Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram – Religious Significance

Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram – Religious Significance

Pancha Bhootha Sthalams:

Pancha Bhootha Sthalams refers to the five Shiva temples, each representing the manifestation of the five prime elements of nature - land, water, air, sky and fire. Pancha indicates five, Bhootha means elements and Stala means place. All these temples are located in South India with four of these temples at Tamil Nadu and one at Andhra Pradesh. The five elements are believed to be enshrined in the five lingams and each of the lingams representing Shiva in the temple have five different names based on the elements they represent.

In the temple, Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of Prithvi Lingam. The other four manifestations are Appu Lingam (representing water) at Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval, Akaya Lingam (representing sky) at Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, Agni Lingam (representing fire) at Annamalaiyar Temple and Vayu Lingam (representing air) at Sri Kalahasti Temple.

Paadal Petra Sthalams:

Thirugnana Sambandar, a 7^th Century Tamil Saivite poet, venerated Ekambareswarar in ten verses in Thevaram, compiled as the First Thirumurai. Appar and Sundarar, contemporaries of Sambandar, also venerated Ekambareswarar in 10 verses in Thevaram compiled as the Fifth Thirumurai and Ninth Thirumurai respectively. As the temple is revered in Thevaram, it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. Manickavasagar, a 9^th Century Tamil saint and poet, revered Ekambareswarar in his writing. Thus, the temple is revered by all four Saiva Kuravars. This is the 1^st Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu.

Divya Desams:

Nilathingal Thunda Perumal Shrine in Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar Temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Azhwar in one hymn. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book.

Divya Desam inside Paadal Petra Sthalam:

The temple is one of the two rare Divyadesams, with the other being Govindaraja Perumal Temple, that are housed in a Shiva temple. Only Saivite priests perform rituals in the temple.

Thiruvasagam Temples:

Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar Temple is considered as Thiruvasagam Temple as it is revered in Manickavasagar Thiruvasagam.

Somaskanda Form:

Three Temples of Kanchipuram constitute the Somaskanda form. Somaskanda is a particular form of representation of Shiva with his consort Parvati, and Skanda as a child. Lord Shiva will be represented by Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar Temple, Mother Parvathy will be represented by Kanchipuram Kamakshi Amman Temple and Murugan (Skanda) will be represented by Kanchipuram Kumarakottam Temple.

Kanchi Puranam:

The Temple has been mentioned in Kanchi Puranam.

Mokshadayikas:

Kanchipuram is one of the seven cities, considered by the Hindu's as Mokshadayikas or the cities leading to salvation. Other cities are Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Varanasi,  Ujjain and Dwarka. Hindus believe that those who come and die here attain liberation. Thus, Hindus from all over the world try to visit the place at least once in their lifetime.

Nayanmar Avathara Sthalams:

Kanchipuram is considered as Avathara Sthalams of Tiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar, Aiyadigal Kadavarkon and Kalarsinga Nayanar.

Nayanmar Mukthi Sthalams:

Kanchipuram is considered as Mukthi Sthalams of Tiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar, Aiyadigal Kadavarkon, Kalarsinga Nayanar and Thirumoolar.

Thevara Vaippu Sthalams:

Kachi Mayaneswarar Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple.

Pancha Mayanam Temples:

Kachi Mayaneswarar Temple is considered as one of the Pancha Mayanam Temples.

Thirupugazh Sthalams:

Lord Murugan of this Temple is praised in Thirupugazh Hymns of Saint Arunagirinathar. Hence, the temple is considered as Thirupugazh Sthalams.