Anekathangaa Padeswarar temple, Kachchi Anekathangaapatham

Anekathangaa Padeswarar Temple, Kachchi Anekathangaapatham

Temple Information
Location of the temple	Kachchi Anekathangaapatham, Kancheepuram
Deity known as	Anekathangaa Patheeswarar
Female deity known as	Kamatchi Ammai
Pathigam	Sundarar - 1
How to reach	The temple is situated in Pilliarpalayam, 3 kilometers northwest of Kancheepuram. To reach the temple, one must travel on the road leading to Kailasanathar temple via Putheri Street. A small lane adjacent to a large school on the way leads to the temple. Bus services are available from Kancheepuram.
Temple address	Arulmighu Anekathangaa Padeswarar Temple Pilliarpalayam Kancheepuram Kancheepuram District PIN 631501

There are two Paadal Petra Shivasthalam in the name of Anekatangaapatham. One is near to Gowrikunt, on the way to Haridwar and Kedarnath in Northern India.. Another one is this temple in Kancheepuram. To differentiate from the former, this temple is known as Kachchi Anekathangaapatham.

The temple is designed with two entrances, one in the north with a modest tower and another in the east. Upon entering through either gateway, visitors are greeted by a spacious outer corridor. As we pass through the eastern entrance, we can observe an altar and a statue of Nandi. On the southern side of the outer corridor, there is 'Thevara Moovar Sannidhi'. Additionally, there is a shrine dedicated to Vinayaka in the southwestern corner of the western side corridor, and a shrine for Subramnaya with his consorts Valli and Deivanai in the northwestern corner of the same corridor. The main deity Anekathangaa Patheeswarar, is a significant sized Linga placed on a circular 'Avudayar'. Goshta images in the temple include Dakshinamurthy, Vinayaka, Brahma, and Goddess Durga.

Anekatham is the term used to describe an elephant. The elephant-headed deity Vinayaka erected a Shiva Lingam for his worship, leading to the area being named Anekathangaapatham. Additionally, this location is revered by the deity of wealth, Kubera. It is here that Vinayaka obtained the blessing to marry Vallabhai, the daughter of the demon king Keshi of Hiranyapura.

As per the Kanchi Purana, worshipping the deity at this sacred place, who was revered by Vinayaka, will find release from the continuous cycle of rebirth and attain oneness with God Shiva residing in Tirukailash.

Sundarar's Pathikam for this temple is in 7'th Tirumurai.