This Shiva temple is located in Kanchipuram in Tamilnadu. This is the first place in Pancha Bhuta Sthalams representing the element Earth (Prithvi). This is one of the Padal Petra Sthalams revered by the Nayanmars. The vaishnavas consider this place as one of the 108 Divya Desams as there is a Vishnu temple in the complex. This is also one of the Pancha Mayanam Sthala.
Mulavara: Ekambareshwarar, Ekambar Nadar
Devi: Kamakshi (AEZAVAR KUZHALI)
Kshetra Vruksha: Mango tree
Sacred teertha: Shiva Ganga Teertha
There is a single mango tree in the temple complex which is about 3500 years old.
Ekam (one) ambar (mango tree) nadar (lord). That is why the name Ekambareshwarar
About this temple – The temple spans about 25 acres of land and is considered as one of the largest temples. It has 4 gopurams and raj gopuram is in the south. It is 11 tiered and about 195 feet in height.
The temple is more than 1500 years old and was originally built by Pallavas. It was later developed by Chola kings and Vijayanagar kings. Of late, it was also developed by Vallal Pachaiyappa Mudaliar during the British rule. His statue can be found in the temple complex. The temple has a number of mandaps and among them one mandap has 1000 pillars and is known as Aayiram (1000) Kall (pillars) Mandap. 1008 Shiva lingams are arranged along the walls. A teertha known as Kampai teertha (temple tank) is believed to have an underground river. The fourth courtyard houses a Ganapati temple and a pond whereas a third courtyard has a number of small shrines. The Shiva Linga (known as Prithvi linga) in the sanctum sanctorum has an image of Lord Shiva. There is no separate shrine for Goddess Parvati here as well as in any Shiva temple in Kanchipuram as she rules here as Rajrajeshwari (Kamakshi). A small shrine houses Lord Vishnu in standing posture. He is known as Nilla Thingal Thundathan. Lord Vishnu is worshiped here as Vaman Murthi.
The kshetra vruksha (the mango tree) is said to yield 4 different types of mangos from 4 of its branches which have different tastes (bitter, sour, sweet, salty).
In an inner corridor (parikrama) there are 10 pillars which are said to produce 10 different musical notes when hit by a stick. Under the kshetra vruksha there is a shrine of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.
Other deities – Vellakambar - worshiped by Lord Bramha
Kallakambar – worshiped by Lord Vishnu
Nallakambar – worshiped by Lord Indra
Vikata-chakra Vinayaka, Shanmukha, 108 Shiva lingas, 63 Nayanmars, Sage Markandeya, Bhikshatanar, Nataraja, Devi who saved the world from Pralaya (great deluge) and Navagraha idols are found in the temple. There is a very rare idol of Lord Ganesh sitting on a peacock.
About Lord Vishnu shrine in the temple – Lord Vishnu is known as Chanda-chud-perumal facing west. Goddess Mahalaxmi is known as Nilla-Thingal-Thinda-Thaayar (in Tamil Ner-Orudar-Illavalli-Nachiyar). Here daily pooja is performed by a shaiva priest. The temple tank in this temple is known as Chandra-pushkarini. The tower (gopuram) above the sanctum sanctorum is known as Purush-sukta-vimanam.
Greatness of temple – The Shiva linga is swayambhoo. It is the sand which Devi Kamakshi worshiped as Lord Shiva. There is mark on this Shiva Linga to indicate that Devi Kamakshi embraced Lord Shiva. On the prakaram (parikrama) opposite to sanctum sanctorum of Lord Shiva there is a spatika linga facing the west. There is a spatika nandi opposite to that. In the tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), on the day of Ratha-saptami, rays of the Sun fall on the Shiva Linga. It is believed that the four branches of the mango tree represent four vedas. The utsav murthi or Lord Shiva is in a separate shrine in a glass casing. He is under a pandal made of 5008 rudrakshas. They reflect 1000 of images of Lord Shiva. Besides this, the sahastra lingas (1008) and ashtottara lingas (108) worshiped by Lord Ramachandra (to get rid of his brahma hatya dosha) are found in the temple. The Ganesha in this temple is known as Vikat-chakra-vinayaka and Lord Muruga is known as Mavadi-sundarar.
Kshetra Puran - Once Goddess Parvati closed eyes of Lord Shiva in a playful manner with her hands. Later realizing her mistake, she asked for atonement. Lord Shiva asked her to go to earth and perform penance. She came to Kanchipuram and was doing penance under a mango tree by preparing a Shiva linga out of sand. She stood on a agnikunda with four more agnikunda on four sides (known as Panch-agni kunda). In order to test her, Lord Shiva sent Ganges to disturb her penance by causing a flood. Fearing that Ganga will wash away the Shiva linga, she protected the Shiva linga by embracing it. Lord Shiva gave her divine vision and forgave her for her mistake (sin). Later He married Her under the mango tree.
According to another kshetra puran, the Shaiva saint- Sundarar got vision on his left eye at this place due to the grace of Lord Shiva. A maid servant named Anithathai was serving Lord Shiva on the earth. While on a teertha-yatra, Sundarar met her and married her by promising not to leave her at any time. As he broke the promise, he lost his vision. He came to this place, during the teertha-yatra. After reaching this place, he begged for pardon of Lord Shiva for breaking the promise. Lord Shiva gave him vision in his left eye.
The marriage of Lord Shiva to Ambika is depicted in the idol in a shrine below the mango tree. This is considered as the bridal form of Lord Shiva. The mango tree is known as a Veda-maram (a veda tree).
Nila-thundu-perumal – The poisonous vapors were emitted by Vasuki during the Samudra-manthan. Lord Vishnu who was affected by this hot vapors, worshiped Lord Shiva for relief. The cool rays from crescent moon on Lord Shiva’s head cured Lord Vishnu. Hence Lord Vishnu is known as Nila-thundu-perumal at this place.
Once Parvati was cursed by Lord Shiva to become dark like Kali. To get rid of this sin, she did penance under a mango tree near Vegavati river. In order to test her Lord Shiva sent fire. Goddess Parvati sought help of brother, Lord Vishnu who took the crescent moon from Lord Shiva’s head and cooled Goddess Parvati and mango tree. Later Lord Shiva sent river Ganga to disturb her penance. Goddess Parvati convinced Ganga that she was her sister and hence Ganga also did not disturb the penance. Parvati made a Shiva Linga out of sand and got united with Lord Shiva under the mango tree. So, Lord Shiva at this place is known as Ekambareshwarar (Lord of Mango tree).
One of the 63 Nayanmars (Thiru kurippu thonda nayanar) was a washer man near the temple. Lord Shiva appeared as an aged Shaiva brahmin and gave a bundle of clothes to be washed before sunset. At the same time, He made the evening so cloudy that it became dark. Since the saint could not wash the clothes as per his promise, he dashed his head against the stone, Lord Shiva appeared in true form and graced him.
Prayers –
- This is a siddha sthal, people come here seeking, various boons under the belief that they will be fulfilled.
- People come to this place for mental peace
- As Lord Shiva is in his bridal form, a large number of people come here to perform their marriage.
Festivals –
- Weekly Somavar and Shukravar pooja
- Regular pooja on Amavasya, Poornima, Kritika nakshatra, Chaturthi and Pradosh
- Brahma utsav in Tamil month of Panguni (March-April) is held for 10 days concluding with Kalyan utsav. On 5th day, Ekambareshwarar is taken in procession in a silver chariot while Nandi is taken in procession in morning and Ravneshwar vaahan in evening.
- 63 Nayanmars are taken in procession on the sixth day morning whereas Ekambareshwar is taken in procession in a silver chariot in the evening.
- On the ninth day, a worship known as silver mavadi (under mango tree) seva is conducted.
- Special abhishekas are performed on Tamil and English new years on Diwali and on Sankrant day.
Courtesy: Following sites
https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ and
https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/
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