Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar Temple

                      KANCHIPURAM EKAMBARESWARAR TEMPLE

The Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar temple is one of the Pancha Boodha Sthalas, representing Earth. It is stands incredibly on a 23 acre land in the Northen part of Kanchipuram. It is a Saivate temple and takes its own pride by getting a name called ‘Paadal Petra Sthalam’.

LEGEND AND HISTORY:

There is a belief that, when Parvathi was worshipping Shiva in the form of Sand called Prithvi Lingam under a mango tree, the nearby Vegavathi river overflowed and the Shiva Lingam was about to submerge in it. Then, Parvathi prevented the Lingam from getting drowned by holding it in her arm with love and affection. Lord Shiva got mesmerized by her embracement and married her.Thus in this Sthalam, he is also called as “Thazhuva Kuzhaindhaar’.

This temple was initially built by the pallavas. It wa later rebuilt by the Chozhas. The saint AdhiShankarar involved in expanding this temple,with the help of some important people.Then, further construction is done by the Vijayanagara kings, Pachaiyappa Mudhaliyar and Naattukkottai Chettiyars.

ARCHITECHTURE:

The temple has a 59metre tall Rajakoporam, which is one of the tallest Gopurams in south India. This temple contains a thousand pillared hall called ‘Aayiram Kaal Mandapam’. There is a water tank in this temple, named as Kampai Thirtham. It has five large Pragarams in it.The Pragaram contains 1008 Shiva Lingams, which is great significance.

Thereis no shrine for Parvathi in this temple. But local people of Kanchipuram believe that Kamakshi Amman is the better half of Ekambaranathar. There is a shrine for Vishnu in this temple called asThiru Nilaathingal Thundathan and he is worshipped as Vamanan.It is regarded as one of the 108 Divya Desams by Alwars.

STHALA VIRUTHCHAM:

The Sthala Virutcham in this temple is a mango tree which is believed to be 3500 years old. The four main branches of this tree is said to yield four different kinds of mangoes.

POOJAS AND FESTIVALS:

·         Panguni Urchavam during March-April

·         Pradhosham and Pournami

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

6 a.m to 8.30 p.m

ADDRESS:
Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar temple,

Car street,

Kanchipuram,

Tamil Nadu-631 502.