Brahmapureeswarar Thenambakkam

Saivite Temples, Kancheepuram Taluk

God

Brahmapureeswarar (also called Iravaasthaneswarar), facing east

Goddess

Kamakshiamman, facing south

Other Deities

Sanctum Niches – Narthana Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Brahma, Chandikeswara, Vishnudurga. Prakaram – Karyasidhdhi Vinayakar, Swaminatha Swamy (Muruga), Chandrasekara Ganapathi, Navagraha

Brahmapureeswarar Thenambakkam is an east facing temple with the sanctum sanctorum in the form of a Gajaprashta Vimaanam. Behind the main deity is the image of Somaganapathi (Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha). The temple has a large campus with a beautiful garden, a Veda Pada Shala and a temple pond, all well maintained and refurbished. Since the water of the temple pond is used to perform ablutions to the Lord people are not allowed to step into the water. The room where the Great Mahaswami of Kancheepuram, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati (20 May 1894 – 8 January 1994), the 68th Jagadguru of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, spent a long time is a shrine here and can be entered separately. His Palanquin and rope cot can be seen displayed here. The wooden staircase he used to go on top to see the Gopurams of Kancheepuram is still there. He sculpted a Vinayaka idol in a single day and can be seen here called Chandrasekara Ganapathi. This is also the place where Adhi Shankara is said to have spent his last days.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Brahma Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Brahmapureeswarar Thenambakkam belongs to the Pallava Era and was in ruins when discovered. Mahaswami Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Mahaswami of Kancheepuram took up the renovation and rebuilding of this temple. He lived here for a long time and the late Prime Minister of India, Indra Gandhi visited and got the famous ‘Hand Symbol’ of the congress party blessed from him here near the Well.

Legend

The Lingam at Brahmapureeswarar Thenambakkam is believed to have been installed by Lord Brahma himself and the place is called Brahma Kanchi (Siva Kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi are also in Kancheepuram). This is also believed to be the place where Brahma performed the Yaga that angered Goddess Saraswathi resulting in the legend origin of three other temples – Sonna Vannam Seidha Perumal, Varadaraja Perumal and Vilakkoli Perumal.

Directions

Brahmapureeswarar Thenambakkam is in the south eastern part of Kancheepuram on the south bank of the Paalar River. When you go from Walajabad towards Kancheepuram, Brahmapureeswarar Thenambakkam comes on the left before Varadaraja Perumal temple.

Stay and Food

Kancheepuram has many places for stay and food.

Saivite Temples

Kancheepuram Temples

Tamilnadu Temples