Ekambareswarar Temple, Chettikulam
The Ekambareswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in the village of Chettikulam in Perambalur District, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The Thai Poosam festival celebrated in January is an important event.
Moolavar:Ekambareswarar
Urchavar:Someskanthar
Amman / Thayar: Kamakshi
Thala Virutcham: Vilwa
Theertham:Sivaganga
Agamam / Pooja :Kamikam
Old year:500 years old
Historical Name:Vijayapuram
City:Chettikulam
District:Perambalur
State: Tamil Nadu
Festival:
Ten day Thaipoosam and Brahmmotsavam in January-February is the longest and important festival of the temple with special pujas and the presiding deity coming in car procession. On the 9th day, Panchamurthis and Mother Kamakshi come in procession in two separate Rathas in the car streets of Chettikulam. Aadipooram in July-August, Vinayaka Chaturthi in August-September, Navarathri in September-October, Surasamharam and Deepavali in October-November, Tirukarthikai in November-December, Margazhi festival and Tirvadhirai in December-January, Sivarathri in February-March and Chitra Poornima in April-May are other festivals celebrated in the temple. Monthly Pradosham days, 13th day either from New Moon or Full Moon day, Pongal falling mostly on January 14, Tamil and English New Year days are other festive days of special pujas to Lord and Mother drawing huge crowd.
Temple's Speciality:
The rays of Sun fall on the Lord on 19, 20 and 21 of Panguni month (March-April). There are 10 pillars in the inner corridor (prakara) of the temple producing 10 different musical sounds if tapped with a dry sandal stick. A hall called Sthapana Mandap has a Dwarapalaka pillar on the north side, having a sculpture of one head showing both a bull and elephant when looked at from different angles. This is a sculptural marvel. Lord Varaguna Ganapathi graces in the inner corridor with five headed Nagar (snake). There is a Vinayaka shrine also in the west hall of the western corridor. Lord Muruga graces with His consorts Valli and Deivanai holding His Vel in a Vel shaped frame. The Kubera idol on the fish vehicle in the temple is considered very important and is seen at 12 spots in the temple representing 12 zodiac signs. Opening Time: The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Address: Sri Ekambareswarar Temple, Chettikulam, Perambalur district. Phone: +91 44 2742 0836 , 99441 17450,99768 42058.
General Information:
This is an ancient temple built by Paranthaka Chola. Lord Vinayaka is adored as Varaguna Ganapathi. Prayers A huge number of devotees pray to Kubera, the Lord of Wealth seeking prosperity, besides seeking fruitful marriage talks and child boon. The temple is highly revered as an abode of solution for various problems faced by devotees in matters of health, litigations, recovery of lost things, trade etc. Thanks giving: Devotees perform special abishek to Lord and Mother with milk, curd, lime fruit juice, sandal, oil, green coconut offering vastras and they also undertake some kind of fasting. Some do charities. The nivedhana offered to Lord and Mother is distributed to the devotees.
Greatness Of Temple:
The temple is famous for its Kubera sculpture showing the Lord of Wealth on His Fish vehicle. This is installed in 12 spots in the temple representing the 12 zodiac signs. When viewed from an upper place, it is said that the idols combined together looks like OHM letter shape. People throng the temple to worship Kubera for wealth. According to Vedic scholars from Tiruvannamalai, no temple in the country has such Kubera installations. The rays of Sun fall on Lord Ekambareswara on 19, 20 and 21 of Panguni month –March-April. This is an ancient Shiva Temple. The main tower-Rajagopuram is 100 feet tall visible up to a distance of 10 kilo meters. There is also a sculptural marvel in the temple on the western Dwarapalaka pillar carved with such rare skill that it looks like a bull from one angle and an elephant from the other. The shrine of Mother Kamakshi is on the northern side-Kubera corner. In the inner corridor, there are 10 pillars producing different musical sounds if tapped with a dry sandal stick.
Temple History:
In days of yore, the place was a forest of Kadamba trees. A trader on his way had to stay here at a night. About midnight, he saw a fire ball splitting light, in the midst of which was a Shivalinga being worshipped by Devas and Rishis. The trader informed the Chola king of what he saw. The Chola king rushed to the spot along with Kulasekhara Pandiyan who was his guest then. They saw an old man walking there with a red sugarcane as his walking stick. He showed the king the place where the Shivalinga was hiding and disappeared in the form of a fire ball. When they looked at the eastern direction where the old man disappeared, they saw Lord Dhandayuthapani on a hill. In ecstasy, the kings built a temple for Lord Ekambareswara and a temple for Lord Dhandayuthapani, according to the history of the place....
Kuberar temple:
The Kuberar temple is inside the compound of Ekambareswarar temple and is built in 2012 .This is built by Mr M.Ramasamy ,Additional Inspector General of Registration(Retd) who was born in Chettikulam and his wife Shakunthala Ramasamy. Lord Kubera is the leader of Yatchars who are here to help mankind and procure wealth.Kubera is very much devoted to Shiva .Kubera's wife 's name is Chitrakala .Father -Viswara and mother Swathi .Kubera is assisted by sanganidhi and padmanidhi to offer wealth to mankind . The Kubera has control over nine Nidhis.Lord Balaji borrowed money from Kubera for his marriage as loan . Kubera performed severe panance invoking the blessings of Shiva. Shiva gave darshan to Kubera with his wife Parvathi. Kubera was rewarded by Shiva the following . 1.One of the guards of eight dishas guarding northern disha 2.The lord of wealth and material 3.King of Alagapuri 4.Friendship of Shiva And hence doing pooja to Kubera will enrich one's life .Auspicious period to worship Kubera is on Thursdays between Oct 15 to Nov 15 every year .Chettikulam Kubera is sitting with his wife Chitrakala on fish and also with nine Nidhis to bless devotees .
References
- "Chettikulam Temples". Perambalur District Administration.
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