Kandeeswarar, Sembanur, Sivaganga

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Kandeeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Nitya Kalyani
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:	Kamika	Age (years):	1000-2000
Timing:	to & to	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Sembanur	District:	Sivaganga
Maps from (click):	Current location	Karaikudi (22 km)	Pudukkottai (56 km)
	Madurai (72 km)	Sivaganga (75 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

Not much is known of the sthala puranam of this temple. The term kandi usually refers to an ornament like bracelet worn on the list, or anklet. This may have something to do with the name of Siva here.

Researchers have placed this temple as belonging to the 9^th century. From my reading of the architecture here – specifically the pillars, vimanam, and the iconography of Gajalakshmi (in the prakaram, which could be a new murti based on an old design) and the Nandi in the maha mandapam, it appears that this temple may be from the very early Chola period, or the few years just prior when this was proper Pandya country. Alternatively, some of these could be renovations in later Chola periods around the 10^th century.

Clearly the temple has seen later renovations during the Chola rule here, between the 10^th and 12^th centuries, as evidenced by the elephant-shaped balustrade at the entrance of the temple.

The temple has a three-level raja gopuram, and a Raja Ganapati at the entrance. Nandi has a separate mandapam before the maha mandapam. From the maha mandapam the ardha mandapam and antarala lead to the garbhagriham, while to the right of the maha mandapam is the Amman shrine.

In the koshtams are the usual murtis of Vinayakar, Dakshinamurti, Lingodhbhavar, Brahma and Durga. In the prakaram, are the parivara devata shrines for Vinayakar, Murugan, Gajalakshmi, Chandikeswarar, Bhairavar, Suryan and Chandran, and a separate Navagraham shrine.

While the temple’s architecture and iconography do not indicate anything extraordinary, the vimanam is beautifully designed. Like the rest of the temple, the three-level vimanam is built according to agamic rules. However, the most fascinating part of the vimanam is the Dakshinamurti in the first level nasi – sitting with one leg crossed, and at an angle, Dakshinamurti strikes a beautiful yet assertive pose!

The temple is managed by the Sivaganga Samasthanam Devasthanam, and the same priest as at the other Kandeeswarar temple at Chokkanathapuram officiates here as well.