You may also be interested in the following(s)

The presiding deity is a Swayambumurthi known asKaaraittirunatheswarar or Satyanatheswarar and the consort, Brahmmaraambigai. Lord Indra, the King of the Devas and Lord mercury worshipped Shiva here. None of the Shiva temples in Kanchi have a separate shrine for Ambal. The Ekambareswarar templeis the largest and the best known Shivastalam in the temple town of Kanchipuram.

Satyavirathapuram is one among the twelve holy names of Kanchi. Inorder to recall to our memory this holy place (the temple) is named after the holy name. The presiding God in the temple is called Satyanatheswarar. The consort of the presiding god is known as Brahmmarambigai. The holy water of the temple tank is called Indra Theertham. The temple faces the west. The place has the good fortune of being worshipped by Lords mercury and Indra. There are five sacred places in Kanchi about which devotees of Lord Shiva have sung devotional songs. This holy place namely Kachinerikadu stands as one among such holy places. Saint Thiru Gnanasambanthar has sung devotional songs on this temple. There is a shrine of SuyambuMurthi in the sanctum of the temple.

Indra Theertham and Budha Theertham and it is believed that one who has a holy dip in temple tank and worships the God here would be endowed with the best benefits. Indra and Budhan worshipped Shiva here. Lord Mercury rose to the position of a planet only after worshipping the God here. Sesame oil was offered during ablutions and was absorbed by the Shivalingam. The sanctum enshrines Shiva as well as the processional image of Parvati (Bhramarambika) and an image of Surya. Arudra Darisanam is celebrated in this temple. Kachi Nerikkaaraikkaadu also known as Satyavratham, Indiresam. Satyanatheswara also known as Kaaraittirunatheswarar.

Lord Shiva is facing west as a swayambumurthy. As Mother Kamakshi is the common Ambica for all Shiva temples in Kancheepuram, many Shiva temples do not have a shrine for Goddess. Yet in this temple, Mother has a place in the sanctum sanctorum with Lord Shiva as procession deity facing south. Though a procession deity, all pujas performed to Lord are equally offered to Ambica. On festival days, Mother is not taken out from the sanctum in procession.

Generally, Lord Dakshinamurthy appears with four disciples are Sanaka, Sanantana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara. The Lord is different in this temple with seven disciples granting all wisdom and knowledge to devotees.

Lord Satyanathaswami appears slightly pink in colour. Mother is also known as Kararkuzhali. Nandhis means the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva (neck alone is south turned). There is an entrance before Nandhi. Budha the Mercury graces in the prakara with Indira nearby.

Chandra the Moon was learning under his Guru Jupiter. He developed a desire on Dhara, his Guru Patni (wife). He once conducted a Yagna dedicated to Lord Vishnu seeking His grace. Jupiter attended the Yagna with his wife Dhara as Moons Guru. Moon allured Dhara and made her stay with him. Budh the Mercury was born to Moon and Dhara.

Jupiter prayed to Lord Shiva and took back Dhara.  Budha was brought up by Chandra-Moon. When he grew older, Budha was pained to learn the nature of his birth and took to penance.  He came to this temple and begged Lord Satyanathaswami to give him a place among the planets. Lord appeared before him and assured that he would get the place at an appropriate time. Budha the Mercury is in a shrine in the prakara south of the Lord.

Indira, the king of Devas had a boon to take to any form. His eyes fell on Akalya, wife of Maharshi Gautama. He took the form of a cock and cried near the hermitage of the Rishi indicating the dawn of the day. Rishi set out in the belief that the day is dawn. Waiting for such a chance, Indira immediately took the form of Maharsi, entered the Ashram and behaved with Akalya as Rishi himself. However, sensing something wrong, Maharsi Gautama returned to the Ashram and saw Indira escaping as a cat. He cursed him to have eyes throughout the body and also Akalya to become a rock. Indira wandered in earth praying to Lord Shiva in many places seeking relief. He saw Lord Shiva among the Karai bushes in this place, worshipped Him in a touching manner and got his relief from the curse. Lord assumed the name Karai Tirunathar following this event.

God: Kaaraittirunatheswarar, Satyanatheswarar

Goddess: Kaaraaarkuzhali, Kamakshi, Bhramarambikai

Theertham: Indra Theertham, Satyavradha Theertham

Thala Virutcham: Karai plant

Agamam / Pooja: Kameekam

Old year: 1000-2000 years old

Historical Name: Karai Tirunagar

Patikam :Sambandar

The path opposite the Head Post Office leads to this temple and the place is called Thirukkalimedu. In ancient times, people used this path to gain access to Kanchipuram. Since the path is full of spiny plants, the sacred place came to be called by the name Kachinerikkaraikkadu.

Thirukacchinerikkaraikkadu/Thirukkaleeswarankovil/Indrapuriis one of the 275 Thevara Shivasthalam located in Thirukkalimedu, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. In this temple Lord Shiva worshipped in the form of a self-manifested Linga.

Kachi Nerikkaaraikkaadu temple is also known as Satyavratam and Indiresam. This is the 5th of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region of South India. One of the 275 sacred temples glorified by the Thevara hymns. There are two prakarams. It has athree-tiered Rajagopuram and a tank known as Indra Theertham and Budha Theertham.

Sannidhis in this temple are Lord Ganesha, Lord Nandikeshwara, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Goddess Sri Valli & Deivayanai, Nalvar, Lord Indra, Lord Mercury, Lord Bhairava, Goddess Sri Gajalakshmi, Goshtamurtham ?Lord Ganesha, Lord Brahma, Lingodbhavar, Lord Dakshinamurthi,Goddess Sri Durga.

Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January,

Mahashivrathri in February-March

Aipasi Annabishekam in October-November and Masi Makam, Thiru Karthikai, Arudra Darisanam, Panguni Uthiram are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Saint Tirugnanasambandar has praised the temple in his Thearam hymns. This the 5thshrine in Thondaimandalam region praised in Thevaram. Lord Shiva grants all boons to the devotees. On Wednesdays, devotees bathe in the Theertha, offer green vastras to planet Budha-Mercury, offer green pulse as nivedhana and worship Him as Gnanakaraka means Wisdom Giver for achieving excellence in education, proficiency in language skills, eloquence and for removal of any ill effect.

Devotees offer vastras to Lord with abishek, archanas and nivedhanas.

This temple remains open from 6.30 AM to 12.00 PM in the morning and 4.00PM to 7.30 PM in the evenings.

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 Om Namahsivaya or 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.