Chandesha: Shiva’s foremost devotee (2024)

Chandesha (Chandikeshwara) is worshipped in South India as lord Shiva’s foremost devotee. He is one of the 63 Nayanars (i.e Tamil Hindu saints that lived during the 6th to 8th centuries) and was born into a Brahmin family in the Sengalur village of Tamil Nadu. According to the Periya Puranam (a Tamil account of the lives of the 63 Nayanars, completed in the 12th century by Sekkilar), Chandesha was described as being a strong devotee of Lord Shiva since a very young age.

He used to make thousands of lingams of Shiva and meditate in front of them. The lingams were cast out of sand. He cared for the cows in the village and poured some of the milk he obtained on the lingams. As news of this practice reached his father, he visited the field to discipline his son. Chandesha was deep in meditation and did not see his father approach. His angry father kicked the sand lingam and disturbed Chandesha’s meditation. At that moment, the boy is said to have thrown a staff, which miraculously turned into Shiva’s sacred battle axe and cut off both his father’s legs.

At this point, Shiva manifested himself, blessed both Chandesha and his father, and restored the severed legs of his father. As Shiva was pleased with Chandesha’s high devotion and dedication, he gave him a gift, that his statue would always be beside his own. He was also appointed as caretaker of Shiva’s wealth and the guardian of the household.

Description of the statue

A beautiful bronze statue of Chandesha, located at the world famous Ashmolean Museum in Britain, was recently visited by the author. It is 58 cm tall and dates from around 1150-1200. Here, Chandesha stands in an attitude of humble devotion to Shiva. There is a faint smile on his lips and his hands are joined in the gesture of respectful salutation. His body sways slightly in its tribhanga posture (means a body curved at three different parts – neck, waist, and knee). His axe rests in the crook of his arm.

Temples of Shiva and Chandesha

Almost all the shrines of Shiva have a portrait of Chandesha. In the Shiva temples of South India, Chandesha’s shrine is positioned within the first enclosure wall of the temple complex and to the northeast of the lingam. Chandesha is typically shown seated, with one leg dangling downwards, a hand on one thigh, and an axe clasped in the other. He is depicted as deeply lost in meditation. Processional bronze images of Chandesha generally show him as a boy, with entwined locks of hair, standing with his hands together and with an axe in the crook of his arm. One of the most significant temples dedicated to Chandesha is in the city of Hampi in Karnataka. It is generally believed that no worship is complete without paying a visit to Chandesha. Thus devotees make it a point to visit him prior to visiting Shiva. Pujas to Chandesha are done along with the pujas to Shiva.

While praying to Chandesha, devotees clap their hands or click their fingers. This is to show their hands are empty and they are not taking away any wealth of Shiva. Since Chandesha is always in deep meditation, the clapping or clicking sound is expected to awaken him, before confirming to him that no wealth is being taken away. Furthermore, it is believed that Chandesha forever lives in a state of deep meditation, not realising who comes to the temple. He is also considered as the one who keeps records of visits to the temple. Thus a clap of one’s hands outside his shrine confirms the person’s presence. Clapping is a common way of expressing joy and celebration in many cultures, and in the context of a temple visit, it can be seen as a way of acknowledging the divine presence and expressing thanks for any spiritual benefits received. It may also be seen as a way of seeking the deity’s continued protection and blessings, as the devotee leaves the temple and returns to the outside world.

(Suranjith L. Seneviratne is a medical doctor, academic, and nature, history, and art enthusiast)