Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

The Ekambareswarar Temple is the first of the 32 Tevara Stalam construction in the Tondai region of Tamil Nadu state in India. Anticipated as one of the venerable temple, it is the biggest temple devoted to Lord Shiva in Kanchipuram. It is cited as one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams which are dedicated to the 5 elements like water, wind, Fire, Space and Earth. The temple henpecked the historical capital of the Pallava rulers.

As per the history, once while Lord Shiva was contemplating Parvati naughtily covered his eyes with her fingers which resulted in absolute darkness on earth for many many years. Shiva being enraged by her act cursed Parvati to go to earth for repentance. Parvati went to earth and made the earth linga and worshiped it below the mango tree in Kachipuram giving outset to the temple. This ancient temple has been in existence from nearly 600 AD and has been praised in opuses by the Saivite deities.

 

A part of the main temple was constructed by the Pallava Kings while the other temple complex was built in the 17th century. The temple tout of a lofty 60 meter high Gopuram constructed by Krishna Deva Raja of the Vijayanagara kingdom in the year 1509. There can be found no two towers paired each other nor are the wall of the temple collateral to each other. The temple campus has nearly 540 pillar hall all elaborately planned and attractively carved. The pillared hall were built by the Vijayanagara Sovereign.

A 3500 years old mango tree has the spot having 4 branches each devoted to the four Vedas. The Divinity infers its name from the Mango tree from the words Eka-Amra-Natha, which meant the Lord of the Mango tree. The itinerary to the tree has a Shiva Lingam made of nearly 1008 tiny lingas .The Huge linga is famous as the the earth Linga or Prithivi Linga. A Somaskanda plane attributing all three Shiva, Parvati and Skanda altogether cherish the back end of the main enshrine, which has been adored for many centuries.

The famous festivals held in this place are Adi Kritikai and Avani Moolam in the month of August  and Ani Tirumanjanam in the month of July. The Vaisakhi and Chitra Purnima are held in the months of May and June grades the temples yearly calender. The Panguni festival is celebrated for almost 13 days and during this time the nuptials of the controlling deity is ascertained.

 

There are nearly 6 types of Puja daily in the temple by the name of kaalasanrhi, Ushadkalam, Uchi kaalam, Sayaratchai, Prodosham and Ardhajamam. The six types of services have various type of importance to the followers offering the prayers.