Annamalaiyar Temple – Third Prakaram – Ekambareswarar
Shrine
This shrine is situated on the north east corner of this
prakara. It is facing west. It stands on a high plinth containing garbagraha
and antarala. The adhishtana parts are upana, padma, kanta and kapota. The
exterior walls show pilasters at the corners. In the Devakoshtas Brahma,
Lingodbhavar and Lakshmi are found. The vimana is Nagara with circular kalasa.
The five elements of the Universe are earth, water,
fire, air and ether and the Shastras call them the Pancha Boothams. These five
elements are represented by five sacred shrines or the Pancha Bootha Sthalams
of which Thiruvannamalai is one.
Prithvi (Earth) Sthalam is Kancheepuram; Appu (Water)
Sthalam is Tiruvanaikaval; Theyu (Fire) Sthalam is Thiruvannamalai; Vayu (Air)
Sthalam is Kaalahasthi; and Akasa (Ether) Sthalam is Chidambaram.
Of the six Athara Kshetrams, Thiruvannamalai is said to
be the Manipooraga Kshetram. It is also one of the Saivite Shrines sung by the
great saints Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manikkavacakar.