This vast temple is one of the most ancient in India having been in existence since at least 600 AD. Second century AD Tamil poetry speaks of Kama kottam, and the Kumara kottam (currently the Kamakashi Amman temple and the Subramanya temple). The existing structure then, was pulled down and rebuilt by the Pallava Kings. The Cholas, who came later, also made several contributions to the temple.
No separate shrine for Parvati exists here (as in other Shiva temples in Kanchipuram).
There is a small shrine for Lord Vishnu named Thiru Nilaaththingal Thundathan. Here, the Lord Vishnu is prayed as Vamana Murthy.
The temple covers an area of over 40 acres. Reaching a height of 57 meters, the temple's Raja gopuram (the entrance tower to the temple) is one of the tallest in South India and was built by the Vijayanagar King, Krishnadevaraya.
One notable feature of the temple is the Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, or the "hallway with a thousand pillars", which was built by the Vijayanagar Kings. The temple's inner walls are decorated with an array of 1,008 Siva lingams.
The sthala-virutcham is a 3,500 year old mango tree whose branches are said to yield four different types of mangoes.
Legend has it that once Parvati was doing tapas under the temple's ancient Mango Tree. In order to test her devotion Lord Shiva sent fire on her. Goddess Parvati prayed to her brother, Lord Vishnu, for help. In order to save her, he took the Moon from Lord Shiva's head and showed the rays which then cooled down the tree as well as Parvati.
After that, Lord Shiva again sent the river Ganga to disrupt Parvati's tapas. Parvati devi prayed to Ganga and convinced her that both of them were sisters and so should not harm her. And so Ganga did not disturb her penance after that. Then Parvati made a Shiva Linga out of sand and got united with Lord Shiva.
According to another legend, it is believed that Parvati worshipped Shiva in the form of a Prithivi Lingam (or a Lingam improvised out of sand), under a mango tree. Legend has it that the neighboring Vegavati river overflowed and threatened to engulf the Shiva Lingam and that Parvati or Kamakshi embraced the Lingam. Shiva touched by the gesture materialized in person and married her. In this context he is referred to as Tazhuva kuzhainthaar ("He who melted in Her embrace") in Tamil.13 day Panguni Uthiram in March-April with colourful events with processions in Silver Rath, Silver Mavadi Servai and Gold Vrushab- the Nandhi vahan of Lord Shiva is the biggest festival of the temple drawing devotee crowd in lakhs.
The devotee crowd is also huge on new moon, full moon and pradosha days.
Also celebrated in the temple are Deepavali, Tamil and English New Year days with special abisheks and pujas. Ekambareswarar Temple is one of the famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Kanchipuram in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Kanchipuram
It is one of the five major Shiva temples or Pancha Bootha Sthalams (each representing a natural element) representing the element - Earth. The other four temples in this category are Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara (water), Chidambaram Natarajar (ether), Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswara (fire) and Kalahasti Nathar (wind). kanchipuram ekambareswarar temple
All of the four revered Saivite Saints have sung the glories of this temple. Kanchipuram temple Kanchipuram temple
This vast temple is one of the most ancient in India having been in existence since at least 600 AD. Second century AD Tamil poetry speaks of Kama kottam, and the Kumara kottam (currently the Kamakashi Amman temple and the Subramanya temple). The existing structure then, was pulled down and rebuilt by the Pallava Kings. The Cholas, who came later, also made several contributions to the temple.
No separate shrine for Parvati exists here (as in other Shiva temples in Kanchipuram).
There is a small shrine for Lord Vishnu named Thiru Nilaaththingal Thundathan. Here, the Lord Vishnu is prayed as Vamana Murthy. kanchipuram temple kanchipuram temple kanchipuram temple kanchipuram ekambareswarar temple timings
The temple covers an area of over 40 acres. Reaching a height of 57 meters, the temple's Raja gopuram (the entrance tower to the temple) is one of the tallest in South India and was built by the Vijayanagar King, Krishnadevaraya.Ekambaranathar temple is one of the most popular temples of Kanchipuram, the ‘City of Temples’. Also one of the Panch Bootha Sthalangal of God Shiva, this city is also one of the seven great holy centers of ancient India.
Ekambareswarar temple is a huge temple, covering an area of around 40 acres. It is believed to be one of India’s most ancient temples that has been here from the year 600 AD. The rulers of Chola, Vijayanagar and Pallava dynasties have given their contribution during different times in the construction of the temple. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva who is revered here in the form of Prithvi Lingam/Lingam of Earth. All the Shiva temple in the city has a separate shrine for the female deity but it is not the case in Ekambareswarar. Appar, Sambandar, Manickavasgar and Sundarar, the four popular Saivite Saints of the region have praised the temple in their songs.
The temple also has an old revered mango tree, known to be the Sthala Vruksham, which is believed to be over 3000 year old. The tree has four branches depicting the 4 Vedas. Each branch of the tree bears 4 varied types of mango in 4 different seasons. If mythology is to be believed it once happened that Goddess Parvathi got separated from the Lord and came to Kancheepuram. Using sand, she made a Sivalingam, which is installed under the mango tree. She worshipped that Lingarm religiously and got together back with Lord Shiva.
This is one of the most sacred temples to the Lord as it is also one of the Panchabhoota Stalams representing the 5 elements- water (Tiruvanaikkaval), wind (Kalahasti), space (Chidambaram), fire (Tiruvannamalai) and earth (Kanchipuram). This huge temple received many grants from the Vijayanagar rulers, that can be noted in its long corridors, towering gopuram as well as mandapams. This temple is also the first of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region of Southern India.
The colossal gopurams of the temple look amazing against the skyline of the temple.The Pallavas, Cholas and the Vijayanagar rulers mainly Krishna Deva Raya made important contributions to this temple. The original structure was demolished and then reconstructed by the Pallava rulers. The Cholas entered the scene later on and made a number of contributions to Ekambareswarar temple.
The Ekambareswarar temple complex spreads in an area of over 40 acres. The entrance tower or the Raja Gopuram, with a height of 172 feet, was erected by Krishnadevaraya, a Vijayanagar ruler. The pillared hall in front of the main sanctum was also constructed by the Vijayanagar Kings.
Lord Shiva here is worshipped as the Prithvi Lingam and is known as Ekambareswarar. A Somaskanda panel including Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Skanda Mata feston the back of the main temple area, usedin worship for centuries. As told earlier that Parbati worshipped the Lord as Prithivi Lingam, made from sand, placed under a mango tree. The legend inform that once the bordering River Vegavati flooded, threating to immerse the Lingam. Goddess Parvati or Kamakshi, clutched the Shiva Lingam, who was touched by her gesture in person and married her. Because of the same the Lord is also referred to as 'Tazhuvakkuzhainthaar' in Tamil.
Six worship services namely UshadKalam, Kaalasanthi, Uchi Kaalam, Pradosham and Sayarakshai and Ardhajamam are offered to the Lord, every day. The temple also becomes the venue of splendid festivals like Ani Tirumanjanam (June-July), Adi Kritikai (July-August), Avani Moolam (August - September), Navaratri (September-October), Kartikai Deepam (November-December), Thai Poosam (January-February), Panguni Uthiram (March-April), Chitra Pournami (April-May) and Vaikashi Vishakam (May-June), every year. One of the most important of these annual festival is the 13-day Panguni festival when the wedding of the Lord is celebrated. The acclaimed Tamil poems of the Nayanmars (Tirumurais) tell the tales of the same.
According to the Sthala Purana, at the time when the Lord was extremely absorbed in the creation, protection and destruction of the Universe, his consort Goddess Parvati, closed his eyes in a jovial manner. As a result there was a halt in this important process, making the Lord angry. In anger, he cursed Parvati to leave his side, to the Earth and amend her fault. After this, she came to the banks of Kampa River under a single mango tree in Kanchipuram. She made a Shivalinga from sand and started worshipping it. Lord thought of testing her by creating obstacles in her way of penance. However, with Lord Vishnu’s help, she cleared all her troubles. At last, Lord Shiva opened his matted hair and asked River Ganga to wash away the Linga that Parvati was worshipping. She hugged the Lingam tightly. The Lord was pleased and remarried her.
The tall gopurams of Ekambareswarar temple look daunting with the Kanchipuram’s skyline in the backdrop. The temple complex spreads in an area of 40 acres. The tower on the entry gate or Raja Gopuram, erected by Krishnadevaraya, is 172 feet high. Another structure he built was pillared hall in the sanctum’s front. The main shrine is surrounded by a corridor, representing an arrangement of receding piers. One can spot statues of 63 Nayanmars. The temple complex also has 2 tanks, Kampa Nadi and Shivaganga. There is also a shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu who here is worshipped as Nilatingal Tundattan. The temple also has valuable silver and gold-plated vahanams.
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