Shri Kaaraneeswarar Temple

This is the first Sapta Sthana temple of Mylapore. Sapta Sthana temple yatra begins from this temple. It is located on Bazargate street at Mylapore in Chennai in Tamil Nadu. This temple is the 12th century temple and the present temple structure is about 700 years old. This temple has been rebuilt a number of times from bygone days. The architecture is Chola architecture.

Moolavar: Shri Kaaraneeshwarar

Devi: Shri Porkodi Amman, Shri Swarnalalitambika

It has five tiered Rajagopuram at the entrance and faces the east. The temple has two parikramas inner and outer. Balipeeth, Dhwajastambha and Nandi face the main shrine. We come across at the entrance to the sanctum, idol of Lord Vinayaka and Lord Dandapani. Shiva linga is on a square shaped Avudayar (base). Lord Shiva is considered as the cause (kaaran) for everything in Purana. Hence he is praised as Lord Karaneeshwarar. Koshta murtis are Nardana Vinayaka, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga and Lord Chandikeshwar shrine is in usual position. Ambika is in a separate shrine. Besides this we come across, the shrines of Lord Sarvamangala Vinayaka, Lord Dandapani, Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. There is a mandap in the outer parikrama and we come across the following shrines in the parikrama - Lord Nataraja with Goddess Shivagami, Lord Anjaneya, Lord Bhairav, Lord Arunachaleshwarar (Shiva linga) along with his consort Unnamulai. Lord Subramanya with his consorts, Lord Ganesha with his consorts Riddhi and Siddhi, Lord Shanishwarar, and Navagraha. We come across several idols in the parikrama namely Lord Ganesha, Shaiva saint Nalawar, Shaiva saint and poet Sekkizhar, and Lord Surya. There are some Shiva lingas under a tree. 

Kshetra Purana:

A young Brahmin of Mylapore used to worship a Shiva linga,  by performing puja and abhishek daily. He used to do penance at that place and finally he realized that for all creations, protection and destruction of the universe the cause was Lord Shiva. Later he named Shiva Linga he was worshiping as Karaneeshwarar. This is the same Shiva linga in this temple. 

According to some purana, as the temple was constructed according to the agama known as Karana (one of the twenty eight agamas) Lord is praised as Karaneeshwarar. 

Those who worshiped at this place: Sage Vasishtha

Prayers:

1. Devotees believe that worshiping at this temple brings peace and happiness. They light oil lamps for the same.

2. Pradakshina is considered to be very important as it is believed to be a cure for many ailments. 

Timing: 6.30 am to 11 am, 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm

Address: Shri Karaneeshwarar Temple, Bazargate Street, Tyagaraja puram, Mylapore, TN 600004

Phone: 44 24985112