4,
March 2014.
After the darshan of Lord Shiva Sri Manikandeswarar, came to the Bus stop and waited. It
took 1 hour to get a bus since I missed one bus, which left just 5 minutes
before I arrived at the bus stop. At 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 spent around 2 hours in the temple. The temple authorities are 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
place is now called Kanchipuram and Iraivan is called Sri Ekambareswarar.
This is the 1st Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu.
Nalvar ie, Thirugnanasambandar, Sundarar, Thirunavukkarasar, and
Manickavasagar have sung hymns in praise of Lord
Shiva of this temple.
16 Pillar mandapam
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 Kurma avatar
worshiping Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva & Parvati, Varahi 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 for Dwarapalakas, there are no
other stucco images The Rajagopuram is 192 feet tall. It was constructed by Sri
Krishnadevaraya in 1509 AD.
The
main temple has 5 prakarams. In the 3rd,
4th and
5th 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 full
of relief. We may not afford to miss to watch any one of them.
There
is a second level Rajagopuram, through which we enter the sanctum
sanctorum.
In
the 2nd Praharam 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 1st Parkaram Sannadhi for, Balachandra Ganapathy, Spatika lingam, Pralaya lingam, Naalvar,
63var ( old mural paintings of 63var is also visible above Murtis on the
wall– may be more than 200 to 300 hundred years old ), Sekkizhar, Santhana Kuravars, 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 are no Murtis, 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 a mark on Moolavar Lingam.
Moolavar will be always closed with Kavasam and Abhisheka 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 eyesight 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, 5th century. Kanchipuram as the capital of Thondai Nadu was ruled between the 3rd and
9th centuries 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 belonged 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 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
landline number is
HOW TO REACH :
Frequent
buses are available from Chennai and buses are also available from the district
capitals of Tamil Nadu. The temple is about 2 km from the Bus Stand.
A town bus facility is also available.
The 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
Relief in 16 Pillar mandapam
Relief of Sri Vishnu in Kurma Avathar worshiping Lord Shiva in 16 Pillar mandapam
Relief of Varaki in 16 Pillar mandapam
Relief in 16 Pillar mandapam- maybe a 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
Bairavar and Pichadanar
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 visit 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 composed the
Kandha Puranam in this temple, starting with “Thikada chakram”.
Kandha Puranam was composed and
placed in front of Sri Subramaniar during the 11th century in a
mandapam and 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 – Southeast corner - of Sri Kamakshi Amman
Temple. Lord Shiva of this temple is called as Sri Kowsikeswarar. It is a
small temple. The temple is a complete stone structure constructed during the 9th century.
SRI KOWSIKESWARAR TEMPLE
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 the 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
southeast direction with a 5-tier Rajagopuram with a lot of stucco images. In addition to that there 3 more Rajagopuras on the other 3 sides. Dwajasthambam
with Balipeedam is 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 Murti 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 Kalvan, 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 the killing, her Ugra ( anger ) was not reduced. She was pacified to Santham /normal by Sri
Shankaracharya through the 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 Navagraha's fear when they
worship Sri Kamakshi.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
Southeast side Rajagopuram
Temple complex view - Aaadhi Shankarar's Sannadhi Vimanam is gold-plated
The front mandapam
After the darshan of Sri Kamakshi Amman, closed my weekend’s Temples visit and proceeded to the 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 on a bus which came from Cheyyar. Reached home around 21.30 Hrs.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
THE PALLAVA PERIOD ROCK-CUT TEMPLE AT KURANGANILMUTTAM IS CONTINUED IN THE THE NEXT POST ....
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