The Ekambareswara Temple
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu


 


The Ekambaranathar Temples 59m high Raja Gopuram

Prudhvi - Earth


In the Ekambareswara Swamy Temple
Lord Shiva takes the form of Prudhvi - earth
- one of the five elements, everything in nature comprises of
according to Hindu philosophy.

Legend says that Kamakshi, as part of her penance for disturbing Shiva's meditation, created the Linga in the temple with earth taken from under a Mango tree.

Legends are many, for other legends and general information see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekambareswarar_Temple


 

The Gopuram

The Gopuram over the main shrine with the earth Lingam
 

 

The Five elemental Shiva Temples
 in South-East India

Abroad it is less known to the public that 5 magnificent Shiva temples dedicated to the 5 natural elements: ether (Akasha), air (Vayu), fire (Thejo), water (Jala) & earth (Pridhvi), is situated in the eastern part of South India:
The southernmost temple in Tiruvannaikaival, near Tiruchirapalli is apx. 350 km from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. From south going north the other Panch Bhoota Sthalams can be found in: Chidambaram, Tiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram and barely 100km north-west of Chennai in Andhra Pradesh the Sri Kalahasti Temple is situated.


The five natural elements - the "Pancha Bhootas" is a central and most important concept in Indian philosophy and tradition. In Hindu faith it is beleived that these five essential elements created man and the universe.
 
Lord Shiva, one of the three main Gods in the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, is represented in these temples as the embodiment of these five elements.
 

In the Ekambareswara Temple the Shiva Linga is made of earth.
In Jambukeswara Temple Lord Shiva takes the form of water and the Linga here is immersed in water.
In the Arunachaleswara Temple Shiva takes form as fire.
In the Kaahateeswara Temple Shiva is representing wind or air.
Last, but not least in the Nataraja Temple Lord Shiva takes the form of ether, the most sacred of the five elements.

The Vedic rituals performed in the numerous Hindu temples all over India has been worshipping the Gods using the natural elements in every ritual performed since time immemorial.

Acess for foreigners
These days it is difficult to enter into the Sanctum Sanctorum to see the Shiva Lingam and thereby get the darshan of Lord Shiva. The atmosphere in these magnificent temples is soothing to the heart and just visiting the temple compound itself is a divine experience.  
No photos exists of the Shiva idols inside, only paintings are allowed.

The 5 Shiva temples are as follows:

Sri Ekambeswara Swamy Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu - representing the earth element
Sri Jambukareswara Swamy Temple, Thiruvanaikaival, Tamil Nadu - representing the water element
Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy Temple, Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu - representing the fire element
Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Temple, Sri Kalahasti, Tamil Nadu - representing the air/wind element
Sri Nataraja Swamy_Temple, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu - representing the ether (Akasha) element

 

The Ekambareswara Temple


Main entrance

The Ekambareswara or Ekambaranathar Temple in Car Street is, by covering 12 hectars, one of the largest temples in Kanchipuram. The construction of the temple was originally started by the Pallavas. The 16 pillared Mandapa in front of the temple was constructed by the Vijanagar kings. Its 59m high Gopuram and the massive outher stonewall were constructed in 1509 by Krishnadavaraya of the Vijayanagar empire, with later Chola extensions.
 

A walk in the temle compound



The ancient Mango tree

Legend says that Kamakshi, as part of her penance for disturbing Shiva's meditation, created the Linga in the temple with earth taken from under a Mango tree.

The name of the temple is said to derive from Eka Amra Nathar - "Lord of the Mango Tree".
On the western side of the shrine stands the trunk of an old Mango tree, claimed to be 3500 years old.

 


 

"Under the Mango tree"

 

 

The Mirror shrine



 

 

In the corridors


 

 

Procession Idols


From a sweet dove ...


... to a fierce looking monster
 


 

Wonderful and imaginative portraits on the procession carts encompasses
different human traits to contemplate when used on major festival days

In the temple corridors you find many items used for rituals and temple worship. The Ekambaranathar Temple has a large collection of procession charriots which are used on major holidays to amuse and raise the spirit of the public.

 

Rahotsavams - procession chariots

Apart from the small chariont, which are used in the tempel compounds and in the streets, also large chariots are pulled around in the city on holidays and it takes a lot of people, usually men to pull these heavy chariots on huge wooden wheels.



Rahotsavam, huge procession chariot
 in the streets of Kanchipuram

See more photos: Rahotsavam on this website

 

Other pages on the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams in India on this website:

Sri Jambukareswara Swamy Temple, Thiruvanaikaival, Tamil Nadu - representing the water element
Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy Temple, Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu - representing the fire element
Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Temple, Sri Kalahasti, Tamil Nadu - representing the air/wind element
Sri Nataraja Swamy Temple, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu - representing the ether (Akasha) element

 

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