Ekambareswarar Temple,
Kanchipuram – History
This
ancient temple has been in
existence even prior to 600 AD and has been sung by the revered Saivite Saints.
Sangam Literature speaks of Kama
Kottam, and the Kumara
Kottam (currently the Kamakshi
Amman Temple and the
Subramanya Temple). The existing structure then was pulled down and
rebuilt by the Pallava Kings. The Cholas who came in later also made several
contributions to the temple. Adi Sankara, the 10th Century saint got
Kanchipuram remodeled along with expansion of this temple along with Kamakshi
Amman temple and Varadaraja
Perumal Temple with the help of local rulers.
Dharmapala (Head of Nalanda
University), Thinnanaakar (Famous Buddhist), Bodhi Dharma (Father of Shaolin
Arts), Chanakya (Author of Artha Sastra), Parimelazhakar (Thirukural
Commentator), Poigai Azhwar, Vedhandha Desikar, Vannakazhangiyam Nagalinga
Munivar and Syama Sasthirikal. Kachiyappa Sivachariyar served as a priest
at the temple. The Vijayanagar kings, during the 15th century,
also made lot of contributions to the temple.
There are inscriptions dated
1532 CE (record 544 of 1919) indicating the gift of number of villages made by
Achutharayar. Vira Narasingaraya Saluva Nayaka who was directed by
Achutharayar broke the royal order by giving more lands to Ekambaranathar
temple than the Varadaraja
Swamy temple against the instruction of an equal gift to either of
the temples. Achutharayar on hearing this equally distributed the lands to both
the temples.
The
Temple was also patronized by Vallal Pachaiyappa
Mudaliar during British Period. Vallal
Pachaiyappa Mudaliar used to go regularly from Chennai to Kanchipuram to
worship in this temple, he spent significant money he amassed during British
rule on the temple renovation, Pachaiyappa Mudaliar seated at horseback can be
seen in the temple pillar.
At a later stage, a similar temple
with same name Ekambareswarar was constructed in Chennai by Pachaiyappa
Mudaliar in order to avoid travelling time to Kanchipuram.
The Archaeological Survey of India report of 1905–06 indicates
widespread renovation activities carried out in the temple by Nattukottai Chettiars.