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| Location |
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Kancheepuram. |
| Main Deity |
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Mukteeswarar. |
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Nearest Town : Kancheepuram
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District : Kancheepuram
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State : Tamil Nadu
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This name raises some confusion, as there are two temples of the same name. One, a little north of Vasikundaperumal coil and the other in the center of Hodson bazar. The former is a historical value, built by Dharmamaha Devi, queen of Nandivarman. This temple is also called Dharmamahadevisvaram in honour of the patron. As it is under the control of the Archaeological Department, it is well preserved. Built on a high basement, it contains a Maha mandapam and a sanctum. The mahamandapa contains some excellent relief carvings as Ravana Anugrahamurthi and Chanda Thandava, while the exterior walls too are well carved. That of Lingodbhava is the finest.
The latter temple relates the story of a Nayanmar, Thriu Kurippu Thondar belonged to the Wassermann’s family. He was engaged in laundering the cloth of devotees. He too was a devout Siva Baktha. Impelled only by love, he was doing his job and the Lord who resided at Ekambaram desired to bring to light the greatness of his Baktha!
He brought his dirty brown loincloth and wanted it to be washed clean. He stipulated that as he possessed only one cloth it should be washed and returned before night falls. After consenting to this condition, the cloth was given. But unfortunately there was an incessant rain and the cloth could not be dried. The devotee decided to dash his head against the granite slab and commit suicide for failure to keep his word. And when he did dash an arm suddenly projected from the slab and prevented the head from dashing. As his love for Shiva devotees was great Siva presented himself before him and gave him Mukthi. And hence the deity in this temple came to be called Muktisvarar.
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Generally in Saivite temples, only Bull (Nandi) will be found and in Vaishanavite temples Garuda (Kite) will be seen. But in this Saivite temple a Garuda has a cell.
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