In India, religion plays a critical role in the lives of people, and temples are in the middle of it. People have a special connection with temples, and no wonder India has many of them. One such city, which...
In India, religion plays a critical role in the lives of people, and temples are in the middle of it. People have a special connection with temples, and no wonder India has many of them. One such city, which is popularly called the city of a thousand temples, is Kanchipuram. Devotees from across the world come to this city to visit these temples, and it is considered one of the jewels of South India. It is a city where there is divinity and calmness, which is unique to this place. The name Kanchipuram is derived from the words Kanchi, which means Brahma, and Puram, which means abode. It is Brahma’s abode and houses many Vishnu and Shiva temples. The temples in this city are divided into two parts. The largest of the two parts, Big Kanchi, has many Shiva temples. The smaller part, called the Little Kanchi, has temples built for Lord Vishnu. So it is considered one of the most sacred places for Hindus.
A visit to this place for historians and spiritual seekers is like heaven, as they get to see majestic and awe-inspiring temples that have been around for centuries. They showcase Dravidian architecture with a prominent Garbagriha and a huge gopuram, unlike the North Indian temples that have a small entry that extends to a tall tower over the sanctum. Here is a list of six wonderful Kanchipuram temples to visit at least once.
1.Kamatchi Temple
It is one of the most incredible temples in Kanchipuram and is built in honour of Goddess Kamakshi, who is revered as a Shakti goddess. There is a great significance attached to this temple, as it is said that the temple is immensely powerful to fulfil wishes, and hence it draws many devotees to it. The temple structure is extremely beautiful, with Gopurams made of gold overlays. The main sanctum, the Gayatri Mandapam, has the image of the main god in the form of Padmasan, a yogic pose. There are images of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in this temple. The outer corridor is depicted with various forms of Goddess Kamatchi. The Ratha yatra with the idol of the goddess is a yearly affair and attracts many devotees. It is held in the Chaitra month and is one of the most important events in the temple.
A speciality of this temple is that it is the only temple in Kanchipuram that is dedicated to a goddess, and there are many legends about this temple. If you are a tourist, this is one of the best places to visit because of the sheer magnificence of this temple. The temple is open in the morning from 5 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and in the evening from 4 p.m. to 8.15 p.m. It is open for longer hours during Pournami Days.
2.Ekambaranathar Temple
This is one of the largest temples in Kanchipuram and spreads over a land area of 23 acres. The Gopuram is 60 m tall, and the temple has 1000 pillars with carvings on each of them, making for awe-inspiring architecture. The Garbagriha, or sanctum sanctorum, has a huge Shiva Lingam that is made of small Shivalingas. The inner wall showcases 10008 Shivalingas.
Devotees come in large numbers to Ekambaranathar Temple to pay their obeisance. A mango tree, which is believed to be more than 3500 years old, is also one of the fascinating sights in this temple. The story about this tree is that Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva got married here in Lord Vishnu’s presence. Another legend says that the four branches of the tree are the four Vedas, and the mangoes that are on these branches have different tastes. To visit this temple, go between 6 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. or between 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
3.Trilokyanatha Temple
It is a temple that was built for the Jain Tirthankaras. Trilokyanatha Temple is a Digambar temple built in the 8th century and is an important Hindu pilgrimage site as there are many Hindu deities as well. The structure has a Gopuram that is three-tiered and the architecture is Dravidan style. The shrine houses Loknathar, who is the 24th Jain Thirtankara, in the north, and on the south side is the idol of Neminatha, who is the 22nd Thirtankar.
The uniqueness of this temple is the depiction of the Jain scriptures through carved paintings on the ceilings. Another aspect is that the scriptures depict the life of Krishna, who is a revered Hindu deity, along with a shrine to Adishankara. So it is an important place for two different religions. The timing here is from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
4.Kailasanathar Temple
It is the oldest temple in this city; it dates back to 700 CE. It is said to have been built by the Pallava dynasty and has a Dravidian style of architecture. The temple has a sanctum, an entrance, and a gathering hall. The inner walls have Hindu murals, and the main shrine has a large Shivalingam in the sanctum, which is guarded by Nandi idols. There are many carvings of deities throughout the wall, as if they are seeing the devotees. The temple has a circumbulatory passage with two gates. The entry gate is called the Gate of Death, and the exit gate is called the Gate of Birth. It is as if the devotees have a rebirth. Temple timings are 6:30 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
5.Sri Varadaraj Perumal Temple
This temple is among the 108 Divya Desams, or the abode of Lord Vishnu. It is built on a 23-acre land and has 32 shrines and 400 pillars. The Raja Gopuram is 7-tiered and 130 feet tall. The most fascinating feature is the gold-glided lizards, which are carved over the sanctum and considered sacred. This temple is called the Lizard Temple. Touching these lizards is said to bring relief to all Doshas. The temple attracts many devotees for the annual Brahmotsavam. The temple is open from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.
6.Ulagalandha Perumal Temple
It was built by the Pallavas, and then the Cholas and the Vijayanagara Kings contributed to the upliftment. The temple was built for Lord Vishnu and is one of the Divya Desams. The unique feature of this temple is that it has 4 other Desams inside the temple, making it a revered temple to visit. Spread over 2 acres, it has a 3-story Gopuram, and the central shrine is visited most by couples who are praying for offspring. Temple timings are 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Kanchipuram has many temples to visit. If you are on a short trip, visit the auspicious one above and get the blessings of God.
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