KobyQ0272234 at 09:41, 18 April 2025

2025-04-18T09:41:21Z

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{{Short description|Temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| image = Anekadhangavadeswarar temple in Kanchipuram 05.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Anekadhangavadeswarar temple complex
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|50|31|N|79|41|28|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Kanchipuram district|Kanchipuram]]
| location = [[Kanchipuram]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Anekadhangavadeswarar([[Shiva]]), Manonmani ([[Parvathi]])
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
}}
'''Anekadhangavadeswarar Temple''' (also called '''Anegathangavadham''') is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]], located in the town of [[Kanchipuram]], near '''Kailasanathar temple''', [[Kanchipuram district]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Anekadhangavadeswarar is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''Tevaram'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]'', the 275 temples revered in the canon.

The temple has two daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and three yearly festivals on its calendar, of which the Thirukarthikai during (November - December) and [[Mahashivarathri]] during February - March being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

==Etymology and legend==
[[File:Kachi Anegathangavathanam4.jpg| 200px|left| thumb]]
According to legend, [[Vinayaka]], the son of [[Shiva]], established Anegabeswarar in the form a [[Lingam]] (an iconic representation of Shiva). Anegabeswarar is believed to have killed the demon Iraniyapura king Kesi and arranged for the marriage of his daughter Vallabai with Vinayaga. [[Kubera]], the king of wealth is also believed to have worshipped Angebeswarar. There are two Anegathangavadham temples, one in the North and one in the South. This temple is referred as Kachi Angegathangavadham to differentiate it from the northern shrine.<ref name=census>{{cite book|title=Temples of Tamil Nadu - Kancheepuram district|last=C.|first=Dr.Chandramouli|publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu|year=2003|location=Chennai}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ayyar |first=P. V. Jagadisa |title=South Indian shrines: illustrated |year=1991 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-206-0151-3}}</ref> The word ''Anekapa'' is believed to have been derived from elephant as it drinks water with its trunk and mouth. The elephant is believed have worshipped the king.<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=170–1}}</ref>

[[Campantar|Tirugnana Sambandar]], a 7th-century Tamil ''Saivite'' poet, venerated Chandramouleeswarar in ten verses in ''[[Tevaram]]'', compiled as the ''[[Tirumurai|First Tirumurai]]''. [[Sundarar]], venerated Anegaveswarar in 10 verses in ''Tevaram'', compiled as the ''Seventh Tirumurai''. As the temple is revered in ''Tevaram'', it is classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]'', one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/New_en.php?id=68|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109191932/http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/New_en.php?id=68|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 November 2011|title=Sri Anekadhangavadeswarar temple|publisher=Dinamalar|accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref> Sundarar mentions that Shiva prefers to reside at this most happening place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thirukachianegathangavadham|url=http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/songview.php?thiru=7&Song_idField=7010&padhi=100+&button=%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95|publisher=Thevaaram.Org|accessdate=15 November 2015|year=2012}}</ref>

==Architecture==
The temple is located in [[Kanchipuram]], on the way from the town to the [[Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple]]. Anekadhangavadeswarar temple complex has a single ''[[prakaram]]s'' (outer courtyard) and a small ''raja[[gopuram]]'' (gateway tower) facing North. The central shrine faces east and holds the image of Anekadhangavadeswarar (Shiva) in the form of ''lingam'' made of granite.<ref name=census/> As in other temples in [[Kanchipuram]], there is no separate shrine of Parvathi as it is believed that [[Kamakshi Amman Temple|Kamakshi of Kanchipuram]] is the common Parvathi shrine for all Shiva temples. The granite images of [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] (the bull and vehicle of Shiva) is located axial to the sanctum. As in other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the first precinct or the walls around the sanctum of Anekadhangavadeswarar has images of [[Dakshinamurthy]] (Shiva as the Teacher), [[Durga]] (warrior-goddess) and [[Chandeshvara Nayanar|Chandikeswarar]] (a saint and devotee of Shiva). There is a separate shrine for Periya Vinayaga. The temple precinct is surrounded by granite walls.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

==Worship and religious practises==
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=right
|total_width=300
|width1=3264| height1=2448
|width2=3264| height2=2448
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Kachi Anegathangavathanam2.jpg
|image2=Kachi Anegathangavathanam3.jpg
|footer=Shrines of Vinayagar and Murugan
}}
The temple priests perform the ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed two times a day; Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m. and Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''[[abhisheka]]'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''[[Naivedhya|naivethanam]]'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Anekadhangavadeswarar and Manonmani Amman. There are weekly rituals like ''{{lang|te-Latn|somavaram}}'' (Monday) and ''{{lang|te-Latn|sukravaram}}'' (Friday), fortnightly rituals like ''[[pradosha]]m'' and monthly festivals like ''[[amavasya|amavasai]]'' (new moon day), ''kiruthigai'', ''[[pournami (festival)|pournami]]'' (full moon day) and ''sathurthi''.<ref name=census/><ref name="dinamalar"/> The Thirukarthikai during (November - December) and Maha Shivratri during February - March are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Anekadhangavadeswarar Temple}}
{{Famous Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Kanchi anekatangavatesvarartemple1.jpg|Temple tank
File:Kanchi anekatangavatesvarartemple2.jpg|Entrance with compound wall
File:Kanchi anekatangavatesvarartemple3.jpg|Entrance
File:Kanchi anekatangavatesvarartemple4.jpg|Balipeetam and Nandhi mandapa
File:Kanchi anekatangavatesvarartemple5.jpg|Vimana of the presiding deity
</gallery>

[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Kanchipuram]]

Anekadhangavadeswarar temple - Revision history

KobyQ0272234 at 09:41, 18 April 2025