Kailasa Paramparagatha Sūrya Vaṃśa Sarvajnapeetha Chola Samrajyam (Karanthai)
Geographic location
Karanthai is a spiritual nerve center in the Thanjavur district of the State of Tamilnadu in Southern India
PreHistory
Thanjavur is an important hub in South India for South Indian religion, art, architecture, temples, sculptures and agriculture. It is the land of the great Brihadeeshwarar temple dedicated to Paramashiva - the primordial Hindu Cosmic Principle - built by the Chola King Raja Raja Cholan in the period 1003 to 1010 AD.
The temple here in Karanthai is dedicated to Paramasiva and exists from time immemorial, worshipped by generations of people. It is older than even the architectural marvel Brihadeeshwarar temple. It is called the “Kashi Vishwanathar temple” having the same presiding deities of Kasi Vishwanathar and His Divine Consort Kasi Visalakshi as in the world-renowned Kashi Vishwanathar temple in Varanasi (Kashi), North India. The Shiva linga was brought here and installed by King KArikala Cholan (almost 2000 years ago) when he returned from a visit to North India where Kashi is located.
The temple is worshipped as a “mukti sthal” meaning “sacred place of liberation” just like how Kashi is worshipped from yore. The Shiva linga (deity form of Paramasiva), Goddess Visalakshi and other deities are seen here. The other deities are: Ganesha, Muruga and His Consorts Valli and Deivanai, Mahalakshmi, Dakshinamurti, Chandikeshwara, Surya, Bhairava, Shiva, Nagar, Banam (Shiva linga), Nandi, Peetham.
Map showing the Vadavaaru river and the Kashi Vishwanathar temple in Karanthai.
Google earth view of the Karanthai location (circled black) in Thanjavur.
Field sketch of the Karanthai land location in the larger survey area
The ancient Kashi Vishwanathar temple in Karanthai
Deities at the Kashi Vishwanathar temple in Karanthai
Coronation
On June 28, 2017 The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism Jagatguru Mahasannidhanam His Divine Holiness Bhagavan Nithyananda Paramashivam was coronated as the Supreme Pontiff of the Kailasa Paramparagatha Sūrya Vaṃśa sarvajnapeetha Chola Samrajyam (spiritual and religious kingdom) ruling from sacred Karanthai in Thanjavur, South India.