Pankaj Kashyap: One Of The Finest Shiva Temple Representing Earth – Ekambaranathar Temple

Thursday 9 April 2015

One Of The Finest Shiva Temple Representing Earth – Ekambaranathar Temple – Kanchipuram,Tamil Nadu

Ekambaranathar Temple is a great Hindu temple dedicated to the Greatest of Great Lord Shiva, situated in the town Kanchipuram in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Proudly being the largest temple in the town of Kanchipuram, it attracts huge crowd everyday.

It is one of the five major Shiva temples of Indiaor Pancha Bootha Sthalams (each one representing one natural element) here representing the element – Earth. The other four major temples belonging in this category are as follows
1. Jambukeswara representing pani or water ,
2. Arunachaleswara representing fire,
3. Kalahasti Nathar representing wind or pavan and
4. Chidambaram Natarajar representing asman-the sky or akash.
It is considered under one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams which makes the temple more auspicious. The four most wise and devoted saints have sung the great glories of this marvelous temple. Ekambaranathar temple of Tamil Nadu is undoubtedly one of the most visited (going by the footfall per day) tourist spots in the city and the state as a whole.

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LOCATION:-

The great Ekambareswarar Temple is situated in the Sannidhi Street near Aminjikarai of metro city – Chennai. This Great Ekambareswarar temple is around nearly one km away from Aminjikarai bus stop which is the nearest bus stop.

How to reach :

Nearest Rail Station : Ariyalur Railway Stations.

Nearest AirPort : Trichy.

Bus : There are various of buses from Chennai to the town ofKanchipuram.
1 and half hr – 2 hrs of journey for travelling from Chennai to the great Kanchipuram.

MAP LINK:-

Check The Google Map For Exact Locations.

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HISTORY:-

This vast and beautiful temple is one of the most ancient and richly crafted temple in India which has been in existence ever since six hundred AD. Ancient Vedantist Kachiyapper performed the role as a priest at the vast temple. First the temple was built by the Pallvas and then redesigned by the Chola Kings. The 10th-century great and famous saint, Adi Sankara, got Kanchipuram remodeled with his touch along with expansion of this vast temple along with famous and well known Kamakshi Amman temple and Varadaraja Perumal Temple with the assistance of local rulers.

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The Vijayanagar kings, during the rule of fifteenth century, also made lot of expensive contributions to the temple and later on it was developed by Vallal Pachiyappa Mudaliar who used to visit the temple regularly from Chennai to Kanchipuram to worship and offer his prayings in this temple, he cast significant and large amount of wealth and money during British rule on the renovation and expansion of this great temple. At the entrance, Pachiyappa Mudaliar seated enjoying a top stand riding at horse-back can be seen in the temple pillar.

ARCHITECTURE:-

Ekambareswarar temple has high rising which is considered to be one of the highest gopurams overpowering the skyline of the temple . The temple takes 40 acres of land in its area and the main tower is one hundred and seventy two feet long. The great Krishnadevaraya is credited for its construction. He also constructed the large pillared hall in front or entrance of the sanctum. There are two tanks in this vast temple of Kampa Nadi and Shivaganga. There is surprisingly a Vishnu shrine in the Shiva temple and the name of the Vishnu as Nilatingal Tundattan is recited. The temple has high quantity and silver and gold linings.

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A Somaskanda panel abodes Lord Shiva with his beloved Parvati and Skanda on the rear side of the great main shrine inside the temple at large. Services or rituals are offered one by one in the temple of Sri Ekambareshwar Temple every day rigorously . They are as follow in proper order
1. UshadKalam,
2. Uchi Kaalam,
3. Kaalasanthi,
4. Pradosham,
5. the holy Sayaratchai and
6. then Ardhajamam.