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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 = Sathyanatheswarar Temple
| image = Tirukalimedu.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Image of the Thirukalimedu temple gopuram
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|49|45|N|79|43|01|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 = Sathyanatheswarar([[Shiva]])
Bhramarambika ([[Parvathi]])

| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
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}}
'''Sathyanatheswarar Temple''' (also called '''Karaivananathar Temple ''' or '''Thirukalimedu temple''') is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]], located in the town of '''Thirukalimedu''', near Indira Theertham [[Kanchipuram]], [[Kanchipuram district]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Shiva is worshipped as Sathyanatheswarar and his consort [[Parvathi]] as Pramarambikai. Sathyanatheswarar 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 has a three-tiered ''raja[[gopuram]]'', the entrance tower and all the shrines are enclosed in a granite wall. 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, namely the Margalhi Tiruvathirai during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Margalhi'' (December - January), Aipassi Annabishekam during ''Aippassi'' (October - November) 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==
According to legend, [[Indra]], the king of celestial deities and [[Budha|Bhudan]] (Mercury) worshipped Shiva at this place located in a forest called Kaaraivanam. Since it was located in Kaaraivanam, the presiding deity came to be known as Karaivananathar (Sathyanatheswarar).<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> [[Campantar|Tirugnana Sambandar]], a 7th-century Tamil ''Saivite'' poet, venerated Sathyanatheswarar in one verse 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=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 Sathyanatheswarar temple|publisher=Dinamalar|accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kachinerikaaraikadu|url=http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/koil_view.php?koil_idField=56|publisher=Thevaaram.Org|accessdate=15 November 2015|year=2012}}</ref>

As per Hindu legend, [[Chandra]] (moon) was under the tutelage of [[Guru]] (Jupiter). He wanted to marry Guru's wife, Dhara and did a ''[[yagna]]'' seeking the boon from [[Vishnu]]. Guru attended the function with Dhara, when she was allured by Chandra. [[Budha]] was born to Chandra and Dhara. When Budha became an youngster, he came to know about his birth, felt ashamed and started doing a penance praying to Shiva to include him as one of the [[Navagraha]]s at this place. Shiva was pleased by his devotion and appeared as Sathyanatheswarar to offer him the boon. As per another legend, [[Indra]], the king of [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]], the celestial deities, was attracted by the beauty of [[Ahalya]], the wife of sage [[Gautama Rishi|Gautama]]. He took the form of a rooster to wake the sage early in the day. The sage started his day by going to the river, leaving Ahalya alone in the house. Indra entered the house to attain Ahalya, but the sage sensed something was wrong in the day. He returned to the hermitage and saw Indra escaping as a cat. He cursed Indra to have eyes throughout his body. Indra was roaming around and started doing penance at this place to regain his appearance.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

==Architecture==
The temple is located in the Thirukalimedu locality in [[Kanchipuram]]. The temple covers an area of {{convert|22500|sqft|sqm|abbr=off}}. Sathyanatheswarar temple complex has two ''[[prakaram]]s'' (outer courtyard), a lotus tank and a three-tiered ''raja[[gopuram]]'' (gateway tower) raising to a height of {{convert|50|ft|m|abbr=off}} facing West. The central shrine faces east and holds the image of Sathyanatheswarar (Shiva) in the form of ''lingam'' made of granite and is believed to be a ''[[Swayambhu|swayambumoorthy]]'' (self manifested).<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. There is a shrine facing South where the festival image of Pramarambikai is housed. All the rituals performed for the deity is similar to the ones done for the presiding deity. The granite images of [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] (the bull and vehicle of Shiva), a tall flag staff and a ''Balipeeta'', the place of offering, axial to the sanctum. As in other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the first precinct or the walls around the sanctum of Sathyanatheswarar has images of [[Dakshinamurthy]] (Shiva as the Teacher), [[Durga]] (warrior-goddess) and [[Chandeshvara Nayanar|Chandikeswarar]] (a saint and devotee of Shiva). The temple precinct is surrounded by granite walls.<ref name="dinamalar"/> Based on the historical significance of the temple, it was in the proposal of Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle, as one of the seven temples to be included as an archaeological monument.<ref>{{cite news|title=Declare more temples monuments: ASI|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/15/stories/2004081508670500.htm|date=15 August 2004|accessdate=16 November 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Kancheepuram}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
[[File:Thirukalimedu Panorama.jpg|750px|thumb|Panoramic view of the temple|center]]

==Worship and religious practices==
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 Sathyanatheswarar and Pramarambikai 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 Margazhi Tiruvathirai during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Margazhi'' (December - January), Aipassi Annabishekam during ''Aippassi'' (October – November) and Mahashivarathri during February and March are the three festivals celebrated in the temple. During Wednesdays, devotees take a holy dip in the temple tank located outside the temple and worship Shiva with green [[Legume|pulse]], which is considered a sacred aspect for [[Budha]] (Mercury).<ref name="dinamalar"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Famous Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}
{{Shaivism}}
{{HinduMythology}}

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

Sathyanatheswarar temple - Revision history

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