Kachabeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

Kachabeswarar temple is one of the most important and prominent temples of Kanchipuram, the city of a thousand temples. It is located in the southern corner of Western Raja street, around 1 km from the famous Ekambareswarar temple.

This vast temple with an elegant tower at the entrance has Shiva Linga as the presiding deity. He is named Kachabeswarar. His consort Soundarambika is found in the form of a metal icon in the sanctum. 

Around the holy tank, there are four shrines of Shiva Linga. Satyamozhi Vinayaka, the image found near the main shrine, was worshipped by Vishnu, it is said.

As per the legend, when the Devas and Asuras were churning the milky ocean to get amrita, the mountain that was used as the churning stick started sinking. Lord Vishnu incarnated himself as Koorma (tortoise) and lifted the mountain on his back. 

Subsequently, he got proud of himself. He increased the water level in the ocean, which disturbed the universe. Lord Shiva destroyed the tortoise and strung its shell on the garland worn about his neck at this juncture. Later, Vishnu regretted his act and came to the site to please Shiva. Hence Shiva in this temple got the name Kachabeswara (Kachab means tortoise). It is believed that Lord Brahma and his consort Saraswati also worshipped Kachabeswarar in this temple. Asura Guru Sukracharya worshipped here to get Mrutyusanjeevini and Vajrayakkai.

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