The Kumara kottam temple is located on the main Rāja Street. It is said to form a cluster with Ekāmbareswarar temple and the Kāmākshi Amman temple but each temple has its own liturgical identity. The Murugan temple is located between the temples of his parents – the Ekāmbareswarar temple dedicated to Shiva and the Kāmākshi Amman temple dedicated to Kāmākshi, an aspect of Pārvathi. Symbolically, this setting represents the iconography of Somāskandha, an aspect of Shiva where he is depicted with Murugan and Pārvathi. The child Murugan is depicted seated between his parents. This representation led to the cult of Somāskandha. All temples in Kānchipuram are stated to be dedicated to one extended family of gods.
Religious significance
The temple legend in the Kandha Purānam – the Tamil version of the Skanda Purāna which is mainly devoted to Murugan – states that Murugan had imprisoned the creator-god Brahmā here for the latter's ignorance of Om, the Sanskrit single syllable mantra which is sacred in Hinduism and himself assumed the role of the creator in this place. However, Murugan's father Shiva had ordered him to release Brahmā. When Murugan realized his mistake in not obeying his father’s instruction, he did penance before a Linga, which subsequently was worshipped by the name of Devasenāpathīsar, literally, the Lord who was worshipped by Devasenāpathi. In another version it is said that the penitent Brahmā is said to have been released by Shiva after he worshipped Murugan after learning his lessons in humility.
Features
The temple was rebuilt during 1915. It has the temple pinnacle above the main sanctum, which is built in granite and is in the shape of a dome called the chakra vimānam which is a Chola period structure. The corbels and the pilasters with epigraphs decorate the walls of the temple. The temple has two prakārams and many parivāra devatās are installed in subshrines around it. The central image of Murugan is uniquely depicted as Brahma-Shāstā, holding a kamandalu and prayer beads of Rudrāksha. The linga worshipped by Murugan is deified in a separate shrine within the temple complex and is called Devasenāpathīsar or Senāpathi Ishvara.
''Kandha Purānam''
, a Tamil and Sanskrit scholar, was a priest in the Kumara kottam temple. He composed the text Kandha Purānam. The hall, the Kandhapurāna Arangetra Mantapam where Kacchiyappar composed the text still exists in the temple complex. Peacocks flock the premises even now.Kacchiyappar wrote the epic in six cantos, comprising 10,346 stanzas. It is believed that the first line of the first stanza was written by Kacchiyappar's patron deity, Murugan himself. The god is also believed to have corrected the 100 stanzas written by the priest during the day. The poet took his composition to the god and rehearsed it. Even now the priests in the temple are the descendants of Kacchiyappar.
Festivals
A popular festival held here is Kandha Shashti, 6th day of waxing half of the lunar monthKārtthigai, named after Murugan, also known as Skandha. During the month of Kārtthigai between the darker half and the brighter half of Moon, celebrations are held in the temple when a very large number of lamps are lit in the temple. The worship in the temple is scheduled six times daily. In every lunar month on the days of the rising star of Kirutthigai festival is held in the temple when very large number of devotees offer prayers to the deity. Each temple in Kānchipuram celebrates the Brahmā festival, as Brahmotsavam, when processions of gods are held in the morning and evening hours.
