Thousands witness consecration of Ekambaranatha temple in Kancheepuram

After 17 years, the mahakumbhabhishekam of the Sri Ekambareswarar Sametha Kamakshi Amman temple, considered one of the pancha bhutha sthalas (temples for five elements) in Kancheepuram was held early on Monday, with thousands of devotees witnessing the event.

Holy water brought from various sacred rivers was poured on the kalasams atop the gopurams and vimanams amid the chanting of mantras at 5.45 a.m. Abhishekam was performed for all the deities in the temple complex including Elavarkuzhali Amman, Vikatachakra Vinayakar, Mavadikkndhar, and Sri Nilathunda Perumal (a Divya Desam) at 6.30 a.m.

Seers of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal and Sathya Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamigal, Dharmapuram Aadheenam Sri la Sri Masilamani Desika Gnanasambanda Swamigal, and other mutt heads were present on the occasion.

In the run-up to the consecration, special homams and pujas were performed at the yagasala. Repairs were carried out at a total cost of ₹29 crore, taking care not to alter the heritage structures in any manner. A chariot covered with sheets of gold was offered to the deity on Sunday.

The Lingam in the temple, one of the oldest and largest Shiva temples in Kancheepuram, is called Prithvi Lingam and considered to represent the earth element. The presiding deity is named after the mango tree, Eka Amra, which is still on the premises.

According to R. Gopu of the Tamil Heritage Trust, saints, including the Nayanmars Appar, Sundarar, and Gnanasambandar, had sung about the temple. The magnificent rajagopuram built by King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire bears his inscription. It has a grand thousand pillared hall. The temple, located in the heart of Siva Kanchi, is also famous for the large corridors that go around it.