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This Shivastalam is located at Sivapuri - 2 km away from Chidambaram in the vicinity of Tiruvetkalam near Annamalai University. By the side of Annamalai University, reach the main road via Kavarapattu road, go via Perampattu road to reach the temple. Town bus available from Chidambaram bus stand to Sivapuri.

This east facing temple has a five tiered rajagopuram crowning its entrance. Facing the temple is the temple tank. In the outer circumambulatory path are shrines to Ganesha and Murugan, Bhairavar. The Ambal shrine within the temple faces south.

There is a shrine housing images of Nataraja and Sivakami. There are inscriptions from the Nayak period here. Five worship services are carried out each day and the annual festival is celebrated on Vaikashi Vishakam as in Tiruvetkalam.

presiding deity :  Sri Uchinathar, Sri Uchinatha swamy, Uchi Nadeswarar

Thayaar    : Sri Kanakambigai

Holy water (Theertham) : Krupa Samudram.

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Gooseberry (Amla).

Thevaram : Thirugyana Sambandar

Sri Uchinatheswarar Temple  is located in Chidambaram, TamilNadu. This Hindu Temple is dedicated Lord Shiva and is one among 275 Shiva Sthalams.

This temple is praised in the Thevaram hymns of Saint Tirunanasambandar. This is the 3rd Shiva temple on the northern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.The temple has one prakara. The Rajagopuram is facing east. Lord is facing east and Ambigai is facing south.

This is one of the sacred places where Lord Shiva granted darshan to Sage Agasthya. Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi appear in their wedding posture behind the Shivalinga. During his stay in Chidambaram, Sambandar used to come to this temple everyday to worship the Lord.

The places around Chidambaram were once green with paddy fields, hence the name of the place Tirunelvoyil, presently called Sivapuri. After Mother Parvathi fed Gnanasambandar with Wisdom Milk (Gnanappal in Tamil), Lord Shiva too offered food to the saint.

The wedding of Gnanasambandar was arranged when he was 12. The relatives of both sides and 63 shiva devotees travelled to Achalpuram Shiva temple. It was midday. All in the party were hungry and stayed at Sivapuri. Knowing their suffering from hunger, Lord in the guise of the temple priest fed the party with a delicious lunch. Lord is praised as Uchi Nathar (meaning Midday Lord and Madhyaneswarar in Sanskrit). People of the place call this temple Kanakambal Koil.


Do:

  • Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
  • Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
  • Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
  • Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
  • Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
  • Do maintain silence and recite your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
  • Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
  • Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
  • Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

  • Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
  • Do not smoke at Temple.
  • Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
  • Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
  • Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
  • Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
  • Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
  • Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
  • Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
  • Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
  • Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
  • Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.