Ekambaranathar Temple, Kanchipuram, India

Located around 75 km from Chennai, Kanchipuram is considered one of the seven holy cities for Hindus. Known as the city of thousand temples, the town has about one hundred prominent and ancient temples. Among all temples of Shiva in Kanchi, Ekambaranathar Temple is the biggest and most popular. In fact, the temple is one of the most prominent temples of the entire state of Tamil Nadu. This article focuses on that shrine located at the heart of the town.

Highlights

• One of the most popular temples of Tamil Nadu state
• The most famous Shiva temple of Kanchipuram town
• This is the first Devaram Paadal Petra Sthalam in the Tondai region
• A rare temple that has both Paadal Petra Sthalam and Divya Desam
• God - Ekambaranathar or Ekambareshwarar
• Goddess - Kamakshi or Elavar Kuzhali
• Other names of God - Tiruvegambar, Thaluvak Kuzhainda Nathar
• Sthala Vruksha (holy tree) - Mango
• Teertha of Divya Desam - Kamba River, Shiva Ganga, Sarva Teertha
• Appar, Sambandhar and Sundarar have sung about this temple in their verses
• It is one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams. It represents Earth.
• Divya Desam Deity - Nila Thingal Thundathan or Chandra Chooda Perumal
• Divya Desam Goddess - Nila Thinga Thunda Thayaar
• Divya Desam Teerth - Chandra Pushkarani
• Divya Desam Vimana - Purushasookta Vimana
• It is the 49th Divya Desam in the Toondai region
• Tirumangai Alwar has sung hymn about this Divya Desam

Legend

As per the legend, Parvati playfully closed the eyes of Shiva from behind, which resulted in the darkness for the entire universe. To cleanse herself from this sin, she took birth as Kamakshi. 

In the holy site of Kanchipuram, by installing a Shiva Linga made of sand  (Prithvi Linga) under a sacred mango tree, she regularly conducted poojas. 

Wanting to test Kamakshi's firmness, Shiva made the Vegavati river overflow. To avoid the sand Linga getting washed away by the river, Kamakshi hugged it tightly. Ultimately, Shiva appeared and agreed to marry her.

(It is believed that her hand marks are still seen in Shiv Linga. The same mango tree is believed to be there as the Sthala Vruksha in the temple complex.) 

There is another legend related to the Divya Desam located within the premises of this temple. When Kamakshi performed penance under the holy mango tree, Shiva wanted to test her devotion and set the tree on fire. She sought the help of Vishnu. Vishnu plucked the moon from the head of Shiva and extinguished the fire. Hence, he obtained the name "Nila Thingal Thundathan". (The word "nila" means moon in Tamil).

Another version of the story mentioned above states that during the churning of the milky ocean, Vishnu became very warm. He requested Shiva to alleviate his discomfort by the cool rays of the moon adorning the latter's head. Shiva agreed to the same, and thus Vishnu got this name.  

Temple Layout

Raja Gopura

The gigantic temple is spread across 23.5 acres. The temple's structures have seen contributions from various dynasties in different periods, including Pallavas, Pandyas, Cholas, and Vijayanagaras. It is believed that even before the Pallavas built the temple as a stone temple, it existed in some other form. The south-facing 192 feet tall Rajagopura with 9 Talas (tiers) was constructed by Krishnadeva Raya in the 16th century CE. 

The tower's entrance has sub-shrines enshrining the big icons of Ganesha and Arumugam-Valli-Devasena.

Kamba Teertha

The mandapa found immediately after entering into the gopura is called Sharbheswara Mandapa. The holy tank is called Kamba Teertha, which is located nearby.

Ayirankal Mandapa

The hall with 1008 pillars, called Ayirankal Mandapa, found inside the temple complex, was built by the Vijayanagar Kings. The architecturally beautiful hall has 1008 Shiva Lingas. Near this structure, the sub-shrine of Vikata Shankara Vinayaka is situated. The sculptures in the pillars are notably beautiful. Ganesha seated on a peacock is a rare sculpture found here.

Shiva Lingas

Near the flagstaff and bali peetha, 16 pillared mandapa is located. The sacred tank named Shiva Ganga Teertha is located nearby. 

A big Nandi mandapa and another smaller Nandi mandapa are also found near the flagstaff.

The sub-shrines enshrining Shiva Lingas, namely Vella Kambar, Kachi Mayaneeswar, and Valeeswarar, are nearby. Brahma, Bhandasura and Vali worshiped them, respectively, as per the legend.

The wall around the Kachi Mayaneeswarar shrine has the niche icons of Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga. 

Towers

One more south-facing tower and another east-facing tower are also found in this vast temple.

Entrance of Main Temple

The entrance of the main temple area, which houses the sanctum, other shrines, and the prakaras, has two huge Dwarapala icons. The relief images of Ganesha seated on mouse and Subramanya seated on peacock are found behind the Dwarapalas.

Outer Prakara

On the way to the outer prakara from the entrance, a part of the mango tree, which is believed to be the original tree of 3500 years old, is found.

A lot of pillared mandapas are located within this prakara area.

Some sub-shrines/sculptures that are found in this prakara:

• A panel depicting the marriage scene of Shiva and Parvati with the presences of Vishnu and Brahma
• Eight-armed Pralayakala Amman
• Kalarchinga Nayanar
• Shiva Linga and Nandi
• Eight Shiva Lingas and one smaller Shiva Linga
• Twelve smaller Shiva Lingas
• Another big Shiva Linga separately
• 108 Shiva Lingas in different sizes
• Ganesha with five heads and ten arms seated on a lion
• Ganesha
• Utsava (festival) deities of Ekambareswar and Kamakshi in Gayatri Mandapa with Rudraksha ceiling
• Called as Mavadu Skanda - Shanmukha-Valli-Devasena
• Ezhavaar Kuzhali utsava deity
• Big Sahasra Linga - worshiped by Rama
• Natraja-Shivakami - very big sub-shrine
• Pralayakala Amman Utsava deity
• Bhairava
• Arumuga Nainar with his consorts - Utsava deities
• Navagraha

Inner Prakara

The entrance of the area that comprises the inner prakara and the sanctum, has two big Dwarapalas.

The following idols are found in the inner prakara:

• 63 Nayanmars
• Bhikshatana
• Sowbhagya Ganapati
• Shakti Ganapati with his consorts
• Kasi Vishwanatha Linga 
• Markandeyeswarar Linga
• Kalla Kambar Shiv Linga (worshiped by Vishnu)
• Utsava images of 63 Nayanmars
• Sundara Vinayaka
• 108 Shiva Lingas without Aavudai bases
• Arumugam with his consorts
• Mattala Madhesvara Linga
• Nalla Kambar Shiv Linga (worshiped by Rudra)

Ekambareswara

The east-facing sanctum enshrines the big and tall Shiva Linga named Ekambareswara or Ekambaranathar. Behind Shiva Linga, the Somaskanda panel featuring Shiva, Parvati and Skanda is found on the wall. 

The entrance of the sanctum has the icons of Dwarapalas. (Totally, three pairs of Dwarapalas are found in this temple.)

Holy Mango Tree

The holy tree located in the prakara is believed to be thousands of years old. This is the sthala vruksham. It is said to bear fruits of four different tastes in each season, which is said to be representing four Vedas. A small shrine enshrining Kamakshi and Ekambareswar Shiva Linga is found below this holy tree. 

The images of Ganesha and Subramanya are also found at the entrance of the site where this vruksham is located.

Divya Desam

In the inner prakara, there is a west-facing shrine enshrining two icons of Vishnu. One is the old one, and the other one is comparatively new. Vishnu is found in the standing posture in this shrine. This is one of the Divya Desams, and the deity is called Nila Thinga Thundathan or Chandra Chooda Perumal. 

Ideally, his consort, vimana, and teertha should be present as per the scripts; but only the presiding deity is found currently.

Happy travelling.

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