Mettralainathar temple, Tirukkachchi Mettrali
Location
Tirukkachchi Mettrali
Deity
Tirumettralinathar, Othavurugeesar
Female Deity
Kamakshi
Pathikam
Tirunavukarasar - 1, Sundarar - 1
Gallery - Mettralainathar Temple
How to Reach
This Shiva temple is located on Tirumetrali Street at Pillaiyarpalayam, about 1 kilometer from the Kancheepuram Bus Stand.
Temple Address
Thirumetrali Street
Pillaiyarpalayam
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram District
PIN – 631501
Temple Hours
Morning : 7:00 - 12:00
Evening : 5:00 - 9:00
Nearby Paadal Petra Shiva Temples
Sthala Puranam - Vishnu's Divine Transformation
Maha Vishnu once desired to manifest Himself as a Shiva Lingam, the sacred symbol of divine consciousness and cosmic energy. With this aspiration, He performed intense penance and earnestly prayed to Shiva for the boon. Although Shiva initially declined His request, Vishnu remained steadfast in His devotion and continued His worship with unwavering determination. Pleased by His perseverance, Shiva eventually blessed Him and instructed Him to worship a west-facing Swayambhu Lingam, assuring Him that sincere penance at that sacred spot would enable Him to attain His desired form. Maha Vishnu undertook rigorous austerities on the banks of the River Vegavati, standing and facing east toward the Swayambhu Lingam. During this period, Saint Tirugnanasambandar arrived at that spot during his pilgrimage and, from a distance, mistook the meditating Vishnu for Shiva. Filled with devotion, the saint sang a pathikam in praise of the Shiva. Deeply moved by the power of the sacred hymn, Maha Vishnu is believed to have melted into a Lingam, with only His feet remaining visible. As a result, the deity enshrined here came to be known as Odha Urugeeswarar—“the Lord who melted upon hearing the hymn”—and the Lingam, uniquely bearing the form of Vishnu’s feet, continues to stand as a rare and remarkable feature of this sacred temple.
Temple Architecture and Layout
The temple's majestic three-tiered Rajagopuram faces east, welcoming devotees into the sacred precincts. Flanking the entrance are Dwara Ganapathi and Dwara Muruga, who stand as the divine guardians of the temple. Beyond the gateway lies a spacious courtyard housing the Nandi and Balipeetam, while the Navagraha Sannidhi is situated to the right. The sanctum sanctorum, which uniquely faces west, enshrines Metralinathar as the presiding deity. Surrounding the sanctum are the Goshta Murthis—Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Tirumal (Vishnu), Brahma, and Durga—beautifully installed in accordance with traditional temple architecture. The sannidhi of Chandikeshwarar, an essential feature of Shiva temples as prescribed by the Agamas, is also present within the complex. To the left of the main sanctum stands the sannidhi of the Goddess, who is worshipped here as Kamakshi Ammai. Since Goddess Kamakshi is revered throughout the Kanchi region as the supreme embodiment of the Divine Mother, the deity here too bears the name Kamakshi and is believed to have been consecrated during a later period. Nearby is the sannidhi of the Nalvar—the four great Saivite saints Appar, Tirugnanasambandar, Sundarar, and Manikkavasakar—which is also thought to have been added subsequently. The temple prakaram further houses several other sannidhis, including those dedicated to Selva Vinayaka, Subramania, Kashi Viswanathar, Bhairavar, and other deities, enriching the spiritual atmosphere of this sacred temple.
Dual Deities
The primary deity worshipped in this temple is Tirumettralinathar. Nevertheless, the Rajagopuram and the main entrance of the temple are oriented towards Otha Urugeeshwarar. Pradosha puja is performed for the Nandi which is in front of Otha Urugeeshwarar.
Temples of Thirumetrali Street
At one end of Thirumetrali Street stands the ancient Thirumetralinathar Temple, while at the opposite end is a unique temple dedicated exclusively to Saint Tirugnanasambandar. Though modest in size, this temple holds great significance, as it is devoted solely to the revered child saint. The idol of Tirugnanasambandar is depicted in a graceful standing posture, slightly bent and facing the gopuram of the Thirumetralinathar Temple, symbolizing his enduring devotion to Shiva. Beside the main idol is the Urchava Murthi of the saint, portrayed holding a bowl in his left hand while pointing with his right finger, a familiar iconographic representation associated with his divine experiences. Adding further spiritual significance to the street is another temple located midway along Thirumetrali Street, dedicated to Uttru-Keta Muktheeswarar—“the Lord Who Listened Attentively.” According to local tradition, when Tirugnanasambandar visited this sacred place and sang his Pathikam in praise of Shiva, HE Himself sat here and listened with rapt attention to the saint’s devotional hymns, thereby earning this distinctive and evocative name.
Gallery - Temple Details
