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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Kachabeswarar Temple
| image = Thirukachur3.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|46|34|N|79|59|50|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Kanchipuram district|Kanchipuram]]
| locale =
| elevation_m =
| deity = Kachabeswarar([[Shiva]])
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Thamizhan architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website = https://www.facebook.com/Thirukachur/
}}

'''Kachabeswarar Temple, Thirukachur''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the deity [[Shiva]], located in [[Thirukachur]], a village in [[Kanchipuram district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Shiva is worshipped as Kachabeswarar, and is represented by the ''[[lingam]]''. His consort [[Parvati]] is depicted as Antanatchi and Kanniyumaiyal. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century CE Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''[[Tevaram]]'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the [[Nayanars]] and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''. The temple is counted as a twin temple along with [[Marundeeswarar Temple, Thirukachur|Marundeeswarar Temple]] located in the same village.

The temple complex covers two acres and the temple tank is located diagonally outside the main gateway. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Kachabeswarar and his consorts Antanatchi and Kanniyumaiyal, Thiyagarajar and that of Sundarar being offered food by Shiva being the most prominent. All the shrines of the temple are enclosed in large concentric rectangular granite walls. There is a sixteen pillared hall in front of the main tower that has sculpted columns depicting various legends and Hindu deities.

The temple has four daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The Brahmotsavam festival is celebrated during the day of the Magam (February - March) is the most prominent festival.

The original complex is believed to have been built by [[Cholas]], while the present masonry structure was built during the [[Madurai Nayak|Nayak]] during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
[[File:Thirukachur15.JPG|thumb|left|180x180px|Vishnu in the form of tortoise worshiping Shiva]]
As per Hindu legend, [[Vishnu]] in the form of tortoise (called ''[[Kurma|Karkada]]'') worshiped Shiva to attain divine ambrosia at this place. On account of the legend, the place was called Kascapavoor, which went on to become Kachoor and the presiding deity, Shiva came to be known as Karchabeswarar. As per another legend, Vishnu appeared in the form of [[Kurma]] appeared from the [[Ocean of Milk]] to help the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]s. Vishnu appeared in this place, created a spring, bathed and prayed to Shiva at this place. Since Shiva helped Vishnu, the place came to be known as Tirukachur.<ref name=Saiva4/> As per a third legend, [[Indra]], the king of celestial deities got a disease which could not be cured by the physicians of the celestial world. The Ashwini Devas of the celestial world also could not cure the disease. With the help of sage [[Narada]] who advised them to worship Shiva, they were able to find the herbs in earth that could cure the disease. Indra was cured with the herb, but they were not able to find the place where they found the herb in earth. They prayed to [[Parvati]] who appeared in the place in the form of Irulneeki Amman (the one who cleared darkness) and directed them the place.<ref name=dinamalar/> The temple has a recorded history from the 10th century, but scholar attribute the presence of the temple at least from the 8th century, pertaining to the period of [[Sundarar]], the famous Saiva Nayanar. Sundarar has glorified the temple in his verses in 11th [[Thirumurai]] of ''[[Thevaram]]''.<ref name=census/>

==Architecture==
{{Multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=right
| total_width = 350
| width1 = 3264 | height1 = 2448
| width2 = 3264 | height2 = 2448
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Thirukachur2.JPG
|image2=Thirukachur6.JPG
|footer=The shrines of the temple
}}
The temple has a flat gateway tower and all the shrines of the temple are enclosed in concentric rectangular granite walls. There is a sixteen pillar hall in front the gateway that has sculpted pillars dating back to the 16th century. The temple occupies an area of around {{convert|2|acre|ha|abbr=on}}. The temple tank is located adjacent to the sixteen pillared hall. The central shrine houses the image of Kachabeswarar in the form of [[Lingam]]. The shrine of Irulneeki Thayar (also called [[Anthaga Nivarini]], facing West is located in the Mahamandapam leading to the sanctum. The central shrine is approached through the shrine of Thyagaraja located adjacent to the sanctum. As in other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, the shrines of [[Vinayaka]], [[Murugan]], [[Navagraha]], Chandikesa and [[Durga]] are located around the precinct of the main shrine. There is a shrine depicting Shiva offering food to Sundarar on the Western side.<ref name=census>{{cite book|title=Temples of Tamil Nadu Kancheepuram District|publisher= Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu|year=2003|last=C.|first=Chandramouli}}</ref> The sanctum is approached through a side entrance. The sanctum is in the form of a moat. The first precinct around the sanctum has the images of Vinayaka, [[Surya]], various images of Nagalinga, [[Valli]] [[Devasena|Deivanai]], [[Subramanya]], [[Nataraja]], images of [[Nalvar]]. The shrine of Amman is a West facing shrine where the deity Anjanatchiamman is sported in standing posture.<ref name=Saiva4/> The original complex is believed to have been built by [[Cholas]], while the present masonry structure was built during the [[Madurai Nayak|Nayak]] during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=HRCE>{{cite web|title=Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu|url=https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|publisher=Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu|pages=244|access-date=1 August 2020|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009010850/https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Religious importance==
[[File:Thirukachur7.JPG|200px|thumb|A stucco image indicating the legend of Shiva feeding Sundarar]]
It is one of the shrines of the 275 [[Paadal Petra Sthalams]] - [[Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu#Sthalams|Shiva Sthalams]] glorified in the early medieval ''[[Tevaram]]'' poems by Tamil Saivite [[Nayanars]] [[Sundarar]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kachur Alakovil|url=http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/koil_view.php?koil_idField=58|publisher=Thevaaram.org|year=2011|accessdate=14 March 2016}}</ref> As per Hindu legend, Sundarar, while traveling through the place became very hungry. Shiva appeared and fed Sundarar. Sundarar has made a mention of the event, calling the deity as Kachabeswarar, Virundeeswarar and Iranthittai Eswarar.<ref name=dinamalar/> The temple is one of the major temples in the Thondai region having the images of [[Thyagaraja]] and called Amudha Thyagesar.<ref name=Saiva4>{{cite book|title=Saiva Encyclopaedia volume 4 - Thirumurai Thalangal|editor-last=Dr. R.|editor-first=Selvaganapathy|publisher=Saint Sekkizhaar Human Resource Development Charitable Trust|location=Chennai, India|year=2013|pages=122–3}}</ref>

==Festivals==
The temple priests perform the ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day; ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 a.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m, and ''Arthajamam'' at 9:00 p.m.. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''[[abhisheka]]'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''[[Naivedhya|naivethanam]]'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for Kachabeswarar and Anjanatchi. 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''. The nine-day Brahmotsavam during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Masi'' and Chitra Pournami are the most important festivals of the temple. During the nine-day Brahmotsavam, the event of Shiva feeding Sundarar is enacted.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Kachabeswarar, Marundeeswarar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=260|publisher=[[Dinamalar]]|year=2014|access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=174–5}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Marundeeswarar Temple, Thirukachur]]
* [[Padalathri temple]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kachabeswarar temple, Thirukachur}}

{{Famous Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}

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

Kachabeswarar temple, Thirukachur - Revision history

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