There are two Paadal Petra Shivasthalam in the name of Anekatangaapatham. One near Gowrikunt on the way to Haridwar and Kedarnath in Northern India and another in Kancheepuram. To differentiate from the former, this temple is known as Kachchi Anekathangaapatham.
There are two entry points to this temple, one in the north with a modest gopuram and another in the east. Both the gateways lead to a spacious outer prakaram. The Nandi and Balipeetam in the prakaram is aligned with the eastern gateway. The southern side of the outer prakaram houses the 'Thevara Moovar Sannidhi'. The south-western and north-western corner of the prakaram houses the sannidhi's of Vinayaka and Subramanya respectively. The main deity Anekathangaa Patheswarar, is a significant sized Linga placed on a circular 'Avudayar'. Goshta images in the temple include Dakshinamurthy, Vinayaka, Brahma, and Goddess Durga.
'Anekatham' refers to an elephant. The elephant-headed deity Vinayaka erected a Shiva Lingam for his worship leading to the area being named Anekathangaapatham. Additionally, the deity is also revered by 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 release one from the continuous cycle of rebirth and will attain oneness with God Shiva residing in Tirukailash.
Sundarar's Pathikam for this temple is in 7'th Tirumurai.
Northern Gateway
Dakshinamurthy
Anekathangaa Patheeswarar sannidhi
Nandi mandapam and balipetam
Goshta Images