Chennai Sri Ekambareswarar Devasthanam — Attraction in Zone 5 Royapuram

One of the best Lord Shiva temple with great tower stand with grace and powers. This temple is situated in Mint street which is the world's longest street. The temple is considered equivalent to Kanchi Ekambareshwarar Temple, one of Pancha Bhootha (five elements : air, water, fire, earth and sky) Kshetram. This temple represents Earth. The deities( lingams) of all the other Panchabootha (Five Elements) Sthalams (Kalahasthi, Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvanaikaval and Chidambaram) and all the 63 Nayanmars are also there. The temple tree is 300 years old Arasa tree (a sacred tree in South India) or also called as Ashwatha (Peepal) Tree. There is a lingam shrine under the Ashwatha tree, the speciality of which being that, people can do pooja to the Lingam themselves. 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 Pradosh 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 vey 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 in chennai again and told him that He was present in Swayambhu form (Self Incarnated Shiva Linga) in the same place where he was taking rest. The devotee woke up and was surprised to see a Swayambhu Shivlinga in the same place. Thus shrine got named as Ekambareshwarar Temple in Chennai. The main deity is Lord Shiva named Ekambareswarar like in Kanchipuram. The temple has a small tower which was built in the recent times. The sanctum sanctorum is facing the east direction. It enshrines a very small Shiva Linga Idol. Adjacent to Linga, the image of Kamakshi, facing south as is customary, is also found in the same main shrine. The main murthi worshipped in the temple is a Shivlinga and the Idol of Mother Goddess is located on the base of this Shivling along with the Sri Chakra in front of the Goddess. There are two prakaras around with flag staff, Bali Peetha and Nandi Mandapa facing the Lord. The Inner Prakara : It has a lot of sub-shrines and idols such as Hanuman, Nalvar, Vrudhagireeswarar, Vataranyeswarar, Kasi Vishwanathar, Arunachaleswarar, Chidambareswarar, Kalatheeswarar, Jambukeswarar, Ganesha, Subramanya, Vishalakshi and Annapoorni, 63 Nayanmars, Bhairav, Surya, Chandra and Chandikeshwarar. It should be noted that Pancha Linga (Shiva in five different names) are found in this prakara. Among them, Kasi Vishwanatha Linga is very large in size. Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are found as the niche idols around the main shrine. The Outer Prakara : It is very spacious and is of open space. The shrine of Vanni Ganesha is located here. The idols of Vallalar and Chandikeshwarar are situated near this shrine. The Dwajasthambham (Flag staff of the Temple) has a beautifully carved lion infront of it. Beautifully carved lion infront of Dwajasthamba inside the Temple Shrine of Navagraha: Navagraha Shrine (nine planets) in this temple is very popular among the devotees. Ekambareswarar Temple at Chennai is dedicated to Shiva and is also an important Shani Temple and attracts thousands of devotees during Shani Peyarachi (transit of Saturn). This is because Shani faces Mother Goddess Ambal in the temple. This is a separate shrine of Ambal. The belief is that She helps a devotee to overcome troubles associated with the bad positioning of Shani in horoscope. The sub-shrines of Bhairav and Hanuman are also located in the outer prakara. The Murthi of Hanuman here is a rare form in temple known as Shiva Anjaneyar. Devotees believe that offering silver color silk thread – made with zari and Tulsi leaves garland to this Hanuman murthi will help in...

The temple is oriented to the east and features a 7-tier Rajagopuram, a 16-pillar mandapam, Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and rishabam located beyond the Rajagopuram. In the inner sanctum, you can find deities such as Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

Between the inner and outer prakaram, there's a mandapam dedicated to Natarajar, Urchava murtis, Somaskandar, Dwara Ganapathy, and Dwara Subramaniyar. Dwarapalakas guard this mandapam.

Within the inner prakaram, you'll find deities like Suryan, Navagrahas, Virudhagireeswarar, Adi Sankarar, 63var, Nalvar, Vinayagar, Sri Subramaniar, Vadaranyeswarar, Kasi Viswanathar Visalakshi, Jambukeswarar, Arunachaleswarar, Chandikeswarar, Kalatheeswarar, Chidambareswarar, Palliyarai, and Chandran.

In the outer prakaram, there's a shrine for Ambal, Dwajasthambam with simha vahanam, Vannimara Vinayagar, Arasamaram nagars, Nagalingeshwara beneath Arasamaram, Naga Ganapathy, Kala Bairavar, and Anjaneyar.

The temple's architectural elements include a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardhamandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum has a stone construction with a stucco two-tier vimanam. The 16-pillar mukha mandapam in front of the Rajagopuram is entirely built with stone, including the arches.

The temple's history dates back to about 500 years, with Sri Alingan Pillai, a devoted visitor to the Kanchipuram Sri Ekambareswarar temple, who was guided by a divine dream to construct this temple. Parivara sannidhis and a major consecration (maha kumbhabhishekam) took place in 1680 CE. Additionally, Sri Vaveshvar Mahadev Shiva Linga was installed by North Indians on August 1, 2005.

The temple holds significance as it is believed that Moolavar, the primary deity, grants blessings similar to those received in Kanchipuram Sri Ekambareswarar. It's also believed that Ambal can alleviate devotees from the effects of Navagraha Sani dosha, attracting many visitors on Saturdays. Similarly, Hanuman is considered a bestower of boons in...

I may not be competent to write a review about bhagwans abode. Just some words as guide.The ekambareswar temple in(the parkrown or edapalayam area) mint street south end opp to Govtt.general hospital parallel to southern railway h.qrs.office is oldest temple in madras now chennai that is said to be very powerful bliss to shiva devotees. The temple is enscoined between many residential buildings. Lord ekambaranath with consort devi Kamakshi rule this abode with battalion of lord kalbhairav,ganesh kartkeya nayanmar etc. The nvagraha sanctum here stated to relieve the needy from adversity and odds priests conduct rituals like sivratri sankat Har Chaturthi other allied Utsav in mire ceremoniously. Hanuman mandir temple tank there. Most old people believe this place emanates divine vibration.very often shiva parvati come in procession which is feast and fortunate to eyes of the devotees. Once the local population diluted and many north Indians came. They too are ardent bhakths of shiva and add colour to festivities. Hanuman shrine daan patras there. Lord kalbhairav shrine there. Nagdevata shivlinga under banyan tree here can be sprinkled with water and abhishekam done by devotees. Tank is obsolete. Except parking issues the temple is a must visit place for shivites and others too. Har...