Ekambareswarar Temple
(Earth)
(IPLTOURS)
Fire, Water, Earth, Space and Air are the five elements that govern all the Organisms in the universe and Shiva established five forms in the name of the elements. Shiva established Arunachaleswar (Fire), Jambukeswar (Jala or Water), Ekambareshwar (Earth) and Natarajar(Space or Akasa) in Tamil Nadu and Sri Kalahasteeswara (Air) in Andhra Pradesh.
Ekambaranathar Temple
Ekambareswarar in Kanchipuram is Prudhvi Ling the one among the five Bhoota Lingas. The Linga was established by Maa Parvathi and she is being worshipped as Gowri Devi. There are seven Shrines described as places of salvation in Garuda Purana. They are Ayodhya, Madhura, Haridwar, Varanasi, Avantika, Dwaraka and Kanchipuram. Ekambareswarar and Varadaraja Perumal are the important temples in Kanchipuram. The temple complex spread to an extent of 25 acres in the name of Siva Kanchi and is one of the biggest temple complexes in India.
There are domes on the four sides. The temple dome on the southern side has 200ft height and 11 floors. It is one of the highest domes in India. The Ekambareswarar and Perumal idols are greater among the other idols. Cholas built the temple eleven hundred years ago and subsequently expanded by the Vijayanagara Kings. The temples are under the Administrative control of the Endowment Department of Tamil Nadu State. Vijayanagara Kings built a lobby with one thousand pillars in the temple complex.
There is a legend for the emergence of Prudhvi Ling. Parvathi, wife of Lord Shiva once closed the eyes of Shiva. The Sun and Moon became lightless and the entire universe fell in darkness. Shiva opened his third eye and spread light in the universe to protect from darkness. Shiva suggested to do penance as compensation for her indecent act. Parvathi incarnated on earth in the form of Kamakshi. She prepared Linga with sand under a Mango tree near Vegavathi River. Lord Shiva sent fire to test the penance of Kamakshi. She prayed to her brother Lord Vishnu for relief. Lord Vishnu took the Moon from the head of Lord Shiva and faced the Sun. Then the Mango Tree as well as Kamakshi became cool.
Shiva launched Ganga against Kamakshi. Ganga forcibly attacked the Ling. The Ling started melting to the force of Ganga. Kamakshi embraced the Ling to protect from the force of Ganga. Lord Shiva felt happy to the devotion of Kamakshi and appeared in his natural form. He has married Kamakshi. Since Kamakshi embraced the Ling, her bangles and ornaments on chest were made marks on the Ling. Devotees may see the 8 is believed that the fruits fallen on ground will give off springs to the needy worshipped couples.
A great festival will be performed in the Tamil month in March/April in this temple. The temple is open from 6-00Am to 12-30Noon and from 4-00PM to 8-30PM. Different types of seva(rituals) performed to the deity in different timings.
Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple
The Goddess is Kamakshi, This pilgrim is one of the Astadasa Sakthi Peetas. After the self -sacrifice of Sati in Daksha Yagna, Lord Siva gets angry and performs Tandava Dance with the holy body of Sati on his shoulder. Lord Vishnu used his Sudarsana Chakra and cut the divine body of Sati to release Lord shiva from the thoughts of sati. The body split up into 51 parts and established Sakthi Peeth in these places. The figure of 51 Sakthi Peeth represents the letters in Sanskrit and 18 became most powerful. The naval part of Sati fell in Kanchipuram and became famous as Kamakshi Sakthi Peeth. There is a different argument that the old Kamakshi Temple is the main temple where Jagdguru Adi Sankaracharya established Sri Chakra twelve hundred years ago.
The three temples namely Meenakshi in Madhura, Akhilandeswari in Tiruvannamalai near Tiruchirapalli and Kamakshi in Kanchipuram are the prominent temples in Tamilnadu. The Pallava Kings ruled Kanchipuram as the capital. Then they constructed the temple. Kamakshi sitting pose of Padmasana Mudra is famous for blessings of peace and wealth. The Goddess has four hands and wears a Sugarcane and Bouquet of five flowers in her bottom two hands and Conch, Noose in upper hands. There are no other temples to goddesses except Kamakshi but no separate temples like Meenakshi in Madurai and Visalakshi in Varanasi. Primarily the Goddess is Aggressor and Adi Sankaracharya established Sri Chakra to calm down duly reducing her anger. Kamakshi sat as the Chief Deity Para Bhattarika in the Sanctum of Kanchi Kamakoti Peet. The four walls of the temple represent four Vedas and 24 pillars are the Sanskrit Alphabet.
She appears in the form of Paramba (Kamakshi performing Penance) near to the gate of the cave just right to the Source Goddess. Umadevi (Parvath) after leaving Maha Deva (Shiva) due to her indecent act closing the eyes of Lord Shiva and blackout the universe, has born as Kamakshi on the advice of Sage Kalyana and married Ekambarswara worshipping in the form of Prudhvi Ling (Ling made with sand) beneath the mango tree near Vegavathi River. There is the second form of Anjana Kamakshi towards north to the Saubhagya Ganapathi on the left side of the Source Goddess. It is believed that Rama re gains his charisma by making atonement here. Devotees will present turmeric and saffron here to the Source Goddess. There is Golden Kamakshi in the second rampart. Sri Vindhya Prameswari gifted the form of Golden Kamakshi to Ekambika from her third eye to worship Ekambareswar.
The original idol of the Deity was shifted to Thanjavur to protect from the Muslim invasions. There is festival form idol of Kamakshi in the second rampart. There are Sarada Devi, Rama idols on both sides of festival Kamakshi. All the Gods appear with their concerts. There is no idol of Shiva here. Sri Lakithambika Devi emerged from the pyre of Sati and killed Bandasura with the name of Kamakshi. There are 32 worshipers namely Manu, Chandra, Kubera etc. Kamaraja, Lopamudra and Sage Durvasa are important among them. There is the statue of Sage Durvaa opposite to sanctum of Kamakshi temple. The temple kept open from 5-30AM to 12-15Noon and 4-00PM to 8-15PM.
Please subscribe our ipltours.page.link/y2u channel and offer suggestions in your comments and extend your cooperation for our channel improvement.
