History, Importance, Timings, Festivals, Legend, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India
Ekambareswarar Temple or Ekambaranathar temple is one of the biggest and famous temple of Lord Shiva located in Kanchipuram – the temple city in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the five major Shiva temples or Pancha Bhoota Shtalas – file element of life, here temple represent the earth or Prithvi element.
The temple complex spread across the 25 acres of land and main four entrance gate known as gopurams. The southern raja gopuram is the marvellous and tallest one which is 11 stories with height of 192 feet, which is one of the tallest temple towers in India. There are several shrine in temple complex out of these Ekambareswarar and Nilathingal Thundam Perumal are most prominent. Apart from this temple complex has more than 20 halls and more than 1000 pillared hall known as Aayiram Kaal Mandapam built by Raja Krishna Deva Raya during the Vijayanagar rule. It is believed that Ekambareswarar Temple is thousands of old but the current structure was reconstructed by Pallavas rule in 600 AD. And over the time various other dynasty had added their architectural contributions. Another architectural brilliance is that the sun rays falls directly on the Shivalinga every 19, 20 and 21 of the Panguni month in around March or April which is the most important festival of the Ekambareswarar Temple - the Panguni Uthiram, celebrated with true devotion.
There is also a presence of Lord Vishnu shrine as Thiru Nilaaththingal Thundathan one of the 108 Divya Desam of Lord Vishnu and it is prayed as Vamana Murthy. There is small Sahastralinga temple where 1008 shivlinga placed on large linga.
As per legend, it is said that Parvati was cursed to become dark like kali. She wanted to regain her originality so she performed penance on the bank of the river Vegavathi River under the Giant Mango Tree. After succeeding all her obstacles on the way of the penance she built a Shiva Lingam out of the sand to get united with the Lord Shiva. So, the Lord Shiva pleased with penance of goddess Parvati and both merged here and came to be known as Ekambareswarar, Lord of Mango tree because ekambar means mango. The mango tree is believed to be 3,500 years old where Shiva-Parvati shrine exists under this temple tree, which is known to bear four different tasting mango fruits from four distinct branches also known as Sthala Vriksh and four branch as four vedas. Near this mango tree temple, there is Large Sri Yantra worshipped which is carved on stone.
The glory of this temple was sung by the four great Shaivite saints Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar, and Manickavasagar.
13 days Panguni Uthiram in March - April with colourful events with processions in Silver Raths, Silver Mavadi and Gold Vrushab is the biggest festival of the temple and every year lakhs of devotees comes here to worship in this temple. There is also a crowd of visitors during full moon and new moon.
January- February Brahmotsavam, the golden car festival when Lord Shiva is taken around the temple premises in a well decorated temple car. February- March Shivaratri Festival, great gathering of Shiva devotees.
How to reach Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
The temple is very near to the Bus Station. You can opt for the buses which leads to the major cities of the state. The nearest Railway Station is Kanchipuram Railway Station at a distance of 2kms. The Nearest Airport is Chennai International Airport at a distance of 53kms.
