Kachchaleswarar Temple, Hindu temple in George Town, Chennai, India
The Kachchaleswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in George Town, Chennai, with a five-tiered Shiva Lingam structure adorned with tortoise, serpent, lion throne, yugasanam, and lotus representations. The complex displays rich ornamental carving that translates religious symbols into stone form.
The temple was built in 1725 by Kalavai Chetty, a British East India Company interpreter, marking a turning point in the area's history. Its construction sparked the first major conflict between different caste communities in Madras.
The temple honors Lord Shiva as Kachchaleswarar and connects this worship with Vishnu's tortoise incarnation, reflected in both the name and the building's design elements. This blend of two divine forms appears throughout the temple's details and structure.
The temple holds four daily rituals starting at 6:00 AM and ending at 8:30 PM, with different ceremonies scheduled throughout the day. Visitors should wear appropriate clothing and be prepared for the religious practices observed on site.
A small shrine within the temple houses a five-faced statue of Herambha Vinayagar seated on a lion and flanked by two female deities. Devotees visit this shrine seeking blessings related to marriage and family harmony.
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