EKAMBARESWARTEMPLE-KANCHIPURAM-TAMILNADU
Introduction
Ekambareswarar Temple (Ekambaranathar Temple) is a Hindutemple dedicated to the
god Shiva, located in the town of Kanchipuram in TamilNadu, India. It is
significant to the Hindu sect of Saivism as one of thetemples associated with
the five elements, the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, andspecifically the element of
earth, or Prithvi.
Shiva is worshiped as Ekambareswarar or Ekambaranathar and isrepresented by the
lingam as Prithvi lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted asElavarkuzhali.
The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saivacanonical work,
the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanarsand classified
as PaadalPetra Sthalam.
The temple complex covers 10 hectares (25 acres),and is one of thelargest in
India. It houses four gateway towers known as gopurams. The tallestis the
southern tower, with 11 stories and a height of 58.5216 m (192 ft),making it
one of the tallest temple towers in India.
The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Ekambareswarar and the Vishnu
shrine - Nilathingal Thundam Perumal (a DivyaDesam) being the most prominent.
The temple complex houses many halls; the mostnotable is the thousand-pillared
hall built during the Vijayanagar period. Thetemple is the largest and one of
the most prominent tourist attractions in thecity.
Legends
Legend has it that the lingam here at the EkambareswararTemple is made and
worshipped by Goddess Parvati herself and that we can stillsee a mark on the
Lingam which holds this legend true.
Once Goddess Parvati covered Shiva’s eyes and the worldsuddenly filled with
darkness. With Shiva’s eyes closed, the Sun and Moondarkened without even a
beam of light. He opened his third eye and saved theday for the mankind.
Parvati was filled with guilt after witnessing all these.Shiva asked her to do
penance to free her from wrong karma. Parvati born onearth as Kamakshi and
started her penance. She made a Shiva linga out of sandand worshipped Lord
Shiva in the form of Prithvi Lingam [Lingam made of earth]under an ancient
temple mango tree. At the same time, Shiva in order to testher devotion caused
a flood where Kamakshi was busy worshipping him.
Kamakshi on realizing about the flood got scared of thePrithvi Lingam being
washed off, embraces the lingam. Lord Shiva who literallystarted melting due to
her devotion and love appears in his materialized humanform and married
Kamakshi. Also this is when Kamakshi accidently left somemarks on the lingam as
a result of her bangles and kuchas hitting the sand madelingam which can be
seen even today.
In order to test her devotion Shiva sent fire on her. Parvatiprayed to the god
Vishnu. Vishnu brought the Moon whose rays cooled down thetree and Parvati.
Shiva again sent the river Ganga (Ganges) to disruptParvati's penance. Parvati
convinced Ganga that since they were sisters, sheshould not harm Parvati.
Parvati worshipped a Shiva Linga out of sand to pleaseShiva. Ultimately, Shiva
appeared before her as Ekambareswarar or "Lord of Mango Tree".
According to anotherlegend, Parvatiworshipped Shiva in the form of a Prithvi
Lingam (or a Lingam out of sand),under a mango tree. Legend has it that the
Vegavati river overflowed,threatening to engulf the Shiva Lingam; Parvati as
Kamakshi embraced theLingam. Shiva touched by the gesture materialized in
person and married her. Inthis context he is referred to as Tazhuva
kuzhainthaar ("He who melted inHer embrace") in Tamil.
Tirukuripputhonda Nayanar, a nayanar saint, was a washermannear the temple and
he washed the clothes of all the Saivities. He was divinelytricked by Shiva
appearing as an aged brahmin and asked him to wash beforedawn. At the same
time, Shiva made a cloudy evening. On observing the approachof the evening, the
washerman banged his head in a stone in disappointment. Godappeared in his true
form and graced his devotee.
History
The present masonry structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th
century,while later expansions are attributed to Vijayanagar rulers.
This vast temple is one of the most ancient in India havingbeen in existence
since at least 600 CE. The temple finds mention in theclassical Tamil Sangam
literature dated 300 BCE like Manimegalai and Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai.Initially
temple was builtby Pallavas. The Vedantist Kachiyapper served as a priest at
thetemple.
The existing structurethen, was pulled down and rebuilt by the later Chola
Kings.
Adi Sankara, the 10th-century saint got Kanchipuramremodelled along with
expansion of this temple along with Kamakshi Amman templeand Varadaraja Perumal
Temple with the help of local rulers.
The Vijayanagar kings, during the 15th century, also madelot of contributions
to the temple and later developed by Vallal Pachiyappa Mudaliarused to go
regularly from Chennai to Kanchipuram to worship in this temple, hespent
significant money he amazed during British rule on the temple renovation.
Pachiyappa Mudaliar seated at horseback can be seen in thetemple pillar.
At the later stage asimilar temple with same name Ekambareswarar was
constructed in Chennai byPachiappa Mudaliar in order to avoid travelling time
to Kanchipuram.
The Archaeological Survey of India report of 1905–06indicates widespread
renovation activities carried out in the temple byNattukottai Chettiars. In
modern times, the temple is maintained andadministered by the Hindu Religious
and Charitable Endowments Department of theGovernment of Tamil Nadu.
Architecture
The temple covers an area of 10 hectares (25 acres). Reachinga height of 59 m
(194 ft), the temple's Raja gopuram (the entrance tower to thetemple) is one of
the tallest in South India.
The bottom half of the gateway towerhas the shrines of Vinayaka and Murugan on
either sides. From the entrance, there are twohalls namely Vahana Mandapam
(vehicle hall) and Sarabhesa Mandapam (also calledNavaratri hall). The Aayiram
Kaal Mandapam, or the "hallway with athousand pillars", which was built by the
Vijayanagar Kings, is found onprecinct after the gateway tower. There is said
to have been an underground holy river.
The fourth courtyard contains a small Ganesha temple and apond. The third
courtyard contains lot of smaller shrines. The flag staff ofthe temple is axial
to the sanctum and diagonally located to the main entranceand the temple tank
on either directions.
There is a shrine called Thirukachi Mayanam and KalayanaMandapa, named after
Pachayappa Mudaliar, both of which are located close tothe flag staff.
Thirukachi Mayanam, Valeesam, Rishabesam and Satyanadeesam arelocated in four
corners of the temple. The hall of the flagstaff has pillars sculpted
withintricate figures indicating various legends and avatars of Shiva. Thereare
granite image of the 63 Nayanmars around the first precinct. The temple'sinner
most precinct are decorated with an array of Shivalingam, one of which isa
Sahasra Lingam with 1,008 Siva lingams sculpted on it. There is a
separateshrine for Nataraja on the second precinct.
Sanctum
The sanctum sanctorum contains the lingam alongwith the image of Shiva and
Parvati sitting together.
The gold plated lingam depicts the story of Parvati huggingthe lingam to save
it from the flooding Vegavati river.
There is no separate shrine for Parvati within thecomplex as with all other
Shiva temples in Kanchipuram. A local belief is thatthe deity at the Kamakshi
Amman Temple is the consort forEkambaranathar. Behind the image of Lingam in
the sanctum, there is adepiction of Shiva and Parvathi in a plaque with Shiva
depicted asTazhuvakuzhainthaar Swami and Parvathi as Elavarkuzhali Amman.
During Panguni Uthiram the sun rays fall directly on theShiva linga.
Sanctum for LordVishnu
There is a small shrine for Vishnu named Nilathingal ThundamPerumal temple
inside the temple complex. Vishnu is prayed as Vamana and the shrine is hailed
by theAlvar saints as one of the 108 Divya Desams.
Poojas
The temple has six daily rituals at various times from3:30~4:00 a.m. to 8.30
p.m.
The temple priest perform the pooja (rituals) duringfestivals and on a daily
basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, thepriests belong to the
Shaivaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The templerituals are performed six
times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at8:00 a.m., Ucchikalam at
10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at8:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam
at 8.30 p.m.
There are weekly rituals like somavaram and shukravaram,fortnightly rituals
like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (newmoon day), kiruthigai,
pournami and Chaturthi
Festivals
Twelve yearlyfestivals on its calendar. Panguni Uthiram festival celebrated
for thirteendays during the Tamil month of Panguni (March - April) is the most
prominentfestival of the temple and the town.
January- February Brahmotsavam, the golden car festival whenLord Shiva is taken
around the temple premises in a well decorated temple car.
February- March Shivaratri Festival, great gathering of Shivadevotees.
March- April Panguni Uthiram, the most important as per theVedic tradition.
September- October Navaratri Festival
The temple celebrates dozens of festivals throughout theyear. The most
important of these is the Panguni Brahmotsavam that lasts ten days during
theTamil month of Panguni, between March and April, concluding with
thecelebration of Kalyanotsavam. The festival is the most popular of all
thetemple festivals in Kanchipuram. During Brahmotsavam there are
variousprocessions during the ten days with the festive images of presiding
deities ofthe temple carried in various mounts around the streets of the
temple. Duringthe fifth day, Ekambareswarar is carried silver mount Nandi
during the morning andRavaneswara Vahanam during the evening. The 63 Nayanmars
are taken inprocession the sixth day morning, while Ekambareswarar is carried
on Silver carfestival in the evening. Silver Mavadi seva is performed on the
ninth day. On the concluding day, Kalyanotsavam(marriage festival) is held when
the marriage of Ekambareswarar is enacted.
During the day, manyunmarried people get married irrespective of their caste
along with the deity. The event is witnessed by thousands of people everyyear
Temple tree andspecialty.
The sthala-vriksham or temple tree is believed to be a 3,500-year-old mango
tree whosebranches are said to yield four different types of mangoes from its
fourbranches. The mangoes are said to have different tastes, such as
sweet,sour, bitter, and astringent. The tree also symbolizes the four Vedas, or
thesacred scriptures of Hinduism. The tree is revered by the devotees, who
seekits blessings for fertility and prosperity.
Religious significanceof the temple
Pancha Bhoota Sthalam refers to the five Shiva temples, eachrepresenting the
manifestation of the five prime elements of nature - land,water, air, sky,
fire.[21] Pancha indicates five, Bhoota means elements andStala means place.
All these temples are located in South India with four ofthese temples at Tamil
Nadu and one at Andhra Pradesh. The five elements arebelieved to be enshrined
in the five lingams and each of the lingamsrepresenting Shiva in the temple
have five different names based on theelements they represent. In the temple,
Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form ofPrithvi Lingam.
Administration
The temple is maintained and administered by the HinduReligious and Charitable
Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Music pillars
The temple also has a unique feature called the ten musical pillars, which
arelocated in the inner courtyard. These pillars are made of graniteand produce
different musical notes when tapped. The pillars also have carvingsof various
musical instruments, such as the veena, the flute, and themridangam. The
pillars are said to demonstrate the harmony and diversity ofIndian music.
Dress code and manners
Dress modestly andrespectfully, as the city and the temple are conservative
and religious. Avoidwearing shorts, skirts, sleeveless tops, or any revealing
clothes. Wearcomfortable and breathable clothes, such as cotton or linen, and
carry a scarfor a shawl to cover your head and shoulders. Wear shoes that are
easy to removeand wear, as you will have to take them off before entering the
temple.
Follow the rules and etiquette of the temple, such asmaintaining silence,
cleanliness, and decorum. Do not touch or disturb the idols, the priests, or
thedevotees. Do not take photos or videos inside the temple, unless youhave
permission. Do not carry any leather items, such as belts, wallets, orbags,
inside the temple. Do not consume any alcohol, tobacco, or non-vegetarianfood
inside or near the temple premises.
Address of the temple
EkambaranatharSannidhi Street, Kanchipuram 631502 Tamil Nadu.
Temple Timings
The temple is open to worship during morning 06:00 am to11:00 am and evening
05:00pm to 08:00 pm.
How to Reach thetemple?
By Air:The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport.After getting down
at Chennai grab a taxi or Government bus to Kanchipuramwhich is 64 kms away.
By Rail:The nearest railway station is Kanchipuram RailwayStation. You can
catch trains from any part of the country which pass throughKanchipuram. After
getting down at Kanchipuram, grab an auto-rickshaw or taxito the temple.
By Road:Tamil Government Buses to Kanchipuram are availablefrom all the parts
of the Tamil Nadu state and also from major cities in SouthIndia. It is 64 kms
from Chennai which is the major city close to Kanchipuramfrom where you get
frequent buses to Kanchipuram.
Compiled from different sources and posted by R.Gopalakrishnan on 28-12-2025
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