Shiva Temples of Tamilnadu

Temple Glory

Temple Legend

Tirukkandiyur is one of the celebrated Ashta Veeratta Sthalams, the eight temples where God Shiva is believed to have manifested His divine heroism through extraordinary deeds. According to the temple legend, Shiva, at the request of Goddess Parvati, severed one of the five heads of Brahma at this site to curb the latter’s pride and restore cosmic order. This heroic act earned the temple its distinction as Kandiyur Veerattam, and the presiding deity came to be revered as the One who subdued Brahma’s arrogance.

The Layout

The temple faces west and is entered through an impressive five-tiered Rajagopuram that leads into the outer prakaram. Directly along the central axis are the Kodimaram, Balipeetam, Nandi, and Kodimara Vinayaka. Within this outer precinct, the sannidhi of Dhandapani is situated to the left inside the distinctive Vavval Nethi Mandapam, so named for its resemblance to a bat’s forehead. Nearby, the south-facing sannidhi of Goddess Mangala Nayaki enshrines the Goddess in a standing posture, bestowing blessings through the Abhaya and Varada Mudras, while a separate sannidhi for Vinayaka stands to the right. Passing through the inner gateway, devotees enter the inner prakaram, where sannidhis dedicated to Subramanya with Valli and Deivanai, Mahalakshmi, and the Nataraja Sabha can be seen. The circumambulatory path around the sanctum contains sannidhis for Vishnu Durga, Bhairava, various forms of Vinayaka, Surya, Ardhanareeswarar, and Chandeswarar, while the Goshta deities include Brahma, Lingodbhavar, Dakshinamurthy, and Bikshadanar. Beyond the entrance guarded by the Dwara Palakas, the Navagraha sannidhi features Surya with his consorts, and an image of Sage Sathathappa is also found nearby. The Artha Mandapam houses seven lingams representing the Saptha Sthana temples, five lingams symbolizing the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams, and an image of Kalathinathar associated with the sage’s worship. At the heart of the temple is the sanctum of Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar, who manifests as a self-originated (Swayambhu) Lingam of elongated form facing west. A particularly rare feature of the temple is the presence of Muruga on both sides of the sanctum entrance, adding to the temple’s unique significance.

Brahma & Saraswathi

One of the distinctive features of this temple is the presence of separate sannidhis for Brahma and Goddess Saraswathi, located adjacent to the sanctum of Brahma Sira Kandeesar. Here, Brahma is depicted in a majestic form, holding a lotus and a japa mala, while Goddess Saraswathi stands beside him, symbolizing wisdom, learning, and divine grace. According to the sthala purana, after Shiva severed one of Brahma’s five heads to quell his pride, Brahma undertook penance at this sacred site seeking forgiveness. Pleased with his devotion, Shiva not only absolved him but also blessed his remaining four faces with enhanced beauty and wisdom. Reflecting this important episode in the temple’s mythology, an image of Shiva in his fierce Vaduka form, representing the act of severing Brahma’s head, is enshrined opposite the main sanctum.

Sun Worship Festival

Every year, during the Tamil month of Maasi (February–March) on the 13th, 14th, and 15th, sun rays directly fall on the presiding deity between 5:45 PM and 6:15 PM, creating a divine spectacle.