Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram holds a special place in the hearts of Hindus, especially the Shiva followers. It is believed that Lord Shiva’s consort Parvati herself sculpted the Lingam here. In this temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped as ‘Ekambareswarar’ or ‘Ekambaranathar’. Notably, as one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, representing the Earth or Prithvi.
In addition, the temple is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, signifying its importance as one of the holy sites praised in the Tevaram. The Tevaram is a Tamil Saiva text that was written by Tamil saint poets, called Nayanars.
Location and History:
Ekambareswarar temple is located in the town of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. It is from around the 6th century CE and was initially built by the Pallavas. During that time, the Vedantist Kachiyapper was a priest at the temple. However, Ekambarerswarar Temple has gone through many reconstructions and additions. Probably, it was the Cholas who first reconstructed this temple. After that, the 10th-century saint Adi Sankara renovated and expanded the temple, along with the Kamakshi Amman temple and Varadaraja temple, with support from local rulers.
Further, in the 15th century CE, the Vijayanagar kings generously supported the Ekambareswarar temple with numerous contributions. Vallal Pachiyappa Mudaliar, a devout worshiper who journeyed from Chennai to Kanchipuram regularly, also made a lot of contributions to this temple.
Architecture of Ekambareswarar Temple:
The entire temple spreads across 23 acres. Raja Gopuram, the entrance tower to the temple reaches 194 ft, making it one the tallest in South India. The bottom of the gateway tower holds two separate shrines dedicated to Vinayaka and Murugan on both sides. As you enter through the gopuram, the left wall displays Goddess Parvati embracing Lord Shiva.
An Overview:
The temple complex consists of various Mandapams, Shrines, a years-old mango tree, and much more. The Mandapams include Vahana Mandapam (Vehicle hall), Sarabesa Mandapm (Navaratri hall), and Aayiram Kaal Mandapam. Among these, the Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, built by the Vijayanagar rulers, is a hallway with a thousand pillars. A small Ganesha temple and a pond are also seen in the fourth courtyard of the temple complex.
In line with the Sanctum, there is a temple’s flagstaff standing diagonally from the main entrance and the temple tank. Additionally, the hall of the flagstaff consists of pillars that are adorned with intricate figures of various legends and avatars of Lord Shiva. Further, a shrine called Thirukachi Mayanam, and the Kalayana Mandapam are also situated nearby the flagstaff.
The Most Sacred Part:
In every temple, the Sanctum Sanctorum holds the highest sanctity. In Ekambareswarar temple, the place houses Shiva Lingam, along with the image of Lord Shiva. And, behind the Lingam image, there is a plaque that depicts Shiva-Parvati together. Here, Lord Shiva is portrayed as Tezhuva Kuzhainthaar and Goddess Parvati as Elavar Kuzhali.
Additionally, there are granite images of the 63 Nayanars surrounding the first precinct. The innermost precinct of the temple is beautifully adorned with an array of Shiva Lingams. One of them is a Sahasra Lingam with 1,008 sculpted Shiva Lingams. Furthermore, within the temple complex, Lord Vishnu is also worshipped as Vamana Murthy in a dedicated shrine called Nilathingal Thundam Perumal temple. And, the second precinct of the temple has another shrine dedicated to Nataraja.
Unlike other Shiva temples in South India, the Ekambareswarar temple complex does not hold any separate shrine for Mata Parvati. But, according to the local belief, the Kamakshi Amman Temple of Kanchipuram serves as the consort of Ekambaranathar.
The Sacred Mango Tree:
Within the temple area, you will also find a 3500-year-old mango tree. Legends say that this is the tree, under which Goddess Parvati sculpted a Lingam from sand, creating Ekambareswarar. This temple tree is also known as Sthala-Virutcham. Surprisingly, four branches of the tree bear four distinct types of mangoes.
Mythological Stories About The Origin:
Many interesting mythological stories evolve around the origin of the Ekambareswarar. It is said that once Goddess Parvati sat under a mango tree (the mentioned one), seeking forgiveness. At that time, Lord Shiva tested her devotion with fire and the Ganga River. But Parvati sweetly convinced her sister Ganga; while Lord Vishnu came to rescue her, soothing the flames. Then uniting with Lord Shiva, She lovingly sculpted the lingam from sand, creating ‘Ekambareswarar‘or the ‘Lord of Mango Tree’. Another story tells of Parvati saving the lingam from a flood, which led to her marriage with Lord Shiva.
Rituals of Ekambareswarar Temple:
The temple priests conduct rituals six times a day. These rituals include Ushathkalam, Kalasanthi, Ucchikalam, Sayarakshai, Irandamkalam, and Ardha Jamam. Further, each ritual involves four steps – Abhishekam (sacred bath), Alankaram (decoration), Naivedyam (food offering), and Deepa aradhanai (weaving of lamps).
Additionally, during the rituals, music plays, and priests chant Vedic recitations, creating a more sacred atmosphere. Other rituals like Somavaram, Pradosham, and Amavasai also occur regularly on a weekly and monthly basis.
Festivals:
The Ekambareswarar temple hosts various festivals throughout the year. Among those, Panguni Brahmotsavam is the most popular one. The festival occurs in the month of March-April and lasts for 10 days. During the festive days, various processions take place around the temple streets. Notably, the Ekambareswarar, the Ravaneswara Vahana, and the 63 Nayanars also become part of the procession. Finally, the festival ends with Kalyanotsavam, which symbolizes the marriage of the deity. Besides, this is the day when many unmarried people also get married, along with the deity, regardless of their caste.
Ekambareswarar temple is the biggest and one of the famous spots to visit in Kanchipuram. It witnesses a huge gathering, especially during the festive days. The temple is now under the maintenance of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Tamil Nadu Government.