Srikanteswarar Karaipoondi

Saivite Temples, Thiruvannamalai District

God

Srikanteswarar, facing east

Goddess

Balasundari, facing east

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Navagraha, Kalabhairava, Surya, Ganapathi, Arumuga. Sanctum niches – Narthana Ganapathi, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Chandikeswara, Durga.

Srikanteswarar Karaipoondi is a small east-facing temple with an entrance from the south through a small gateway. A single prakaram houses all the shrines and the Sanctum Sanctorum. The main deity was originally called Kailasanadar and later renamed as Srikanteswarar. This is one of the Saptha (seven) Kailasha temples of Lord Shiva on the southern banks of Cheyyar River. The others are Shiva temples at Thamaraipakkam, Vasudevampattu, Thenpandripattu, Pazhangovil, Narthampoondi, and Mandakolathur.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Cheyyar River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Srikanteswarar Karaipoondi is an ancient temple, but historical information is not available as of now.

Legend

Srikanteswarar Karaipoondi is one of the Saptha Kailasha temples in this area. Lord Muruga is believed to have built the Saptha Kailasha temples in the southern banks of Cheyyar River to counter the sin of injuring seven Sages (Puthirandan, Puruhudan, Pandurangan, Bodhavan, Bodhan, Koman, and Vaman) performing penance in the hills in the region with his spear (Vel). This event happened in a quest to create a Theertham for his Mother Parvati to perform ablutions for the Shiva Lingam she created out of the earth at Vazhapandal. According to the same legend Muruga is also believed to have created seven temples in the northern banks of the river which are called Saptha Kandams.

Directions

Srikanteswarar Karaipoondi is 4 kilometers east of Polur on the road going to Chetpet. Just after crossing the bridge across the Cheyyar River take a sharp right at the fork to reach Srikanteswarar Karaipoondi.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest for food would be Polur.

Saivite Temples

Srikanteswarar, Karaipoondi