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Sri Kanaka Giriswarar temple
 
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Moolavar: Kanaka Giriswarar
  Urchavar: -
  Amman / Thayar: Periyanayaki
  Thala Virutcham: Vilwa
  Theertham: Shiva Theertham
  Agamam / Pooja : -
  Old year: 1000-2000 years old
  Historical Name: Devakkapuram
  City: Devikapuram
  District: Tiruvannamalai
  State: Tamil Nadu
 
     
Singers:
     
  -  
     
 Festival:
     
  This is a hill temple. 10 day Panguni Uthiram festival beginning on the Krithika-Panchami day with flag hoisting and ending on the Uthiram star day, with the visit of Panchamurthis to the hill each day; Chithirai Natarajar abishek in April-May; Purattasi Navarathri in September-October; Aipasi Annabishek to Lord in the hill in October-November; Karthikai Deepam festival in November-December, Mahashivrathri in February-March are the festivals celebrated in the temple. Besides the above Poornima Girivalam-circumambulating the hill on full moon day, pradosha days, Deepavali, Makar Sankranti, Tamil and English New Year Days are also observed with special pujas to Lord and Mother, all drawing huge devotee crowd.  
     
 Temple's Speciality:
     
  Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthi. It is noteworthy that there are two Shivalingas in the sanctum sanctorum. Also, this is one of the Shakti Peetas of Mother.  
     
Opening Time:
   
  The hill temple is open from 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. only. The Amman temple at the foot hills is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.  
   
Address:
   
  Sri Kanakagiriswarar Temple, Devikapuram, Tiruvannamalai-606 902.  
   
Phone:
   
  +91- 4173-247 482, 247 796. 
    
 General Information:
     
 

The hill temple is at a height of 500 feet with 365 steps representing the days of the year and with the prayer that each day should be auspicious for the people.  The temple has a three tier Rajagopuram.  Nandhi the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva looks majestic.  There are shrines for Lords Vinayaka, Muruga, Dakshinamurthi, Chandikeswara, Agora Veerabadra and Saptha Mathas.  Mother graces from Her shrine in the foot hill.  The temple with sculptures of high skills is believed to have been built during the Vijayanagara days.

 
     
Prayers
    
 

Prayer in the temple brings total mental peace.  People also pray for wedding, child boons, besides employment opportunities, promotions and progress in business.

 
    
Thanks giving:
    
  Devotees fulfill their prayer commitments with pongal nivedhana, offering wedding garlands, tonsuring, lighting ghee lamps and abishek to Lord with oil, curd, milk, green coconut and offering vastras. They offer Sari to Mother. They make prasads for Lord and Mother and distribute to other devotees. 
    
 Greatness Of Temple:
     
 

The hill known as Kanakagiri is behind the Amman temple on the southwest side scaling 500 feet with 365 steps covering a circumference of 5 kilo meters.  Lord Shiva at the top of the hill is a swayambumurthi praised as Kanakagiriswarar-Pon Malai Nathar in Tamil.

 

A hunter was digging the ground for some roots but was shocked to see blood coming out.  When he dug further, he found a Shivalinga.  Since then the worship and abishek began with hot water as Lord was injured.  The hot water abishek continues even today.  As the Shivalinga is too tiny in size, Lord Kasi Viswanatha Linga is also installed by the side.  Pujas are performed as per agamas.  The hunter story is a hearsay story.

 

The temple for Mother Peria Nayaki, also Peria Nachiar in the centre of the place is as famous as that of Mother Kamakshi in Kancheepuram.  This is one among the Shakti Peetas.  The temple has a 7 tier Rajagopuram and three corridors-prakaras.  As mother held the hands of Lord after a severe penance, those facing delays in their wedding pray to mother here.  Lord came down from the hill to have mother in wedding on the Panguni Uthiram day in March-April.

 

On his way to war, a Pallava king came to know the glory of Lord of this temple.  He decided to build a temple for Lord here if he won the war.  He won.  As is the human nature, people forget their promises after winning things.  Pallava committed the same mistake.  When he met with a next problem, he recalled his promise and immediately built the temple.  Unfortunately, the hunter-Linga was missing then.  The king brought a Linga from Kasi and installed in the temple.  Luckily, the hunter-Linga also was found then.  It also was installed in the sanctum.  Thus the temple has two Shivalingas side by side.

 

There are sculptures of 9 women in the inner mandap of the temple as an elephant speaking volumes of the Tamil sculpture skills.  On way down from the hill, the foot print of Mother is carved where She performed penance.  At the foot of the hill, there is a shrine for Lord Kameswara accompanied by Mother Kokilambal.   It is a wonder that the whole temple is built with just nine stones.  As there is no shrine for Ambica at the hill temple, Pradosha Pujas are performed in this temple.  People go round the Girivalam-3.5 km- on Poornima days-full moon days.

 
     
  Temple History:
     
 

Sage Brungi on a visit to Mount Kailash simply worshipped Lord Shiva alone though Mother Parvthi was by His side.  Feeling the neglect, Mother asked the Lord to part with her a part of His body.  Lord suggested that She go to Kancheepuram and do penance on Him in the name of Kamakshi and that He would marry Her there.  Then He would offer a part of His body to Her at Tiruvannamalai.  Kamakshi wedded Lord Ekambaranathar at Kanchi.  On Her way to Tiruvannamalai, She performed penance on Lord Kanaka Giriswarar for a Mandalam-covering 48 days- at Devikapuram.  Hence, the name of the place Devikapuram.  Mother became part of Lord at Tiruvannamalai according to Sthala Puranas.

 
     
Special Features:
     
  Miracle Based: Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthi in the temple. There are sculptures of 9 women in the inner prakara as if an elephant is standing there which is an outstanding example of the skill of Tamil sculptors. The shrine of Lord Kameswara with Mother Kokilambal is at the foot hills. On the downhill way is the foot print of Mother where She performed penance. The whole temple is built with just 9 stones.
 
     
     
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