Mannady Kachchaaleswarar Temple

Kachchaleswarar Temple - Broadway Chennai 

Kachchaaleswarar Temple, is a Hindu temple located in Armenian Street Mannady, in the neighbourhood of Parry's corner in Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India.

The main God of this temple is Lord Shiva known as Kachchaleswarar. The Goddess here is Sri Azhagaambikai. In Tamil, Kaccha means tortoise, It is believed that Lord Vishnu took the form tortoise to save the world and worshipped Lord Shiva here and hence the deity got the name, Katchabeswarar then by years it changed to Kacchaaleeswarar. The sthala vruksham here is Kalyaana Murunkai.

Chennai Broadway  - Sri Kachchaleswarar Temple சென்னை கச்சாலிஸ்வரர்  திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord Shiva
Name	Sri Kacchaaleeswarar / Katchabeswarar
Goddess Name	Sri  Azhagaambikai
Location	Parrys Corner - Chennai
Old Names	George Town
Theertham	Sivagangai Theertham
Significance	Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise and Worshipped lord Shiva Panchamukha Ganapati with Siddhi and Buddhi
Ancient	500 - 1000 Years Old
Travel Base	Chennai

A devotee after worshipping Kacchaaleeswarar at Kanchipuram was returning to his place.  Because of the pouring rain on the way, the river Paalaaru was in floods.  He could not return home.  He was quite anxious to be back home as he had many pending works to do.  But, the heavy rains continued for a week and then only stopped.  It took another one more week for the flood to get subsided.  The devotee placed all his worries on Lord Siva and when the floods settled, crossed the river and reached his place.  But what a surprise!  All the pending works were done and completed.  The Lord on behalf of his devotee assumed the devotee’s form and had finished doing all jobs.  The devotee performed the ‘Sivalinga’ pooja and in course of time, a temple was also erected.

Pancha Vaahana Sivan : When devas and asuras churned the Milk Ocean, the Manthira mountain that was used as the churning stick got drowned in the ocean.  At that time, Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise and supported the churning stick, Manthira mountain.   Lord Siva worshipped by him then is called ‘Kaacchabeswarar’ or ‘Kacchaleeswarar’.  ‘Kacchabam’ means tortoise.  The lingam here is on the five seats, koormam (tortoise), naagam (snake), simham (lion), yugas (the aeons) and padmam (lotus).  Such an appearance of Lord Siva is a rare sight.  Those who have ‘sarpa dhosham’ (snake curse) and those who are afraid of poisonous creatures can perform abhishekam to this Lord and worship.  Behind this lingam on the sanctum wall is Sadasivamurthy.  The belief is to worship this form of Lord Siva and the formless Linga together in the same sanctum will alleviate all sins and render mukti.

How To Reach : Kachaleeswarar temple is situated in Armenian Street in George Town near Parrys Corner in Chennai and is at a 5 minutes walking distance from Chennai High Court.

Address: Kachchaaleeshwarar Koil, Agraharam St, Mannady, George Town, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600001, India.

Near By Temples :

Kalikambal Temple - Just one street away from this temple.

Mallikeswarar Temple - Thambu Chetty Street, Mannady, Parrys, Chennai.