A Wandering Heritager: Arulmigu Ekambaranathar Temple / Sri Ekambareswarar Temple / Sri Ekambaranathar Temple / ஏகாம்பரநாதர் கோயில், காஞ்சிபுரம், Kanchipuram / Thirukachi Ekambam, Tamil Nadu

This place is now called as Kanchipuram and Lord Shiva is called as Sri Ekambareswarar. This is the 1^st Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. One of the 108 Divya Desam is inside this Shiva Temple. Naalvar ie., Thirugnanasambandar ( 4 hymns ), Sundarar ( in his hymns requests Lord Shiva to give back his eye sight which he lost after he left Tiruvottiyur ), Thirunavukkarasar and Manickavasagar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

பாயுமால்விடை மேலொடு பாகனே

பாவைதன்னுரு மேலொரு பாகனே

தூயவானவர் வேதத் துவனியே

சோதிமாலெரி வேதத் துவனியே

ஆயு நன்பொருள் நுண்பொருள் ஆதியே

ஆலநீழல் அரும்பொருள் ஆதியே

காய வின்மதன் பட்டது கம்பமே

கண்ணுதற் பரமற்கு இடம் கம்பமே

.... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தேவாரம்

ஆலம் தான்உகந்(து) அமுது செய் தானை

ஆதி யைஅம ரர்தொழு(து) ஏத்தும்

சீலம் தான்பெரி தும்உடை யானைச்

சிந்திப் பாரவர் சிந்தையுளானை

ஏல வார்குழ லாள் உமை நங்கை

என்றும் ஏத்தி வழிபடப் பெற்ற

கால காலனைக் கம்பன்எம் மானைக்

காணக் கண்அடி யேன்பெற்ற வாறே

....சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

கரவாடும் வன்னெஞ்சர்க்கு அரியானைக் கரவார்பால்

விரவாடும் பெருமானை விடையேறும் வித்தகனை

அரவாடச் சடைதாழ அங்கையினில் அனல்ஏந்தி

இரவாடும் பெருமானை என்மனத்தே வைத்தேனே

... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் தேவாரம்

18^th Century Sri Sivagnana Swamikal had written the sthalapurana of Sri Ekambaranathar Temple under Thiruvekamba padalam. In that he had written the evolution of this earth, Kanchi nagaram and the temple’s glory etc,.

60. திருவேகம்பப்படலம் (1902-2022)

கல்வித்தமி ழோர்புகழ் கச்சி மயான மீதால்

தொல்லைத்தவத் தீரினித் தோமறு சீர்த்தி சான்ற

மல்லல்தலங் கட்கர சாமணித் தெய்வக் கோயில்

செல்வத்திரு வேகம்பஞ் சிந்தையுட் கொண்டு சொல்வாம்.

தமிழ்க்கல்வியோர் என மாறுக.

ஏகம்பம் என்பது ஏகாம்பரம் என்பதன் திரிபு

Moolavar : Sri Thiruvekambar, Sri Ekambaranathar,

Sri Ekambareswarar

Consort : Sri Elavarkuzhali

Some of the important features of this temple are…….

The 16 pillar Mandapam at the beginning of the street is named after Viswabrahmana Ingol Che. Sangapathar. The relief of Vishnu, Vishnu in koorma avathar worshiping Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva & Parvati, Varahi are looks cute. There is a 4 Pillar mandapam in between 16 Pillar Mandapam and Rajagopuram.

The Rajagopuram is facing south and has 9 tiers. Except dwarapalakars there is no other stucco images The Rajagopuram is 192 feet tall.

The main temple has 5 Prakarams. In the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th prakaram Sivagangai Theertham with Neerazhi mandapam, Stucco Rishabam is in a mandapam, Valeeswarar sannadhi, Mayaneeswarar sannadhi with Koshta images, Balipedam, Dwajasthambam, again a Nandhi. The front mandapam pillars are with full of reliefs. We may not afford to miss to watch any one of them. There is a second level Rajagopuram.

In the 2^nd prakaram sannadhi for Sri Pralayathamman, Kazharchinga Nayanar, Lingangal, Urchavar sannadhi, Five face Vinayagar, Maavadi ( It was believed that the Maa tree ( Mango tree ) is of 3500 years old and the existing was replanted recently ), Sahasra Lingam worshiped by Ramar, Palliyarai, Maavadi Kandhar, Elavarkuzhali Amman, Navagrahas, Natarajar Saba with Ambal ( on the North side of the prakaram with mandapam and space for circumambulation.

In the 1^st parkaram sannadhi for, Balachandra Ganapathy, Spadika lingam, Pralaya lingam, Naalvar, 63var ( old mural paintings of 63var is also visible above moorthams on the wall– may be more than 200 to 300 hundred years old ), Sekkizhar, Santhana kuravarkal, Kasi Viswanathar, Santhana Ganapathy, Sowbakya Ganapathy, Sakthi Ganapathy, 108 Lingams, Naaga Lingam, Arumugam, 108 Lingam, Markandeswarar, Mathala maatheswarar, Kalla kambar, 63var ( impon idols ), Nilathunda Perumal ( Perumal has the mangala sasanam by Thirumangai Azhlwar. This is one of the 108 Divya Desam of Perumal.

In koshtam there is no images and moolavar is made of sand. Moolavar will be always closed with kavasam and abishekam will be done only for avudayar. On Mondays Gold kavasam /Cover will be kept on which Ambal relief embracing lord Shiva can be seen.

Arunagirinathar came to this temple, worshiped Murugan of this temple and sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga.

457 அரியயன் புட்பிக் கக்குழு மிக்கொண்

டமரர்வந் திக்கத் தட்டுரு வச்சென்

றவுணரங் கத்தைக் குத்திமு றித்தங் கொருகோடி

அலகைநின் றொத்திக் தித்தியறுத்தும்

பலவியங் கொட்டச் சக்கடி கற்றந்

தரியுடன் பற்றிக் குச்சரி மெச்சும் படிபாடிப்

477 அற்றைக் கிரைதேடி - அத்தத் திலுமாசை

பற்றித் தவியாத - பற்றைப் பெருவேனோ

வெற்றிக் கதிர்வேலா - வெற்பைத் தொளைசீலா

கற்றுற் றுணர்போதா - கச்சிப் பெருமாளே

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS

Also Chanakyar who wrote Artha sasthiram, Parimelazhakar who wrote the meanings for Thirukkural, Poikaiazhlvar, Vedhandha Desikar, Vannakazhangiyam Naagalinga Munivar and Syama Sasthirikal are belongs to this place.

It was believed that Dharmabalar, Head of Nalanda University, Professor Thinnanaakar and Bodhi Dharmar who had written Buddhist philosophy belongs to this place.

Kanchipuram has a history before Christ, 5^th century. Kanchipuram as capital of Thondai Nadu was ruled between 3^rd and 9^th century by Pallavas. Chozhas and Vijayanagara kings also ruled Kanchi. Even-though, it is believed that the temple was built after Kailasanathar Temple of Kanchipuram built by Narasimha Varman-II, from the Thevara hymns and inscriptions found in the temple, the historian’s are of the opinion that the temple might have existed before 6^th Century, as a brick Temple and the same was reconstructed latter. The south entrance Rajagopuram was built during 1509 CE, Krishna Devaraya period.

The outer walls ( 1799 CE ) are constructed with the stones, taken from Various dilapidated temples like Buddha vihara, Hindu Temples etc, since Buddha’s bas reliefs and some Hindu deities, temple structures are found on the outer walls.

The Krishna Devaraya Period inscription of the Sabapathy ( Natarajar ) mandapa Vimana, in grantha records the gift of Village Comattoor to Lord Shiva of this temple.

15 inscriptions are recorded in the west facing Mayaneswarar Temple, near Stucco Rishaba mandapa. The inscriptions belongs to Kakatiya Ganapati ( 1250 CE), Chhozha Uthama Chozha, Rajarajan, Rajendran, Kulothungan, Rajarajan-II, Vijayakanda Gopalan and Vijayanagara Sadasivan.

Bukka Rayan’s period ( 1406 CE ), 3 inscriptions in Natarajar Mandapa and Grantha Sloka inscriptions in 1000 pillar mandapa are found.

The Sabapathy mandapa Pandya king Bhuvaneswran Samarakolakalan’s ( 1469CE ) Period inscription records the gift of 2 Villages to this Shiva Temple and Kamakshi Amman Temple.

The Vijayanagara period Inscriptions records Kammapnna Udayars Anandha year, Achutharaya’s ( 1534 CE ) inscription records donation of 8 Villages and Vijayamallikarjuna’s ( 1456 CE ) inscription on the Gopura are found.

LEGEND:

The moolavar is of sand Shiva Linga, believed to be made by Sri Parvathy to get rid of sin, caused due to closing the eyes of Lord Shiva. She embraced Sand Shiva Linga when the river was flooded. Hence there is mark on moolavar lingam.

Sundarar has got back his left eye sight in this temple which he lost on the way to Kanchipuram via Thiruvenbakkam where he got untrukol from Lord Shiva.

During March on Ratha saptami day sun rays falls on moolavar. It is believed that, those who eats the mango of the stalavruksham will get Child ( please note that the old tree died ).

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, 15 days Panguni Uthira Bramotsavam/ festival with Temple car procession in March- April, New moon, Full moon days, pradosham, Deepavali, Tamil & English new year days, Thai pongal, Thai poosam, Navaratri, Karthikai Deepam, Kandar shasti and Maha Shivaratri are celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS.

The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs. to 12.30 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs. to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The land line number is 044 - 2722 2084.

Temple web site: http://www.ekambaranathartemple.tnhrce.in/

HOW TO REACH :

Frequent buses are available from Chennai and buses also available from district capitals of Tamil Nadu. The temple is about 2 KM distance from Bus Stand.

Town bus facility is also available.

Train facility is available from Chengalpattu and Arakkonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE