Ekambareswarar Temple

Ekambareswarar Temple

Infobox Mandir


creator = Pallava kings
proper_name = Arulmigu Kanchi Ekambareswarar Thirukoil
date_built =
primary_deity = Ekambareswarar (Shiva)
architecture = Dravidian architecture
location = Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Ekambareswarar Temple ( _ta. ஏகாம்பரநாதர் கோயில்) is one of the famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Kanchipuram in the state of Tamilnadu, India.

It is one of the five major Shiva temples or "Pancha Bootha Sthalam"s (each representing a natural element) representing the element - Earth. The other four temples in this category are Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara (water), Chidambaram Natarajar (sky), Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswara (fire) and Kalahasti Nathar (wind).

It is also one of the 108 Divya desam for Vaishnavites. All of the four revered Saivite Saints have sung the glory of this temple.

History

This ancient temple has been in existence even prior to 600 AD and has been sung by the revered Saivite Saints. Second century AD Tamil poetry speaks of "Kama kottam", and the "Kumara kottam" (currently the Kamakashi Amman temple and the Subramanya temple). The existing structure then, was pulled down and rebuilt by the Pallava Kings. The Cholas who came in later also made several contributions to the temple.

Temple

No separate shrine for Parvati exists here (as in other Shiva temples in Kanchipuram).

There is a small shrine for Lord Vishnu named "Thiru Nilaaththingal Thundathan". Here, the Lord Vishnu is prayed as Vamana Murthy.

Architecture

The temple covers an area of over 40 acres. Reaching a height of 57 meters, the temple's Raja "gopuram" (the entrance tower to the temple) is one of the tallest in South India and was built by the Vijayanagar King, Krishnadevaraya.

One notable feature of the temple is the "Aayiram Kaal Mandapam", or the "hallway with a thousand pillars", which was built by the Vijayanagar Kings. The temple's inner walls are decorated with an array of 1,008 Siva lingams.

The "sthala-virutcham" is a 3,500 year old mango tree whose branches are said to yield four different types of mangoes.

Legend

Legend has it that once Parvati was doing "tapas" under this Mango Tree.

In order to test her devotion Lord Shiva sent fire on her. Goddess Parvati prayed to her brother, Lord Vishnu. In order to save her, he took the Moon from Lord Shiva's head and showed the rays which then cooled down the tree as well as Parvati.

After that, Lord Shiva again sent the river Ganga to disrupt Parvati's tapas. Parvati devi prayed to Ganga and convinced her that both of them are sisters and should not harm her. And so Ganga did not disturb her penance after that. Then Parvati made a Shiva Linga out of sand and got united with Lord Shiva.

According to another legend, it is believed that Parvati worshipped Shiva in the form of a "Prithivi Lingam" (or a Lingam improvised out of sand), under a mango tree. Legend has it that the neighboring "Vegavati" river overflowed and threatened to engulf the Shiva Lingam and that Parvati or Kamakshi embraced the Lingam. Shiva touched by the gesture materialized in person and married her. In this context he is referred to as "Tazhuva kuzhainthaar" ("He who melted in Her embrace") in Tamil.

External links

* [http://www.jyotirlinga.com Virtual Lord Shiva Darshan and pilgrimage with videos and images]
* [http://www.indiantemples.com/Tamilnadu/ekamkanc.html Link to Indiantemples.com site]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Kalahasti temple — Infobox Mandir creator = proper name = Sri Kalahastheeswara Nathar Kovil date built = primary deity = Sri Kalahastheeswara Nathar (Shiva) and His Consort: Gnana Prasunambika Devi (Parvati) architecture = Kovil location = Kalahasti, Andhra… …   Wikipedia

  • Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram — Chidambaram Temple …   Wikipedia

  • Chidambaram Temple — Infobox Mandir creator = proper name = Thillai Nataraja Perumal Kovil or Chidambaram Natarajar Koil date built = primary deity = Nataraja (Shiva) architecture = Dravidian architecture location = Chidambaram, Tamil NaduChidambaram Temple (Tamil:… …   Wikipedia

  • Mathura Kaliamman Temple, Siruvachur — The Mathura Kaliamman Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kali located in the village of Siruvachur in the Perambalur taluk of Perambalur District. The Car festival and the annual Panguni festivals are important festivals celebrated …   Wikipedia

  • List of Hindu temples — Hindu temple is called Mandir or Kovil or Devasthanam or Dega (Nepal Bhasa) or Ambalam (Malayalam) or other words in different Indian languages. It is usually dedicated to a primary deity, called the presiding deity, and other deities associated… …   Wikipedia

  • Kanchipuram — This article is about the municipality in Tamil Nadu, India. For its namesake district, see Kanchipuram district. Kanchipuram (காஞ்சிபுரம்)   town   …   Wikipedia

  • Shiva — For other uses, see Shiva (disambiguation). Shiva A statue de …   Wikipedia

  • Kanchipuram district — This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram District   district   …   Wikipedia

  • Cheyyur taluk — is a taluk of Kanchipuram district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The headquarters of the taluk is the town of Cheyyur. Contents 1 History 2 List of places in Cheyyur Taluk 3 Population …   Wikipedia

  • St. Thomas Mount — Coordinates: 12°59′42″N 80°11′58″E / 12.99506°N 80.19955°E / 12.99506; 80.19955 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”