Ekāmbareshwar Kanchipuram

Ekāmbareshwar Kanchipuram is one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalas — five temples in South India where Shiva is worshipped as one of the five classical elements. Here he is pṛthvī (earth). The Pṛthvī Liṅga is made of earth/sand, not stone. It is never bathed — abhiṣeka is only with flowers and jasmine, since water would dissolve it. Parvati is said to have fashioned it under the mango tree (eka-āmra) during her penance to win Shiva. The Ekāmra mango tree in the temple courtyard is claimed t