Thursday, November 1, 2018

Ekambareswarar Temple, Sowcarpet, George Town, Chennai

Ekambareswarar Temple, Sowcarpet, George Town, Chennai
Ekambareswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Sowcarpet in George Town area of Chennai, the capital of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Ekambareswarar Temple is located in Mint Street and is flanked by two Jain shrines and Kandaswamy Temple. Presiding Deity is called as Ekambareswarar and Mother is called as Kamakshi Amman. It was constructed by Alanganatha Pillai, chief merchant of the Madras factory of the British East India Company.


The temple is considered equivalent to Kanchi Ekambareswarar Temple. It is one of the three temples that were popular even before the arrival of the British. The Navagraha shrine here is considered one of the most sacred shrines in the city. This Temple is considered as one of the Pancha Bootha Sthalams of Chennai. This Temple represents Earth Element.


The Pancha Boodha Sthalam equivalents in Chennai are located at the heart of the city in the Flower Bazaar / Sowcarpet area. They are:
1) Sri Kalatheeswarar Temple at Pavalakara (Coral Merchant) street, Mannady representing Air,
2) Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple at Annapillai street representing Fire,
3) Sri Gangadareswarar Temple, Purasaiwakam representing Water,
4) Sri Chidambaranatha (Nataraja) Temple near Choolai Post office representing Sky,
5) Sri Ekambareswarar Temple at Mint representing Earth.
Legends
Legend says that once there lived an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva in the Sowcarpet region in Chennai who used to visit the famous Ekambareswarar Temple on all important occasions and also on Pradosha days. But one day on a Pradosham fasting day he had lot of work and his employer did not allow him to go to the temple, and he managed to reach the temple.  After attending the puja and having darshan of the Lord, while he was returning back he was very tired and slept at place in Sowcarpet.

Moved by his devotion, Shiva and Goddess Parvathi gave him darshan in his sleep and told him that he need not go all the way to the temple. Also told him that he was present in Swayambu form (Self Incarnated Shiva Linga) in the same place where he was taking rest. The devotee woke up and was surprised to see a Swayambu Shivalinga in the same place. Hence Lord Shiva was called as Ekambareswarar.

History
The Ekambareswarar Temple was built in Idayar Palayam, now called as Park Town by Alanganatha Pillai, a Dubash in the service of the British East India Company in the 1680s. The temple is marked in a 1710 map of Madras city as "Allingall's Pagoda".


The Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 6:00 AM to12:00 Noon and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Pooja Timings
The Five Kaala Pooja are conducted according to the Karana Nagama Pooja system.
·        Ushakalam Pooja (Sun Rise Pooja) – 06:00 A.M
·        Kalasanthi Pooja – 07:00 A.M
·        Uchikala Pooja (Noon Pooja) – 12:00 Noon
·        Sayarakshai Pooja (Sunset Pooja) – 06:00 P.M
·        Ardhajama Pooja (Night Pooja) – 08:00 P.M
Festivals
10 days Chithirai festivals, Aadi Pooram, Avani Moolam, Aipasi Annabishekam, Skanda Sashti, Karthikai Deepam, Margazhi Thiruvadirai, Thai Theertham Festival, Thai Pongal, Maasi Mahasivarathri and Panguni Uthiram are the festivals celebrated here.
Prayers
There is a belief that worshipping in the temple brings one relief from Shani related astrological problems.
Contact
Ekambareswarar Temple, 
No 315, Sowcarpet, Mint Street,
Park Town, Chennai – 600 003
Phone: +91 44 2535 2933
Email: chitradevieo.chn@gmail.com
Web: www.ekambareswarartemple.tnhrce.in
Connectivity
This Temple is situated at Mint Street in Sowcarpet Area. The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Flower Market Bus Stop, 750 meters from Broadway Bus Stop, 600 meters from Ratan Bazar Bus Stop, 1 Km from Chennai Fort Railway Station, 1 Km from Parrys Corner Bus Stop, 2 Kms from Chennai Beach Railway Station, 3 Kms from Basin Bridge Junction, 2 Kms from Mannady Metro Station, 1 Km from Chennai Central Railway Station, 3 Kms from Egmore Railway Station, 12 Kms from Koyambedu Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus and 20 Kms from Chennai Airport. The Temple is located very close to the Chennai Central Railway Station. You can proceed on foot to this Temple from the station. From other parts of the city, you can take a Cabs, Auto Rickshaw, Bus, Local Trains and Metro Trains to reach the Temple.