हिंदीOn this day
Standing

Sathyanatheswarar Temple, Kachi Nerikkaraikkadu (Thirukalimedu), Kanchipuram

The forest of karai shrubs in north-east Kanchipuram where Budha, the planet Mercury, did tapas and was made one of the nine grahas. Sambandar sang it.

Built: Two prakarams, a lotus tank and a west-facing three-tiered gopuramWhere: Tamil Nadu (Kanchipuram, Thirukalimedu)Deity: Bhagwan Shiva as Sathyanatheswarar (Karaivananathar); festival Devi Pramarambikai; Kamakshi as Devi of Kanchi12.83° N, 79.72° E
Photo: Ssriram mt · CC BY-SA 3.0

01Budha’s tapas

Karai is a thorny shrub, and the shrine stood in a karai forest, so the Lord is Karaivananathar. The temple’s katha says Budha, son of Chandra, did tapas here to be counted among the grahas, and Shiva appeared to him as Sathyanatheswarar; Indra, cursed by the sage Gautama, also worshipped here to be restored. The linga is swayambhu and faces east. Pramarambikai, the festival Devi, has a south-facing shrine and receives the same rituals as the Lord. Sambandar sang one padigam on Kachi Nerikkaraikkadu.

Visiting

In Thirukalimedu, north-east Kanchipuram; take the road opposite the head post office on Railway Road.

Nearby

Yathothkari Perumal Temple, Thiruvekka (Kanchipuram)Standing
The Age of Great Kingdoms

Yathothkari Perumal Temple, Thiruvekka (Kanchipuram)

The Lord who did as he was told. When Thirumalisai Alvar left Kanchi and asked Bhagwan to roll up his serpent bed and follow, he did, and came back when the Alvar returned. Poigai Alvar was born in the lotus tank of this temple.

Adikesava Perumal (Ashtabhuja) Temple, Ashtabhujakaram, KanchipuramStanding
The Age of Great Kingdoms

Adikesava Perumal (Ashtabhuja) Temple, Ashtabhujakaram, Kanchipuram

The eight-armed Lord of Vishnu Kanchi, who took eight weapons to protect Brahma’s yajna from the serpent Saraswati sent against it. Pey Alvar and Thirumangai Alvar sing of him, and Vedanta Desika wrote his Ashtabhujashtakam here.

Vaikuntha Perumal Temple, KanchipuramStanding
The Age of Great Kingdoms

Vaikuntha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

A Pallava stone temple whose three sanctums, one above another, hold Vishnu seated, reclining and standing, and whose cloister walls carry the story of the Pallava kings in sculpture with label inscriptions.

Deepaprakasar (Vilakkoli Perumal) Temple, Thiruthanka (Thooppul), KanchipuramStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Deepaprakasar (Vilakkoli Perumal) Temple, Thiruthanka (Thooppul), Kanchipuram

The Lord who came as the light of a lamp when darkness was sent against Brahma’s yajna. Thooppul is the birthplace of Vedanta Desika, who has a shrine here with Hayagriva.