VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Arulmigu Ekambaranathar Temple / Sri Ekambareswarar Temple / Sri Ekambaranathar Temple / ஏகாம்பரநாதர் கோயில், காஞ்சிபுரம், Kanchipuram / Thirukachi Ekambam, Tamil Nadu

Wednesday 8 July 2020

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 Shri Shiva is called as Sri Ekambareswarar. Shiva of this temple was also called as "Thazhuvakulaintha nathar" during Kulothunga Chozha period. This is the 1^st Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam of Thondai Nadu. Also one of the 108 Divya Desam is inside this Shiva Temple and maha Vishnu is called as Nilathunda Perumal- Nilathingal Thundathan.

The Nine tier Rajagopuram on the south side is192 feet tall and 6th tallest structure in India

Nalvar ie., Thirugnanasambandar ( 4 hymns ), Sundarar ( in his hymns requests Sri Shiva to give back his eye sight which he lost after he left Tiruvottiyur ), Thirunavukkarasar and Manickavasagar has sung hymns in praise of Shri 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 Swamigal had written the sthala purana 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,.

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, Thazhuvakulaintha Nathar

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 avatar worshiping Shri Shiva, Shri 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 and 6th tallest structure in India.

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

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, Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam / kodimaram, 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.

Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam / kodimaram and Rishaba mandapam

In the 2^nd prakaram sannadhi for Sri Pralayathamman, Kazharchinga Nayanar, Lingangal, Urchavar sannadhi, Five face Vinayagar, Maavadi ( It was believed that the மா மரம் ( Mango tree ) is of 3500 years old and the existing was replanted recently ), Sahasra Linga 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.

Maavadi - Sthala Vruksham Mango tree

Front Mandapam with 2nd stage Rajagopuram

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 kuravarkal, Kasi Viswanathar, Santhana Ganapathi, Sowbhagya Ganapathy, Sakthi Ganapathy, 108 Lingams, Naaga Lingam, Arumugam, 108 Lingam, Markandeswarar, Mathala maatheswarar, Kalla kambar and 63var ( impon idols ).

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

Sri Pralayathamman sannadhi

Nilathunda Perumal ( Perumal has the mangala sasanam by Thirumangai Azhwar. This is one of the 108 Divya Desam of Perumal is also in 1st praharam.

Vishnu Sannadhi - Nilathingal Thundathan, one of the 108 Divya Desam

In koshtam there is no images and moolavar is made of sand. 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.

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

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

அற்றைக் கிரைதேடி - அத்தத் திலுமாசை

பற்றித் தவியாத - பற்றைப் பெருவேனோ

வெற்றிக் கதிர்வேலா - வெற்பைத் தொளைசீலா

கற்றுற் றுணர்போதா - கச்சிப் பெருமாளே

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS

Chanakya who wrote Arthashastra, Parimelazhagar who wrote the meanings for Thirukkural, Poigai Azhwar, Vedantha Desikar, Vannakazhangiyam Naagalinga Munivar and Syama Sastri are belongs to this place. It was believed that Dharmabalar, Head of Nalanda University, Professor Thinnanaakar and Bodhidharma who had written Buddhist philosophy also 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 Narasimhavarman-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, Krishnadevaraya period and believed to be the 6th tallest gopuram in India. The original South Rajagopuram base stones are numbered, shifted and used for the construction of entrance to Vaikunda Perumal Temple. ( The markings can be seen even now ). The 1000 pillars mandapa was called as Kulothunga Chozhan Thirumaligai and Vikrama Chozhan Thirumaligai.

A Stone pillar with inscriptions of Pallava King Mahendravarman listing his titles, was removed from the temple and moved to Chennai Museum.

The Utama Chozha period inscription refers the Chozha's Palace roofed with gold tiles built by the Aditya Karikala where his father and Sundara Chozha is said to have breathed last there.

Kulothunga Chozhas 4th year reign records the donation for 1000 kalasa abhishekam and offer of huge quantities of cooked rice on the uttarayanam day at Thirukachi Mayanam Shrine till the sun and moon exists.

The kulothunga Chozha-III's inscription, calls this temple as "ekamaraysa - Shrine of God, seated under a mango tree.

The Kulothunga Chozha's 2nd year reign inscription records the donation of 64 cows for burning of a perpetual lamps and the jar used to measure the ghee was name of the Lord Shiva as "Thazhuvakulainthan".

The Rajaraja Chozha-III's 10th year reign inscription records the list of perpetual Lamps with it's donors names and a person appointed to maintain the same.

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

The Telegu Chozha Kanda Gopalan period inscription mentions the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp and gives the duty of measuring ghee to the temple cowherd.

Bukka Raya’s period ( 1406 CE ), 3 inscriptions in Natarajar Mandapa and Grantha Sloka inscriptions in 1000 pillar mandapa are found. An Important inscription seen at the Nataraja shrine belongs to Achuthadevaraya of 1453 CE, records a, Srinivasa authoring "Sivabakthi Vilasam", a translation of Peria Puranam in to Sanskrit.

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

Also 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.

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

The 16th Century inscription mentions a Lunar eclipse on the full moon day night of tulamasam Sowmya Year. The part which describes the donation made for the grahana punyakalam has eroded.

The Ganesha Shrine along with a pillar of Victory was built by Kanakamba, the daughter of Kakatiya Ganapati and elder sister of Rudramadevi.

A Latter period inscription records about an individual Ganapati Deva and his donation of a Village Kalattur and the income to be utilized for pooja materials like flower, oil, ghee, Naivedyam and payment to be made to Priests, Cooks, gardeners and helpers.

The 1799 CE inscription in English, records the reconstruction of the dilapidated outer walls was carried out by a British official Hudson using the random 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.

LEGENDS

The moolavar is of sand Shiva Linga, believed to be made 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.

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 sthala vruksham will get Child ( please note that the old tree died ).

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, 15 days Panguni Uthiram Brahmotsavam/ 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, Karthigai Deepam, Kandar shasti and Maha Shivaratri are celebrated in a grand manner.

Stucco Rishabam with mandapam

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