Uthrapathiswaraswamy Temple

Ganapathi Temple
The central shrine of the Ganapathi temple
Geography
Coordinates	10°51′48″N 79°43′20″E / 10.86333°N 79.72222°E / 10.86333; 79.72222Coordinates: 10°51′48″N 79°43′20″E / 10.86333°N 79.72222°E / 10.86333; 79.72222
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Nagapattinam
Location	Thiruchengattankudi
Culture
Primary deity	Ganapathi
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian

Vathapi Ganapathy is the noted incarnation of Hindu deity, Ganesha. A stone statue of the elephant headed Hindu deity Ganesh, also known as Ganapathy, was brought to Tamil Nadu from Vatapi in northern Karnataka. The statue and shrine to Vathapi Ganapathy is located in a temple in Tiruchenkattankudi in Tiruvarur district in the Tamil Nadu state of India. The famous Vatapi Ganapatim hymn is dedicated to this icon.

History

The temple is associated with the life of the 7th century Nayanmar Siruthondar Nayanar, who as "Paranjothi" in his purvashrama days, had served as the commander of the Pallava forces under Narasimhavarman I. The idol of the presiding deity Ganesa is unique as it is the only known one in the world to depict Ganesa in human form. Apart the main shrine, there is a smaller shrine dedicated to Vathapi Ganapathi. The Ganesa idol in this shrine was captured and brought by Siruthondar during his conquest of Vathapi, the capital of the Chalukya kingdom.

Gallery

Vathapi Ganapathy
Temple structure

References

Brown, Robert L. (1991). Ganesh: studies of an Asian god. New York: State University of New York Press. pp. 143–162. ISBN 978-0-7914-0656-4. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
Ayyar, P. V. Jagadisa (1993). South Indian Shrines. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 402–404. ISBN 978-81-206-0151-2. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
Davis, Richard H. (1999). Lives of Indian Images. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-691-00520-1. OCLC 162227965. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
Tourist Guide to South India. Chennai: Sura Books. 2006. pp. 58–59. ISBN 978-81-7478-175-8. Retrieved 2 August 2009.

Nagapattinam district

District Headquarters	Nagapattinam

Country	India

State	Tamil Nadu

Region	Chola Nadu

Divisions	Mayiladuthurai Nagapattinam

Taluks	Kilvelur Kuthalam Mayiladuthurai Nagapattinam Sirkazhi Tharangambadi Thirukkuvalai Vedaranyam

Revenue blocks	Keelaiyur Kilvelur Kollidam Kuthalam Mayiladuthurai Nagapattinam Sembanar Koil Sirkazhi Talanayar Thirumarugal Vedaranyam

Municipalities	Mayiladuthurai Nagapattinam Sirkazhi Vedaranyam

Rivers	Addapar Kaveri Kollidam Thirumalairajan Vettar Veera Chozhan

History	Early Cholas Kalabhras Pallavas Medieval Cholas Later Cholas Later Pandyas Delhi Sultanate Madurai Sultanate Vijayanagar Empire Thanjavur Nayaks Thanjavur Marathas Company Raj British Raj

Places of interest	Chudamani Vihara Ganapathi Temple, Thiruchengattankudi Kayarohanaswami Temple, Nagapattinam Kazheesirama Vinnagaram Mayuranathaswami Temple, Mayiladuthurai Nagannathaswamy Temple, Keezhaperumpallam Nangur Vishnu Temples Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary Puhar Punjai Siva Temple Sattainathar Temple, Sirkazhi Sayavaneswarar Temple Sembanarkoil Sikkal Singaravelan Temple Sri Sivalokanathar Temple, Tirupunkur Swetharanyeswarar Temple Tharangambadi Therazhundur Thirukkadaiyur Thiruvenkadu Vaitheeswaran Koil Valampurinathar Temple Vanjinatha Temple Vedaranyeswarar Temple Viratteswara Temple, Vazhuvur

Religious and monastic institutions	Dharmapuram Adheenam Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam

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