Short Kanchi Trip

Kanchipuram is Full of Temples and has great history with fabulous Stone Marvels. There are many but few are "Must See" Category. But We had a chance to see only three Temples ( 1,4 and 5 in below list) last Saturday due to our delayed start. We planned to see one more time with all Temples coverage. We are blessed in a way because we have seen 4 Divya Desam on Purattasi Saturday.

Temple Maps Link here.

1. Sri Ekambareswara Temple

The most famous Siva temple at Kanchi is the Ekambareswara temple. The dimensions of this temple are reflected in its 20 - acre spread and its tall south gopuram which soars to a height of 58.5m. 2500 years old Mango tree is Stala Viruksham which is still worshipped.

Most of the Places, we see sepertae Shrine for Shiva and Parvathi. But here we see together in a single shrine. Also, the Shape of Lord Shiva is completely different from Other Shiva Temples. Siva linga said to be done and worshipped by Paravathi.

Sri Ekambareswara Temple

This modern panel tells the story of the sacred site on which the temple was built. In the picture, Kamakshi clings to the "earth linga" as the river Ganges threatens but fails to wash it away during a flood. Kamakshi, which means "Wanton-eyed," is one of the names of Parvati, the consort of Shiva. The linga is of course Shiva's emblem, and Ganges is the Milky Way, the starry river that flows through Shiva's hair on her way to water the Earth.

Shiva overlooks the scene from his home in the Himalayas. To the right is the mango tree under which Shiva and Kamakshi were married. It houses various animals: a salamander climbing the trunk, a snake above, a peacock (small and hard to see) perching on the lower left branch, a squirrel above the peacock, a monkey above the snake. The temple is pictured in elevation to the right of the tree, while Ganges flows from the mountains down the left side of the photo and around underneath Kamakshi's feet. The earth linga and mango tree pictured here are actual physical objects, around which the legend has grown. The linga is installed in the temple's main shrine, while a courtyard inside the temple encloses the mango.

2. Sri Kailasanatha Temple

Kailasanathar Temple

Kailasnathar Temple is built by the Pallava Dynasty during the first quarter of the eighth century. The temple is built of red sandstone and has innumerable carvings of Pallva art, of which the Urdhva Thandava dance of  Siva and the laughing face of Parvathi are worth seeing. The architechture of this temple resembles the shore temple at Mamallapuram

3. Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Varadharaja Perumal Temple

The centre of attraction in Vishnu Kanchi is the temple of varadarajaswamy situated on the top of Hastigiri or Elephant Hill.The Vijayanagar kings constructed this temple. The whole temple covers an area of about 23 acres. The sculptural beauty of the pillars is amazing. Ornamental rings carved out of single stone at the Four Corners of the mandapam in the form of a chain are a delightful spectacle

4. Sri Kamakshiamman Temple

Kanchi is sacred as one of the three Sakti peethas of India. Kamakshi is said to be the Supergoddess, Parasakti, having Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati as her eyes. She blesses all that dedicate themselves to her. The sanctum sanctorum faces southeast in the centre of Gayatri Mandapam. The tradition says that there was a delightful grove of Champaka trees around the main temple now known as Gayatri Mandaparn.

Dont Miss to see Aruba Lakshmi and Soundarya Lakshmi inside Gayatri Mandapam on both sides of Kamakshiamman. Also the Pillar where Dasarathan worshipped and got blessings for child birth; it is said to be Eyes/Back part of Goddess Sati Devi fallen here. 

5. Sri Ulagalandhar Temple

This vaishnava Temple was bulit in chola period .The main deity of this temple is 35 feet high and 24 feet wide posing with one foot on earth and the other on the sky. This form is called Trivikrama.This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam's of Lord Vishnu

It is the Only One temple out of 108 divya desam which has 4 diva Desam in a single temple.

6. Sri Vijayaraghava Perumal Temple

This temple of Vijayaraghava Perumal is one of the 108 Divyadesams where Lord Rama is said to have performed the funeral rites for Jatayu, the giant bird which valiantly fought to prevent Ravana from abducting Sita, the wife of Lord Rama to Lanka.

7. Sri Vaikunda Perumal Temple

This temple is built by The Pallava ruler, Nandivarman in the seventh century AD.Sri Vaikunda Perumal temple is famous for its architecture. The Lord is in the sitting posture. The Goddess is known as Sri Vaikunthavalli Tayar. It has great sculptures and inscription which speak of its history and the history of the city itself. Its inner walls are decorated with lion shaped pillars.

And Many More.