Kachchaleswarar Temple

Kachchaleswarar Temple
Front view of Kachchaaleeshwarar Koil
Geography
Country	India
State/province	Tamil Nadu
District	Chennai
Locale	77 Armenian Street
Culture
Primary deity	Kachchaleswarar (Lord Shiva)
Architecture
Architectural styles	Hindu temple architecture
Number of temples	1
History and governance
Date built	1725
Creator	Kalavai Chetty

Kachchaleswarar Temple, also known as the Great Kachali Pagoda, is a Hindu temple located in Armenian Street, Chennai, India. Constructed on land belonging to dubash Kalavai Chetty in 1725, the temple belonged to the left-hand castes and was the site of the first major conflict between left and right-handed castes in the then Madras city.

The temple is modelled on the Kachaaleshwarar temple at Kancheepuram. Kachaaleshwarar (Lord Shiva) is the main deity and Soundaraambikai, the consort deity.

History

Facade of the temple

Pillaiyar thoppu (garden) at the temple, near the entrance

The temple was built in 1725 by Kalavai Chetty, a 'dubash' working for the British East India Company, on a land belonging to him. A huge retinue of dancing girls were attached to the temple in the earlier days. These dancing girls resided in a quarter adjoining the temple. A plaque in the temple records the year of the first kumbhaabishekam (consecration) as 1728. Post-Independence, a mahaa-kumbhaabishekam (great consecration) was held on 8 July 1962. A major renovation of the temple began on 20 February 1984 and another great consecration was held on 9 July 1989.

Temple tank during a dry season in September, before monsoon

References

• Muthiah, S. (2004). Madras Rediscovered. East West Books (Madras) Pvt Ltd. p. 329. ISBN 81-88661-24-4.