Karaikandeswarar Temple, Kanji

Karaikandeswarar Temple is a Shiva temple in the village of Kanji, near Tiruvannamalai. Shiva is worshipped here as Karaikandeswarar in the form of a lingam, and Parvati as Periyanayagi Amman. It is counted as the first of seven Karaikandeswarar temples on the banks of the Cheyyar river. The temple is in the Dravidian style, and the present masonry building was put up by Se. Ve. Venkataraman Chettiar.

Shaivite priests lead daily worship, each service combining a sacred bath, dressing, food offering and lamp waving. The biggest event is the ten-day Panguni Uthiram Brahmotsavam in March–April, when the deities ride a different vahana round the temple streets each day before a closing wedding festival. In mid-January, on Maattu Pongal, Nandi is hung with garlands of fruit, vegetables and sweets, and the Tiruvoodal festival re-enacts a lovers' quarrel between Shiva and his consort.