Kachchaleswarar Temple
Kachchaleswarar Temple | |
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![]() 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
![](../I/m/Facade_of_Kacchaaleeshwarar_Koil%2C_Chennai.jpg)
![](../I/m/Pillaiyar_Thoppu_at_Kachchaaleeshwar_Koil%2C_Chennai.jpg)
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.
![](../I/m/TempleTank_KachchaaleshwararKoil_Chennai.jpg)
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kachchaleswarar Temple. |
- Muthiah, S. (2004). Madras Rediscovered. East West Books (Madras) Pvt Ltd. p. 329. ISBN 81-88661-24-4.
Temples |
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Churches |
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Mosques | |
Buddhist temples | |
Gurudwaras | |
Parsi temples |