Metraleeswar temple

Coordinates: 12°50′06″N 79°41′30″E / 12.83500°N 79.69167°E / 12.83500; 79.69167
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Thiru Metraleeswarar Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictKanchipuram
DeityMetraleeswarar(Shiva) Metralainayagi (
Parvathi)
Location
LocationKanchipuram
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Metraleeswar temple is located in Tamil Nadu
Metraleeswar temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates12°50′06″N 79°41′30″E / 12.83500°N 79.69167°E / 12.83500; 79.69167
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture

Metraleeswarar Temple (also called Kanchi Metrali) is a

Later Cholas
as indicated in the inscriptions.

The temple has four daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and three yearly festivals on its calendar, of which the Thirugnana Sambanda Gurupuja and Panguni Uthiram during March - April being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The temple is counted among the many historic and religious places of Kanchipuram.[1]

Etymology and legend

Legend of the temple in stucco image

According to legend, saint

Tamil and the image of the Sambandar is located in Urugeswarar temple axially outside the temple facing the Metraleeswar temple with folded hands. As Shiva turned to the West to listen to the songs of Sambandar, the place came to be known as Thirumetrali and the presiding deity came to be known as Metralinathar. An old term is 'Thali', தளி,[2]
which means temple.

There is another legend that Vishnu was doing penance to attain the form of Shiva.[3][4] Shiva appeared to him and informed that he had to continue his penance till Sambandar visits the place and sings praise of him. The deity at the Urugeswarar temple was thus originally Vishnu, who was mesmerized by the devotion of Sambandar and changed to Shiva. It is believed that the 108 Rudras performed penance at this place and hence it is called "Ananda Rudresam" and "Maha Rudresam".[5]

Later Cholas to expand the temple.[5]

Architecture

Shrine of the temple

The temple is located in Pillayarpalayam area of

Dakshinamurthy (Shiva as the Teacher), Durga (warrior-goddess) and Chandikeswarar (a saint and devotee of Shiva). The shrine of Nataraja, the dancing form of Shiva, has only a printed image unlike other Shiva temples that house an idol of the deity.[3] The temple precinct is surrounded by granite walls. There is a separate shrine for Othu Urugeeswarar which is axial to the main entrance. During the weekly and yearly festivals, Kachabeswarar is given importance over the presiding deity Metraleeswarar.[6]

Worship and religious practices

Shrine of Metraleeswarar

The temple priests perform the

pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi.[5][6] Thirugnana Sambanda Gurupuja and Panguni Uthiram during March - April are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple. The Thirukarthikai during (November - December), Mahashivarathri during February - March and Kanthasashti are the other major festivals celebrated in the temple.[6]

References

  1. ^ Datta, Saurvan Ranjan (23 September 2019). "Kanchipuram: Where traditional silk, history and devotion have an interesting confluence". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  2. ^ Thali, தளி = Kovil, given at Wiktionary wikt:ta:தளி and ValaiTamil.com Tamil dictionary. West is Merku, Metrali means west temple. மேற்கு தளி, மெற்றாளி.
  3. ^ a b c R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 173–4.
  4. ISBN 81-206-0151-3
    .
  5. ^ a b c d C., Dr.Chandramouli (2003). Temples of Tamil Nadu - Kancheepuram district. Chennai: Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu.
  6. ^ a b c d "Sri Metraleeswarar temple". Dinamalar. 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Thirukachimetrali". Thevaaram.Org. 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kachabesar Temple.
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