Tamil Nadu: The Maha Kumbhabhishekam of the Ekambaranathar Temple in Kanchipuram, considered one of the five sacred places, was held on Monday morning with great pomp and ceremony.
The Ekambaranathar Temple in Kanchipuram, located near the Yelavarkuzhali Temple, holds historical and mythological significance. Renovation work for the temple’s Maha Kumbhabhishekam was completed at a cost of Rs. 29 crore. The Palayam ceremony took place on June 28, 2023.
Following this, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department announced that the Maha Kumbhabhishekam would be held on Monday, December 8th. Subsequently, a massive Navakunda Yagashala Mandapam was erected near the Sivaganga Theerthakulam within the temple complex to accommodate 170 Sivacharyas and 170 Vedic scholars performing the Yagashala puja simultaneously.
The Yagashala puja commenced on the 4th of this month with the Anukkai Vigneshwara puja. This was followed by special Sandhi Yagashala pujas on December 5th, 6th, and 7th. The Yagashala puja was conducted by the temple authorities and the Sthalathars (hereditary priests). More than 30 Odhuvar (temple singers) along with accompanying musicians sang the Thirumurai Parayanam (sacred hymns).
On Monday morning at 5 AM, a large procession of Shiva musical instruments and auspicious drums was taken from the Yagashala to the Gopuram (temple tower), and the Maha Kumbhabhishekam took place at 6:10 AM. During the Kumbhabhishekam, the Maha Kumbhabhishekam was performed on the Moolavar Gopuram in the presence of Kanchi Shankaracharya Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and Ilaya Peetadhipathi Sathya Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal.
Following this, special abhishekams and decorative deeparadhanas (offering of lamps) were performed for the deities and subsidiary deities. The arrangements were made by the temple trustees led by M.V.M. Velmohan, member of the trustees, Joint Commissioner C. Kumardurai, Temple Executive Officer P. Muthulakshmi, the festival committee, and temple staff. Spiritual speaker Desh Mangaiyarkarasi provided live commentary on the Kumbhabhishekam. Seventy-one IndiGo flights were cancelled at Chennai airport today.
Kanchipuram Thondai Mandalam Adheenam Chidambaranatha Swamigal, Dharmapuram Adheenam Masilamani Desika Gnanasambandha Paramacharya Swamigal, Madras High Court Judge Velmurugan, Kanchipuram District Chief Judge Deepti Arivumathi, Thirupani Chemmal Mahalakshmi Subramaniam, Kanchipuram District Chief Criminal Court Judge Mohanambal, Labour Court Judge Sujatha, Kanchipuram MLA Ezhilarasan, State Bank Chief Managers Manikandan and Balamurugan, and many others participated in the ceremony. More than a thousand police personnel, led by Kanchipuram SP K. Shanmugam, were involved in security arrangements. The entire temple was decorated with colourful lights and flowers for the Kumbhabhishekam (consecration ceremony).
Food distribution was also carried out at various locations in Kanchipuram city by commercial companies and various organizations.
