The Ekambareswarar Temple is the largest temple in Kanchipuram, one of the seven sacred cities (Mokshapuris) of India. It represents earth (Prithvi) among the five Pancha Bhoota Sthalams.
Significance
According to legend, Goddess Parvati worshipped Shiva here under a mango tree, fashioning a lingam from sand. When the river Vegavathi flooded, she embraced the lingam to protect it — and Shiva appeared before her. The name Ekambareswarar is understood as “Lord of the mango tree”. An ancient mango tree still stands in the temple courtyard.
The temple has one of the tallest gopurams in Tamil Nadu and a long hall of carved pillars.
Visiting
Kanchipuram is covered on our Pancha Bhoota Sthalam tour.
