is dedicate to Shiva as Karaneeswarar. There are also shrines to Sarvamangala Vinayaka (Ganesha), Dandapani (Kartikeya), Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

Contents

Legend

According to legend, a young Brahmin in Mylapore worshipped a lingam, a symbol of Shiva. Through his penance, he discovered that Shiva was responsible for the creation, protection, and destruction of the universe. Subsequently, the lingam because the main deity of this temple, came to be known as Karaneeswarar (lit "one who causes"). While there is no concrete proof, it is widely believed that this temple may date back to the 12th century CE.[ citation needed ]

Architecture and Deities

The main deities of the temples are Karaneeswara (Shiva) and his consort Porkodi Amman (Parvati). [1] The temple is located at Bazaar road in the middle stretch of the popular Kutcheri road in Mylapore. It is about half a kilometer from the famous Kapaleeswarar temple. Karaneeswara means "the Lord who is the cause" in Sanskrit. Shiva is believed to be the primordial cause of the universe which is his very form. He is also the Lord who can teach us the causality behind all events.

The main deities are found in two separate shrines. The temple has a small tower and as per the tradition followed in all old South Indian temples, this temple also has bali peeth, flag staff and Nandi idol facing the main shrine. The entrance of the main shrine has the idols of Shiva's son Ganesha and Dhandayudhapani (a form of Subramanya).

The following shrines are also found in this temple:

The following idols are additionally found in this temple:

Religious practices

Devotees believe the temple visit can cure any ailment or disease. Karaneeswarar is also said to grant material boons. The worship of Karaneeswarar

and his consort is said to grant a happy family life and amicability amongst family members.

An offering of a mixture - of coconut oil, sesame oil (gingelly) and castor oil in equal parts - to light oil lamps in multiples of six, is prescribed in this temple. Another important rituak is the Pradakshina (circumbulation).

Religious Significance

Karaneeswara temple is one of the Sapta Sthana Shiva temples in Mylapore (one of the seven sacred Shiva temples in Mylapore). [2] They are:

  1. Karaneeswarar Temple
  2. Tirttapaleeswarar Temple
  3. Velleeswarar Temple
  4. Virupakshiswarar Temple
  5. Valeeswarar Temple
  6. Malleeswarar Temple
  7. Kapaleeshwarar Temple

In addition to these "Sapta Sthana Shiva sthalas", the Ekambareshwarar–Valluvar temple in the neighbourhood is traditionally considered the indispensable eighth. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kapaleeshwarar Temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

The Kapaleeshwarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva located in Mylapore, Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple was built around the 7th century CE and is an example of Dravidian architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mylapore</span> Neighbourhood of Chennai

Mylapore, or Thirumayilai, is a neighbourhood in the central part of the city of Chennai, India. It is one of the oldest residential parts of the city. The locality is claimed to be the birthplace of the celebrated Tamil philosopher Valluvar, and the Hindu saint and philosopher, Peyalvar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vadakkunnathan Temple</span> Ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva

The Vadakkumnathan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva in Thrissur, in the Thrissur district of Kerala, India. The temple is a classical example of the architectural style of Kerala and has one monumental tower on each of the four sides in addition to a koothambalam. Mural paintings depicting various scenes from the Mahabharata can be seen inside the temple. The shrines and the Kuttambalam display vignettes carved in wood. The temple, along with the mural paintings, has been declared as a National Monument by India under the AMASR Act. According to popular local lore, this is the first temple built by Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. Thekkinkadu Maidan, encircling the Vadakkumnathan Temple, is the main venue of the renowned Thrissur Pooram festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kundrathur</span> Taluk Headquarters and Town in Kanchipuram district,Tamil Nadu, India

Kundrathur is a town located in the Chennai Metropolitan Area and the headquarters of Kundrathur taluk in Kanchipuram District. It is the birthplace of Sekkizhar, a well-known poet-saint who authored the Periyapuranam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ekambareswarar Temple (Kanchipuram)</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Ekambareswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in the town of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, India. It is significant to the Hindu sect of Saivism as one of the temples associated with the five elements, the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, and specifically the element of earth, or Prithvi. Shiva is worshiped as Ekambareswarar or Ekambaranathar or Rajlingeswaram, and is represented by the lingam, with his idol referred to as Prithvi lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Elavarkuzhali. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple also houses Nilathingal Thundam Perumal temple, a Divyadesam, the 108 temples revered in the Vaishnava canon Nalayira Divya Prabhandam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumara Swamy Devasthana, Bangalore</span> Hindu Temple

Kumara Swamy Devasthana, also known as Sri Kumaraswaami Temple, is a Hindu temple located in Hanumanthanagar, in the city of Bangalore, Karnataka, southern India. It is dedicated to the god Kartikeya, also known as Subrahmanya, Kumara Swamy, or Murugan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marundeeswarar Temple</span> Hindu temple in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Marundeeswarar Temple is a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva, located in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai adjacent to the beach of Bay of Bengal. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams where two of the most revered Nayanars, Appar and Tirugnana Sambandar, have glorified the temple with their verses during the 7th century CE. The temple has been widely expanded by Chola kings during the 11th century CE. The temple has two seven-tiered gateway towers, a huge tank, with the overall temple area covering 1 acre. The Marundeeswarar temple has been a place of curative worship for people with diseases.

Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple is a Hindu temple in the Village of Poombarai near Kodaikanal in Dindigul.

Nandeeswarar Temple is located in Adambakkam in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. It is close to St. Thomas Mount suburban railway station. The temple has two entrances one in the east, and another in the south. There is a tank situated outside the southern entrance, though not in use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayuranathaswami Temple, Mayiladuthurai</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Mayuranathaswamy Temple, Mayiladuthurai or Mayuranathar Temple is a Hindu temple in the town of Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Mayuranathaswamy, a form of Shiva, and has given its name to the town itself. The main icon is a lingam and the presiding deity is called Mayuranathar because the Hindu goddess Parvathi worshipped Shiva here in the form of a mayura.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kachchaleswarar Temple</span> Temple in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Kachchaleswarar Temple, also known as the Great Kachali Pagoda, is a Hindu temple located in Armenian Street, in the neighbourhood of Parry's corner in Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India. Constructed on land belonging to dubash Kalavai Chetty in 1725, the temple belonged to the left-hand castes and was the site of the first major conflict between left and right-handed castes in the then Madras city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thiruvalluvar Temple, Mylapore</span> Hindu temple in India

The Ekambareswarar–Kamakshi Temple, commonly known as the Thiruvalluvar Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to the poet-saint Valluvar in the neighborhood of Mylapore in Chennai, India. The shrine is located within the Ekambareswarar temple complex. Believed to have been constructed in the early 16th century, the temple was extensively renovated in the 1970s. Traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Saint Valluvar, the temple is the oldest ever built to Valluvar. The temple also serves as the venue for meetings of Tamil language enthusiasts. While many consider the temple as the birthplace of Valluvar, some consider it as his samadhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velleeswarar Temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Velleeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva as Velleeswarar. This mid-sized temple, spread over 2 acres is one amongst the Seven Shiva Temples of Mylapore. It is situated at South Mada Street, closer to Kapaleeswarar Temple.

Velleswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and located in Mangadu, a suburb of Chennai, India. This is a mid-size temple spread over 2 acres and is among the 3 principal temples in Mangadu – the other 2 being the Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple and Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple. The temple is managed by the HRCE Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. It is situated about 2 kilometers from Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple in Mangadu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil, Chennai</span> Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Ayyappan in Chennai, India

Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil is a Hindu Ayyappan Temple dedicated to the deity Ayyappan in Chennai, India. It is located at the junction of 6th Main Road and 2nd Avenue in Anna Nagar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vayilar</span> Hindu Nayanar saint

Vayilar, also known as Vayilan, Vayila Nayanar, Vayilar Nayanar and Vayilar of Mayilai, was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifty-first in the list of 63 Nayanars. He is said to worshipped the god Shiva, his patron, by his Mind and built a grand temple for him in his mind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tirttapaleeswarar Temple, Triplicane</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Tirttapaleeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in Triplicane in Chennai, India. It is dedicated to Shiva as Tirttapaleeswarar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virupakshiswarar Temple, Mylapore</span> Hindu temple in Chennai, India

Virupakshiswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in Mylapore in Chennai, India. It is dedicated to Shiva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valeeswarar Temple, Mylapore</span> Hindu temple in Chennai, India

Valeeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in Mylapore in Chennai, India. It is dedicated to Shiva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malleeswarar Temple, Mylapore</span> Hindu temple in Chennai, India

Malleeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in Mylapore in Chennai, India. It is dedicated to Shiva.

References

  1. 1. Sri Karaneeswarar Temple – 1st of the 7 Saptha Sthaana Shiva Temples in Mylapore, Chennai – Agasthiar Ashram. Agasthiar.org.
  2. ஆரூர்.சுந்தரசேகர், பெருமைமிக்க மயிலாப்பூரில் சப்த சிவஸ்தலங்கள்!! விகடகவி, 16 மே 2020
  3. Muthukumaran, M. (6 November 2019). "மயிலாப்பூர் திருவள்ளுவர் கோயிலில் என்ன நடக்கிறது? - ஸ்பாட் விசிட் #Video". Vikatan.com. Vikatan. Retrieved 10 January 2023.

Further reading