Ekambareswara temple is one of the famous hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Kanchipuram. It is one of the Pancha bootha sthalams representing the Earth , Prithvi Sthalam. It is also one of the Divya desam for Vaishnavites. This vast temple with high rising Gopurams dominates the skyline of Kanchipuram.
Ekambareshwar temple is one of the largest temples in Kanchipuram, spreading over an area of 12.14 hectares. This ancient temple is surrounded by a huge stonewall built in the early 16th century during the days of the Vijayanagar Empire. Ekambareshwar temple is of hoary antiquity, beginning as a small fane, it has grown over the centuries into a large one with innumerable shrines, Mandapams, Gopurams and Tanks. It is considered to be one of the most ancient temples in India and has been in existence even prior to 600 AD. It enshrines many traditions.
Deities : The presiding diety here is Ekambareswarar or Lord Shiva, worshipped as Prithvi Lingam. No seperate shrine for Goddess Parvathi exists here. There is a small shrine for Lord Vishnu named Thiru Nilaaththingal Thundathan, and he is prayed as Vamana Moorthy.
Legend : Once Parvathi was doing Tapas under the Mango tree. Inorder to test her devotion Lord shiva set fire on her. Goddess Parvathi prayed to her brother, Lord Vishnu inorder to save her, he took the moon from Lord Shiva's head and showed the rays which then cooled down the fire. After that, Lord Shiva made river Ganga to flow over Parvathi and to distract her from doing the tapas. Parvathi devi prayed to Ganga and convinced her that both of them are sisters and should not harm her. Ganga also did not disturb her after that. Then Parvathi made a Shiva Linga out of sand and got united with lord Shiva.
According to another legend, it is believed that Parvathi worshipped Shiva in the form of a Prithvi Lingam under a mango tree. And legend says that the neighbouring river Vegavathi overflowed and threatened to engulf the Shiva Lingam and that Parvathi embraced the Lingam. Shiva touched by the gesture materialized in person and married her. In that context he is reffered to as Tazhuva Kuzhainthaar , ie., "He who is melted in Her embrace".
Festivals : Six worship service are offered each day in this temple , namely :
- Ushad Kaalam
- Kaalasanthi
- Uchi Kaalam
- Pradosham
- Sayratchai and
- Ardhajamam
Festivals which are celebrated throughout the year are as follows :
- Thai Poosam (Jan - feb)
- Panguni Uthiram (March - April)
- Chitra Pournami (April - May)
- Vaikashi Visakam (May - June)
- Ani Thirumanjanam (June - July)
- Adi Krithikai (July - August)
- Avani Moolam ( August - September)
- Navaratri ( September - October)
- karthikai Deepam (November - December)
The panguni festival lasts for 13 days and it is during this festival , wedding of the presiding diety is celebrated, and the venerated Tamil poems of the Nayanmars are sung in great splendor.
Source : wikipedia & http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/ekamkanc.html
