Know about Kanchipuram
Hello My Readers!!
I am very proud to write about Kanchipuram as I was born and brought in Kanchipuram.As everyone knows that Kanchipuram is a land of Thousand Temples and a large producer of Silk sarees manufacturers.Kanchipuram got flourished under the rule of Pallava dynasty and Vijayanagara empire.
Many temples were built during their period and have their style of architecture.Kanchipuram is divided into big Kanchi and little Kanchi. Big Kanchi is known as Shiva Kanchi where most of Shiva temples were located. Little Kanchi is known as Vishnu Kanchi where most of Vishnu temples were located. Most of the workforce and livelihood of people in Kanchipuram depends on the weaving of silk sarees. Counting the silk saree shops is like counting the stars in the sky.It is the primary occupation of most.
Coming to the history and greatness of historic temples located here. Kailasanathar temple is the oldest temple and known for Pallavas architecture. Still many foreigners come and visit this place for the beautiful Engineering construction and Architecture.
The other famous temples in and around Kanchi
are,
1. Varadharaja Temple
2. Ekambareshwarar Temple
3. Kamakshi Amman Temple
4. Ulagalandhar Temple
5. Kumarakotam Temple
Will all see in brief about each temple and
it’s Practices. If you are interested please continue reading.
Kailasanathar Temple:
Varadharaja Temple:
This temple is also called as Athi varadhar
temple. Once in 40 years the idol “ Athi varadhar” taken out from sacred pond
to do the holly pooja and for public worship. This happened last year. The idol
was made of “ single Athi tree” and after 48 days of pooja and worship, will be
taken back to sacred pond to kept under the mandapa. It happened last year 2019
and unimaginable crowd took the blessings of Varadhar. The whole city become like
a festival month.
Koil Idly/Kanchipuram Idly or Puliyogre
offered as a neivedhyam to the deities. Will take a space below to brief on
Koil Idly.
Even before the silk sarees got famous in Kanchipuram the wiff of hot piping idlies has made everyone to taste atleast they visit Kanchipuram for any other reasons. Why the Kanchipuram idli is different? To answer this question you must atleast have a bite of this idli and you will get to know the answer why is it different? Those who have not heard it before will be a surprise and one must try if you are a food lover.
No one knows the actual history of it. But According to the said history this idly is dated back to Pallava dynasty. And it is served to Varadharajar in Varadharaja temple (from last year it is called as Athi varadhar temple) and also they serve idly to devotees. This idli is completely different from other idlis in flavour,taste,making,look and texture.
These idlis have pepper, cumin, coriander leaves, cashew nuts, curry leaves and ginger in it that gives it its special taste. These ingredients are added to the batter before steaming it in dried mandharai leaves.The mandharai leaves add flavour to the idlis. The one that are made in temples are cylindrical shape and will be cut into discs while serving.
Festivals
:
Garuda Sevai happens once in a year which is
the biggest festival of the temple. The new set of Umbrella they will change
which is from Thirupati and it will be used throughout the year for all the festivals.
There are many other small festivals happen in
this temple through out the year.
Ekambareshwarar Temple:
This temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and situated in big Kanchi. The history said that it was built by Krishna Deveraya , Vijayanagara empire. Later Cholas came and made some modifications to the temple according to history. Which existed even before 600 AD. It is one of the biggest temple of South India.
It is one of the five major Shiva temples or Pancha Bootha Sthalams (each representing a natural element) representing the element - Earth. The other four temples in this category are Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara (water), Chidambaram Natarajar (ether), Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswara (fire) and Kalahasti Nathar (wind).
The Shiva linga here is Suvayambu and is made of sand and there is no Abhishekha to the idol (Mulavar) throughout the year. All the abhisheka will happen only to other idol made of (Urachava murthy).
History of Suvumyabu Linga:
Legend has it that the Goddess Parvathi made a Linga out of sand and worshipped it under a mango tree. As the nearby Vegavati River threatened to overflow and destroy the Linga, Parvathi embraced the Lingam. Touched by her devotion Lord Shiva came down to Earth and married her at that place. This place then formed the temple that stands today.
Festivals:
Panguni uthiram is the biggest festival of this temple featuring Silver mavadi sevai, Silver Chariot, Ten Heads Ravana’s, Gold vrushub etc., Goes for 13 days. Others include Pradosha, full moon days.
Ulagalandhar
Temple—
The temple is dedicated to Vishnu located in Big Kanchi near Kamakshi Amman temple. It is one of the 108 Divya desams around the nation. Vamana, a dwarf and one of the ten avatars of Vishnu believed to be appeared here to quell the pride of Asura Bali. It is believed that Vamana is Ulagalandhar.
During the tamil month of Chitirai, chariot will be operated and grand festival all over the city.
The temple is dedicated to lord Murugan,
brother of Vinayaga situated in Big Kanchi near to Kamakshi Amman temple. The
kandha sashti festival happens in a grandieur manner during the Diwali month.
Kanchipuram Silk Sarees
Kanchipuram silk sarees are woven from pure
mulberry silk. While the silk belongs to South India, the pure gold and silver
zari comes from Gujarat. The silk thread that is used to weave the saree is
dipped in rice water and sun-dried before it is used in order to increase both,
its thickness and stiffness. The silk thread is then interlocked with a thin
silver wire and woven through after which a golden thread is used to complete
the procedure.
Most of the livelihood of people in
Kanchipuram depends on the weaving of silk sarees and some houses were designed
and architecture to fit the weaving tools and techniques. This is the major
occupation here from getting Raw materials, manufacturing till production
involves lot of workforce and efforts.
Why
is it so special:
This can be worn during any festive ethnic
occasion and one looks great and elegant in it. No matter how many years we
kept, the original Kanchipuram Silk saree has its place and then there is no
depreciation cost to it when you want to resell it. (Add info)
These are around the city of Kanchipuram and
if one want to enjoy the other tourist spots they must travel some places near
to it. Listing down some vacationing spots.
·
Mahabalipuram (already updated in blog)
·
Crocodile
Park
·
Dakshina
Chitra
·
Muttukadu
Boat house
·
Kovalam
Beach
·
VGP
Marine Kingdom
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