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{{Short description|Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Thiru Metraleeswarar Temple
| image = Kachi Metrali3.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|50|06|N|79|41|30|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Kanchipuram district|Kanchipuram]]
| location = [[Kanchipuram]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Metraleeswarar([[Shiva]])
Metralainayagi ([[Parvathi]])

| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
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}}
'''Metraleeswarar Temple''' (also called '''Kanchi Metrali''') is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]], located in Pillaiyar Palayam area in [[Kanchipuram]], [[Kanchipuram district]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Metraleeswarar 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 275 temples revered in the canon. The temple is believed to have expanded during the 13th century by [[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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kanchipuram: Where traditional silk, history and devotion have an interesting confluence|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/travel/kanchipuram-where-traditional-silk-history-and-devotion-have-an-interesting-confluence/story-JkZ2SvLjhC1PYqdo50rKjL.html|accessdate=13 December 2020|date=23 September 2019|publisher=Hindustan Times|last=Datta|first=Saurvan Ranjan}}</ref>

==Etymology and legend==
[[File:Kachi Metrali1.jpg|200px|left |thumb| Legend of the temple in stucco image]]
According to legend, saint [[Thirugnana Sambandar]] was singing verses praising Shiva at the nearby site and Shiva was mesmerized by the devotion. The temple deity thus came to be known as Urugeswarar (''urugu'' means mesmerize in [[Tamil (language)|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', <small>{{lang|ta|தளி}}</small>,<ref>Thali, தளி = Kovil, given at Wiktionary [[wikt:ta:தளி]] and [http://www.valaitamil.com/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%BF--tamil-dictionary95538.html ValaiTamil.com Tamil dictionary]. West is Merku, Metrali means west temple. மேற்கு தளி, மெற்றாளி.</ref> which means temple.

There is another legend that [[Vishnu]] was doing penance to attain the form of Shiva.<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=173–4}}</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> 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".<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>

[[Appar]] and [[Sambandar]], the 7th-century Tamil ''Saivite'' poet, venerated Metralinathar in one verse each in ''[[Tevaram]]'', compiled as the ''[[Tirumurai|First Tirumurai]]''. As the temple is revered in ''Tevaram'', it is classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]'', one of the 275 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=259|title=Sri Metraleeswarar temple|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=15 November 2015|year=2015}}</ref> Sundarar mentions that Shiva prefers to reside at this most happening place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thirukachimetrali|url=http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/koil_view.php?koil_idField=57|publisher=Thevaaram.Org|accessdate=15 November 2015|year=2012}}</ref> There are no historical evidence to assess the exact time the temple was built. There is an inscription in the temple indicating benevolent contributions from during the 13th century by [[Later Cholas]] to expand the temple.<ref name=census/>

==Architecture==
[[File:Kachi Metrali4.jpg|200px|thumb| left|Shrine of the temple]]
The temple is located in Pillayarpalayam area of [[Kanchipuram]]. Metraleeswarar temple complex has two ''[[prakaram]]s'' (outer courtyard) and a three-tiered ''raja[[gopuram]]'' (gateway tower) facing West. The central shrine faces West and holds the image of Metraleeswarar (Shiva) in the form of ''lingam'' made of granite.<ref name=census/> The other shrine of Shiva following the legend of Vishnu called Otarukeesar, who is believed to have melted at the songs of Sambandar.<ref name=R/> The temples in [[Kanchipuram]] have 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. But this temple has a separate shrine for Parvathi in the form of Metralinayagi. The granite images of [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] (the bull and vehicle of Shiva) and the flagstaff is located axial to the sanctum. As in other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the first precinct or the walls around the sanctum of Metraleeswarar has images of [[Dakshinamurthy]] (Shiva as the Teacher), [[Durga]] (warrior-goddess) and [[Chandeshvara Nayanar|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.<ref name=R/> 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.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

==Worship and religious practices==
[[File:Kachi Metrali2.jpg|200px|thumb| Shrine of Metraleeswarar]]
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 p.m. and Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m and Arthajamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''[[abhisheka]]'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''[[Naivedhya|naivethanam]]'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Metraleeswarar and Metralainayagi 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"/> 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.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Kachabesar Temple}}
{{Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}
{{Shaivism}}
{{HinduMythology}}

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

Metraleeswar temple - Revision history

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