Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry #122: Karaneeswarar Temple, Saidapet, Chennai
- Sudharshan
- 18 hours ago
- 2 min read
காரணீசுவரர் திருக்கோயில், சைதாப்பேட்டை, சென்னை
An ancient Sivan temple in the Saidapet area of Chennai, this is an example of how an important Sivan temple has survived and thrived in the urban landscape. Although the temple is old, it has adapted to its surroundings and is a spiritual oasis in an otherwise busy part of town. It has retained some of the charm of an old temple but has been renovated over time and many of the structures seem recent.
One of the 9 Navagraham Temples around Chennai or Thondai Mandalam, it is associated with Lord Budhan or Mercury. As a Sivan temple, the presiding deity is Lord Sivan as Karaneeswarar manifesting as a Sivalingam in the sanctum sanctorum. The Goddess is known as Swarnambigai or Sornambigai. Legend says that Lord Indra once lost the divine and benevolent cow Kamadhenu and regained her here after constructing a temple to Lord Sivan. He made a meadow here for which he created rain and rain clouds are called "Kar" in Tamil. A chart called the Karaneeswarar Numerological Formula, used in astrology is said to have originated here.
The antiquity of the temple is unclear. The style of the architecture suggests that it has been rebuilt in the 1800s. Inscriptions indicate that the rajagopuram was rebuilt in the late 1930s. There is an inscription from 1887, on the southern wall of the inner prakaram, that says that one Subbaraya Mudaliar donated his house to the temple.
The sanctum faces south with a beautiful seven tiered rajagopuram fronting onto a very busy street, The rajagopuram faces south. The gopuram is richly adorned with fine, colourful stucco images. The shrine for the goddess is next to the main sanctum for Lord Sivan. There are prakarams with multiple sub shrines. There is a beautiful tank or theertham just outside of the temple to the west. It is called the Gopati Saras. The temple has most of the features of a typical temple including a Nandavanam or garden. The Aaala Maram or Banyan tree is the sthalavirutcham.
The temple is frequented by devotees from the neighbourhood and from other parts of the city. It can be crowded on pradosham days that occurs twice a month. The 10 day brahmotsavam occurs annually in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April/May). The temple is administered by HR and CE Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Although it may not be famous, it is a nice temple for people to visit on a quiet day. It is a spiritual sanctuary in a busy city.
The temple is located in the Saidapet area of Chennai. We visited in June 2025. We were based in Chennai.
Source: The Hindu Post, Karaneeswarar Temple, Saidapet, Chennai January 3, 2025.
Courtesy Google Maps
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