Karaneeswarar Saidapet

Saivite Temples, Chennai District

God

Karaneeswarar facing east

Goddess

Sornambigai facing east

Other Gods

Ganesha, Sekkizhar, 63 Nayanmars, Shiv Lingam, Bhairav, Surya, Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara. Utsav (metal) idols of Nataraj-Sivakami, Karaikal Ammaiyar, Somaskandar, Chandrasekhar, Bikshadanar, Shanmuga with Valli and Devasena, Murugan with Valli and Devasena, Vedagireeswarar and Thirupurasundari in the outer prakaram. Saneeswara, Anjaneya, Veerabadra with nandi facing him (not a common feature)

Karaneeswarar Saidapet is a large east facing temple with a 7 tier Rajagopuram at south. A large temple tank is found west of the temple where there is a separate shrine for Lord Ganesha is in standing posture with his consorts. A beautiful garden (Nandavanam) is maintained here. The outer prakaram is wide and spacious and has a separate shrine for Vedagireeswarar with his consort Thirupurasundari. This lingam is larger than that of the main deity.

Holy Water – Gopathi (Indra) Theertham

Holy Tree – No information

History

Karaneeswarar Saidapet is an ancient temple, but exact historic information is not available as of now.

Legend

Kamadhenu, the divine cow was given to Sage Vasishta by Lord Indra for performing some rituals. When she did not return after due time he got worried and divined that she has been cursed by the sage to be a normal cow as she had created some obstacles for the rituals. He learnt that she can be relieved of the curse if a temple for Lord Shiva is constructed here at Karaneeswarar Saidapet and did so. He then made the clouds (Kar) to provide rain, makes the area green and also created the tank. The lord appeared and blessed Indra and named him Gopathi (Go-Cow, Pathi-Lord), reinstating Kamadhenu as the holy cow.

Directions

Karaneeswarar Saidapet is at a walkable distance from the Saidapet railway station on the western side and visible from a distance.

Stay and Food

Saidapet has many good restaurants, but there are small eateries around which are more interesting, just check out in the evening. Particularly nice is the nominally priced food you get in a road side hotel in the bazaar road on the east of the railway track opposite the J1 Police Station where you can see queues standing at times.

Saivite Temples