Temples in Kanchipuram

1. List of temples in Kanchipuram 1
List of temples in Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram (Tamil: காஞ்சிபுரம்), or Kanchi or Kancheepuram, is a famous temple city in the Indian state of
Tamil Nadu. It served as the capital city of the Pallava Kingdom. It is also known by its former names
Kanchiampathi, Conjeevaram, and the nickname "The City of Thousand Temples" [1] It is now the Administrative
headquarters of Kanchipuram district. Kanchipuram is located 72 kilometers from Chennai, the capital city of the
southern state of Tamil Nadu, India.
Kanchipuram is considered one of the seven holiest cities to the Hindus of India. In Hinduism, a kṣetra is a sacred
ground, a field of active power, a place where moksha, final release can be obtained. The Garuda Purana enumerates
seven cities as providers of moksha, namely Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Varanasi, Avantikā, Dvārakā and
Kanchipuram.
List of Temples
Among the major Hindu temples in Kanchipuram are some of the most prominent Vishnu Temples and Shiva
Temples of Tamil Nadu like the Varadharaja Perumal Temple for Vishnu and the Ekambaranatha Temple which is
the "earth abode" of Shiva. Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kumara Kottam, Kachapeshwarar Temple, and the
Kailasanathar Temple are some of the other prominent temples.
* Divya desams - temples dedicated to Vishnu glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil literature
canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE.
* Padal petra stalam - where the three of the most revered Nayanars (Saivite Saints), Appar, Sundarar and
Tirugnana Sambandar have glorified the temples in Tevaram during 7th-8th century.
Name of the temple Photo Architecture/Timeline Notes/Beliefs
Shiva Temples
Ekambareswarar Temple 600 CE, Pallavas, The temple is the largest temple in the town of
Present structure - Kanchipuram and is located in the northern part of
Nayaks of Tanjore [2]
the town. The temple gopuram (gateway tower) is
59m tall, which is one the tallest gopurams in
[3]
India. It is one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams
representing earth (Sanskrit: पन्च भूत स्थल) referring to
[4]
the five temples, dedicated to Shiva, a Hindu god,
each representing the manifestation of the five prime
[5]
elements of nature- land, water, air, sky, fire.
Kailasanathar Temple
567CE foudation, The temple is the oldest Pallava temple still in
Expansion in 7th century existence and is declared an archeological monument
[6]
by Rajasimha Pallava by Archaeological Survey of India. The temple is
architecturally considered splendid and its plan is
peculiar in having a series of cells with sculptures
[6]
within.

2. List of temples in Kanchipuram 2
Karaithirunathar Temple
Kachi Metrali - [7]
Pallava dynasty, Vishnu is believed to have worshipped Shiva in the
Karchapeswarar Temple [6]
present structure by form of kurma (tortoise). The other name given to
[8] [6]
Vijayanagar rulers the temple is Kachipedu in some inscriptions. The
temple is adjacent to the Kanthakottam temple.
Onakanthan Tali Onakandan means the lover of the Sravana
[9]
constellation and Metrali refers to southern side.
Kachi Anekatangapadam The temple is believed to be in forest frequented by
[9]
large set of people. The temple is close to the
Kailasantha temple in a very small campus.

3. List of temples in Kanchipuram 3
Kuranganilmuttam [10]
Pallavas The temple is close to Mamandur, south of
Kanchipuram. The temple has a rock cut shrine of
Pallava origin associated with monkey, squirrel and
[10]
crow (kurangu, Anil and Mutram in Tamil). The
temple has been reverred by Campantar's
[10]
Tevaram.
Muktheeswarar Temple Nandivarman II The temple is in dilapidated state and has inscriptions
dating back to the Pallava period. The sculpture in
[9]
front mandapa (hall) has bold outlines.
Tiru Maakaral The temple is reverred by Campantar in Tevaram
hymns. The places has two Jain images pointing to
[11]
the original existence of Jainism in the area.
Tiruvothur The place was originally a Jain temple and was later
obtained by Saivas after Campantar performed
miracles to yield a palmya tree. Palmya tree is
sculpted in the temple. The temple is reverred by
Campantar in Tevaram hymns.
Panankattur
Vazhakarutheeswarar Vazhakku indicates case - worship in this temple is
Temple [12]
believed to relieve people of all their litigations.
The temple attained significance when Vasanthi
Stanli, a DMK party functionary prayed for
Kanimozhi (the daughter of ex-chief minister of
Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi and accused in 2G
spectrum case), offered special worship to relieve her
[12]
of trial of 2G spectrum scam.
Iravatanesvara Temple, Pallavas, 8th century CE It is famous for its splendid vimana and the circular
Kanchipuram [13]
sanctum. This temple was built by Pallava King
Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimhan). The temple is
maintained by Archaeological Survey of India and is
[14]
a protected monument.
Shakti Temples

4. List of temples in Kanchipuram 4
Kamakshi Amman Temple Pallavas in 6th century The goddess is depicted in the form of an yantra.
and modified in Chakra or peetam (basement) is where the deity
[15]
14th-17th century placed. But in this temple, the yantra is placed in
[16]
front of the deity. Adi Sankara is closely
associated with this temple and believed to have
established the Kanchi matha after this temple. The
mutt's official history states that it was founded by
Adi Sankara of Kaladi, and that His Holiness
Jayendra Saraswati Swami is the current pontiff -
The 69th head in succession, tracing its history back
[17]
to the fifth century BCE. A related claim is that
Adi Sankara came to Kanchipuram, and that he
established the Kanchi mutt named "Dakshina
Moolamnaya Sarvagnya Sri Kanchi Kamakoti
Peetam" in a position of supremacy (Sarvagnya
Peetha) over the other mathas of the subcontinent,
before his death there.
Other Hindu Temples
Kumarakottam The temple is dedicated to Muruga (called Skanda),
the son of Shiva and Parvathi and is located between
the Ekambareswarar temple and Kamakshi Amman
temple leading to the cult of Somaskanda (Skanda,
the child between Shiva and Parvathi). The temple is
the birth place of Kandapuranam, the Tamil religious
work on Muruga translated from Sanskrit
Skandapurana in 1625 CE by Kachiappa
[8]
Shivacharya.
Chitragupta Temple Cholas - 9th century Chitragupta, as per Hinduism is the younger brother
[18][19]
CE of Yama, the death god, who keeps track of good and
bad deeds of humanbeings to decide their residence
[19]
in heaven or hell. The temple is just one of its
[19]
kind that has a separate temple for Chitragupta.
The panchaloha (alloy made of five elements) idol of
the deity and his consort was found during an
[19]
excavation process during 1911 CE.
Jain Temples
Thiruparruthikundram - 9th Century CE, Trilokyanatha/Chandraprabha temple is a twin jain
Jain Temple [7]
Pallavas temple having inscriptions from Pallava king,
Narasimhavarman II and the Chola kings Rajendra
Chola I, Kulothunga Chola I and Vikrama Chola, and
the Kanarese inscriptions of Krishnadevaraya. The
temple is maintained by Tamil Nadu archaeological
[20]
department.
Vishnu Temples

5. List of temples in Kanchipuram 5
Varadharaja Perumal 1053 CE, Cholas, Varadharaja Perumal Temple was originally built by
Temple present structure 14-15 [21]
the Cholas in 1053 and it was expanded during
century, Nayaks of the reigns of the great Chola kings Kulottunga Chola
Tanjore I and Vikrama Chola. In the 14th century another
wall and a gopura was built by the later Chola kings.
It is an ancient temple and one of the 108
divyadesams, the holy abodes of Vishnu. It is located
in part of Kanchipuram called the Vishnu Kanchi that
is a home for a lot of famous Vishnu temples,
including this one. Varadharaja Perumal Temple is a
huge one on a 23-acre (unknown operator:
u'strong' m2) complex and shows the architectural
skills of ancient vishwakarma sthapathis in temple
architecture and is famous for its holiness and ancient
history. Another significant thing about the temple
are beautiful carved lizards and platted with gold,
[22]
over the sanctum.
Ashtabujakaram - Sri The deity is with eight hands and hence called asta
Adhikesava Perumal bhujakaram.
Temple
Tiruvekkaa - Sri The deity here is termed "Sonna vannam seitha
Yathothkari Temple Perumal" meaning the truth sayer. It lies west of
[23]
Varadaraja Perumal temple.
Tiruththanka - Sri Deepa There are shrines for Lakshmi Hayagriva, Andal,
prakasa Perumal Temple Vedanta Desika and Alwars. It is the birth place of
Vedanta Desika. There is a separate shrine for
Hayagreeva along with Vedanta Desika.

6. List of temples in Kanchipuram 6
Tiruvelukkai - Sri Azhagiya The temple is known for the Narasimha (lion form)
Singar Temple avatar of Vishnu.
Tirukalvanoor - Sri Adi The temple is a small shrine inside the
Varaha Swami Temple Ekambareswarar temple precinct.
Tiruoorakam - Sri 846-869 CE, The temple is believed to have stood in Karikala
Ulagalantha Swami Temple [24]
Nandivarman III hall, after ancient Chola king Karikala.
Inscriptions indicate the existence of the hall in
[25]
olden days. All the four temples are enshrined
Tiruneeragam - Sri [23]
in the same complex.
Jagadeeshwarar Temple
Tirukaaragam - Sri
Karunagara Perumal
Temple
Tirukaarvaanam - Sri
Tirukaarvarnar Temple
Tiruparamechura Late 8th century, The place is the birth place of the azhwar saint,
Vinnagaram - Sri Vaikunda [26] [26]
Nandivarman II Poigai Alvar. The central shrine has tiers of 3
Perumal Temple shrines, one over the other, with Vishnu depicted in
[26]
each of them. The prakaram (corridors round the
sanctum) has series of sculptures depicting the
[26]
Pallava rule and conquer.
Tirupavalavannam - Sri The temple faces west and the twin aswins have
Pavala Vanar Temple [23]
worshipped the deity here.

7. List of temples in Kanchipuram 7
Tirupaadagam - Sri Expanded in 1070-1120 The temple has a set of inscriptions associated with
Pandava Thoodar Temple CE, Kulothunga Chola Cholas. A record of the Chola king, Rajakesari
[18][25]
I Varaman alais Kulothunga Chola I, dated in his fifth
[25]
year.
Tirunilaaththingalthundam The temple is a small shrine close to the sanctum
- Sri Nilathingal sanctorum of the Kamkshi Amman temple.
Thundathan Perumal
Temple
Tirupputkuzhi - Sri Vijaya
Raghava Perumal Temple
Other Temples
Parithiyur- Kalyana
Varadharaja Perumal
Temple
Sri Aadhi Kesava Perumal -
Kooran [about 8 to 9 km
from Kanchipuram]
Vamanar temple (very near
to Kamakshi Temple)
Dhrmalingeswarar Temple
(Kayaar Kulam)
Neervalur - Sri Veetrirunda
Lakshmi Narayana Perumal
Temple
Sangupani Vinayakar
Temple
Satyanadeeswara Temple
Kanaka Durga Temple,
Koneri Kuppam

8. List of temples in Kanchipuram 8
Notes
[1] "Tourist Places" (http:/ / www. kanchi. tn. nic. in/ tourism place. html). Government of Tamil Nadu. 2001. .
[2] Let's Go 2004, p. 584
[3] Sajnani 2001, pp. 305
[4] Ramaswamy 2007 , pp. 301-302
[5] A dictionary, Canarese and EnglishWilliam Reeve, Daniel Sanderson
[6] Ayyar 1991, pp. 73
[7] "Tmple" (http:/ / www. kanchi. tn. nic. in/ temples. htm). 2001. .
[8] Rao 2008, p. 110
[9] Ayyar 1991. p. 86
[10] Soundara Rajan 2001, p. 27
[11] K. R. 2002, p. 40
[12] "DMK distances itself from poojas for Kanimozhi by Party MP" (http:/ / news. chennaionline. com/ newsitem.
aspx?NEWSID=cdf0a348-00d9-4cae-a68f-7333b8f1e947& CATEGORYNAME=CHN). .
[13] Ayyar 1991, p. 74
[14] "List of protected monuments in Tamil Nadu maintained by ASI" (http:/ / asi. nic. in/ asi_monu_alphalist_tamilnadu. asp). .
[15] Abram 2011, pp. 456
[16] Ayyar 1991, pp. 70-71
[17] "Kamakoti.org" (http:/ / www. kamakoti. org/ peeth/ origin. html). .
[18] Rao 2008, p. 111
[19] "The Hindu : Shrine for Chitragupta" (http:/ / www. hindu. com/ fr/ 2003/ 04/ 18/ stories/ 2003041801260800. htm). 2003. .
[20] "Deprived of original élan" (http:/ / www. thehindu. com/ arts/ history-and-culture/ article2128525. ece). 2011. .
[21] "Abodes of Vishnu - Thirukkachchi" (http:/ / www. indiantemples. com/ Tamilnadu/ df043. html). .
[22] "Gateway to Kanchipuram district - Varadaraja Temple" (http:/ / www. kanchi. tn. nic. in/ varadaraja. htm). .
[23] Ayyar 1991, p. 539
[24] Rao 2008, p. 109
[25] Ayyar 1991, p. 75
[26] Ayyar 1991, p. 80
References
• Abram, David; Nick Edwards, Mike Ford, Daniel Jacobs, Shafik Meghji, Devdan Sen, Gavin Thomas (2011), The
Rough guide to India (http://books.google.com/books?id=6VT6aAXqO8kC&pg=PT2025&dq=kamakshi+
amman+temple&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RqUlT8D1JIKctwee6omiCw&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&
q=kamakshi amman temple&f=false), Rough Guides, ISBN 978-1-84836-563-6.
• Ayyar, P. V. Jagadisa (1991), South Indian shrines: illustrated (http://books.google.com/
books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&pg=PA70&dq=kamakshi+amman+temple&hl=en&sa=X&
ei=Cp0lT7zaAobftgfVrIXFDg&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=kamakshi amman temple&f=false),
New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, ISBN 81-206-0151-3.
• K.R., Subramanian; K. R. Subramanian (M.A.) (2002), The origin of Saivism and its history in the Tamil land
(http://books.google.co.in/books?id=jHaVqNy-V6UC&pg=PA40&dq=tiruvothur&hl=en&sa=X&
ei=YTInT9H_NMi2twelnoyiCw&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=tiruvothur&f=false), New Delhi:
Asian Educational Services, ISBN 81-206-0144-0
• Let's Go (2004), Let's Go India & Nepal 8th Edition (http://books.google.com/books?id=oM2ZqMfg7hYC&
pg=PA584&dq=ekambaranathar+temple&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HM0gT_vjA8PDgQfP0qztCA&
ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=ekambaranathar temple&f=false), NY: Let's Go Publications,
ISBN 0-312-32006-X
• Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2007), Historical dictionary of the Tamils, United States: Scarecrow Press, INC.,
ISBN 978-0-470-82958-5
• Rao, P.V.L. Narasimha (2008), Kanchipuram - Land of Legends, Saints & Temples (http://books.google.com/
books?id=HJFldI75dRcC&pg=PA91&dq=kanchipuram+temples&hl=en&sa=X&
ei=yB8nT5eqKYfJtgfa4ujHAQ&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=kanchipuram temples&f=false), New
Delhi: Readworthy Publications (P) Ltd., ISBN 978-93-5018-104-1

9. List of temples in Kanchipuram 9
• Sajnani, Dr. Manohar (2001), Encyclopedia of tourism resources in India, Volume 2 (http://books.google.com/
books?id=nxtnsT8CdZ4C&pg=PA305&dq=ekambaranathar+temple&hl=en&sa=X&
ei=HM0gT_vjA8PDgQfP0qztCA&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=ekambaranathar temple&f=false),
Delhi: Kalpaz Publications, ISBN 81-7835-014-9.
• Soundara Rajan, Kodayanallur Vanamamalai (2001), Concise classified dictionary of Hinduism (http://books.
google.co.in/books?id=lAWS49f8HKoC&pg=PA27&dq=kuranganilmuttam&hl=en&sa=X&
ei=sBsnT-yQGI6Ttwfko_3PBA&ved=0CF4Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=kuranganilmuttam&f=false), New
Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, ISBN 81-7022-857-3.

10. Article Sources and Contributors 10
Article Sources and Contributors
List of temples in Kanchipuram Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=491708366 Contributors: Download, Lihaas, Rich Farmbrough, RichardMills65, Ssriram mt,
SwisterTwister, Woohookitty
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
File:Ekam.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ekam.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Roland zh, Ssriram mt
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