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.