Sri Ekambareswarar Temple / Sri Ekambaranathar Temple, Sri Kowsikeswarar Temple and Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu - Paadal Petra Sthalangal of Thondai Nadu.

 4, March 2014.

After dharshan of Lord Shiva Sri Manikandeswarar, came to Bus stop and waited. It took 1 hour to get a bus, since I missed one bus, which left just 5 minutes before my arrival to the bus stop. Around 13.30 Hrs reached Kanchipuram.

After seeing the Rajagopuram of Sri Ekambareswarar temple got down near the temple. This Changed my idea of returning to Chennai, earlier. The temple was open only by 16.00 Hrs and spend around 2 hours in the temple. The temple authorities allowed to take photographs  by charging a fee of Rs 20 for still cameras and Rs 10 for mobile cameras.

01 – SRI EKAMBARESWARAR TEMPLE / SRI EKAMBARANATHAR TEMPLE, KANCHIPURAM/  THIRUKKACHI EKAMBAM 

( This post has been up dated with Thevara Hymns, Sthala purana, legends and History and Inscriptions. Please click this link for the updated post ) 

This place is now called as Kanchipuram and Iraivan is called as Sri Ekambareswarar. This is the 1^st Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. Nalvar  ie, Thirugnanasambandar, Sundarar, Thirunavukkarasar and Manickavasagar has sung hymns in praise of  Lord Shiva of this temple.

 16 Pillar mandapam 

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 dwarapalakas there is no other stucco images The Rajagopuram is 192 feet tall. It was constructed by Sri Krishnadevaraya during 1509 AD.

The main temple has 5 Prakarams. In the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th prakaram Sivagangai Theertham with Neerazhi mandapam, Sudhai Rishabam in a mandapam, Valeeswarar sannadhi, Mayaneeswarar sannadhi with Koshta moorthangal, Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, again a Rishabam. 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, through which we have enter to the sanctum sanctorum.

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, MaavadiKandar, 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, Spatika 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 kuravargal, Kasi Viswanathar, Santhana Ganapathi,  Sowbhagya Ganapathy, Sakthi Ganapathy, 108 Lingams,  Naaga Lingam, Arumugam, 108 Lingam, Markandeswara, Mathala matheswarar, Kalla kambar, 63var ( impon idols ), Nilathunda Perumal ( Perumal has the  mangalasasanam by Thirumangai Azhlwar. This is one of the 108 Divya Desams of Perumal ).

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

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

It was believed that Kanchipuram has a history before Christ, 5^th century. With Kanchipuram as capital of Thondai Nadu was ruled between 3^rd and 9^th century by Pallavas. Chozhas and Vijayanagara kings also ruled Kanchi.

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

Also Chanakya who wrote Arthashastra, Parimelazhagar who wrote the meanings for Thirukkural, Poigai Azhwar, Vedantha Desikar, Vannakazhangiyam Nagalinga Munivar and  Shyma Sasthirikal are belongs to this place.

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.

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

 A relief of Sri Vishnu  in 16 Pillar mandapam 

 A relief of Shiva and Parvathi

 A relief  in 16 Pillar mandapam

 Relief of Sri Vishnu in Varaka Avathar worshiping Lord Shiva  in 16 Pillar mandapam 

Relief of  Varaki  in 16 Pillar mandapam 

 A relief in 16 Pillar mandapam- may be Donor

The 4 Pillar Mandapam 

 The Nine tier Rajagopuram on the south side 

 Sri Parvathi worshiping Lord Shiva Lingam made out of sand by her

 A relief in the  Front ( anbe sivam ) mandapam. 

  A relief in the  Front ( anbe sivam ) mandapam.

  A relief in the  Front ( அன்பே சிவம்  anbe sivam ) mandapam.

Front mandapam 

 Front Mandapam with 2nd stage Rajagopuram

 Front mandapam

 Stucco Rishabam with mandapam 

  Balipeedam Dwajasthambam and Rishaba mandapam 

 63var  - with mural old painting of 63var on the top

 Sri Pralayathamman sannadhi

Maavadi - Sthala Vruksham Mango tree

Rishaba mandapam in front of Maavadi

 A Bairavar relief in the front mandapam pillar

 A Shiva's relief in the front mandapam Pillar

 The beauty of the pillar in front of Sri Mayaneswarar Sannadhi

An Open mandapam where the functions are held

On the way to Sri Kamakshi Amman temple visited Sri Murugan Temple called Kumara kottam. The temple has a Rajagopuram on the west side and Sri Subramanyar is  also facing west.

KUMARAKOTTAM SRI SUBRAMANYA SWAMY TEMPLE

 WEST SIDE RAJAGOPURAM

Moolavar : Sri Subramanya Swamy

Some of the important features are ....

Here Sri Subramaniar is in Brahma sastha Kolam which he forcibly took over from Brahma, who do not know the meaning of pranava manthiram “AUM”. Kachiappa Sivachariyar has composed the Kandha Puranam in this temple, starting with “Thikada chakkaram”.

Kandha Puranam was composed and placed in front of Sri Subramaniar during 11^th century in a mandapam, is still in good condition. Arunagirinathar’s poem “arivilla pithar” was also composed in this temple only. Pamban Swamigal was guided to this temple by Lord Murugan in the form of a small boy.

BACK SIDE VIEW 

There is also a Shiva temple in front – South east corner - of Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple.  Lord Shiva of this temple is called as Sri Kowsikeswarar. It is a small temple. The temple is of complete stone structure constructed during 9^th century.

SRI KOWSIKESWARAR TEMPLE

A Separate post has been written with History, Architecture,  Inscriptions and Legends . Please click this link for the up dated post. 

SRI KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE.

There is no sannadhi for Ambal in any of the Shiva Temples in Kanchipuram. This Kamakshi Amman temple is about a KM from Bus stand and Sri Ekambareswarar Temple.

 Front Mandapam with Rajagopuram view 

The Main Deity : Sri Kamakshi Amman

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

The temple is facing south east direction with a 5 tier Rajagopuram with lot of stucco images. In addition to that there 3 more Rajagopuras on the other 3 sides. Dwajasthambam with Balipeedam are in front of Sanctum Sanctorum near Rajagopuram. Amman is in a 24 pillar mandapam, called Gayathiri mandapam. It was said that 24 acharam  is in the form of 24 pillars. There is also another Amman moortham in dhabas /  standing posture on one leg in the same mandapam. Amman Vimanam and Aadhi Sankarar  sannadhi vimanas are covered with golden plates.

Sannadhi for Gnana Saraswathi Lakshmi, Aruba Lakshmi, Shyamala Varahi, Annapoorani, Arthanari, Pilakaasam, Sri Chakkaram, Dhabas Kamakshi,  Bangaru Kamakshi.

Perumal in this temple is called as Kallvan, since he overhears the conversation of Sri Lakshmi and Sri Kamakshi Amman through hiding. This Perumal temple is also one of the 108 Divya Desam and mangalasasanam was done by Thirumangai Azhwar.

LEGEND

This is one of the 51 Sakthi Peetam.

It was believed that Pandasuran was killed by Sri Kamakshi as a 9 year old Child. After killing, her ugram ( anger ) was not reduced. She was pacified to Santham /normal by Sri Sankarachariyar through installation of Sri Chakkara.

It was also believed that Amman’s moola idol /moortham was installed by Rishi Durvasa.

It was also believed that  all the Navagrahas are under the feet of Sri Kamakshi Amman, hence devotees need not worry about  Navagrahas fear, when they worship Sri Kamakshi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

 South east side Rajagopuram 

 Temple complex view - Aaadhi Shankarar's sannadhi  gopuram is gold plated

 The front mandapam

After darshan of Sri Kamakshi Amman, closed my week end’s Temples visit and proceeded to Bus stand to catch a bus to Chennai. As usual there was a lot of rush to Chennai. This time I was waiting near the entrance of the Bus stand  to get a seat.  I was able to get a seat in a bus which came from Cheyyar.  Reached home around 21.30 Hrs.   

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

PALLAVA PERIOD ROCK CUT TEMPLE AT KURANGANILMUTTAM IS CONTINUED IN THE THE NEXT POST ....