Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Amman
Tamil Nadu
Name of the Temple : Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple
Main Deity : Kamakshi
Local Name : Kamakshi Amman, Amman, Ambal
Location : Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu
Nearest City : Chennai
Website : http://www.srikanchikamakshi.org/
Importance of the Temple : The temple is known as Nabisthana-Ottiyana peetham. Goddess Kamakshi here is seated in a majestic Padmasana, a yogic posture signifying peace and prosperity.It is also one among the Shaktipeeths.
It is believed that the naval part of Sathi Devi's body fallen here.
Name of the Temple : Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple
Main Deity : Kamakshi
Local Name : Kamakshi Amman, Amman, Ambal
Location : Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu
Nearest City : Chennai
Website : http://www.srikanchikamakshi.org/
Importance of the Temple : The temple is known as Nabisthana-Ottiyana peetham. Goddess Kamakshi here is seated in a majestic Padmasana, a yogic posture signifying peace and prosperity.It is also one among the Shaktipeeths.
It is believed that the naval part of Sathi Devi's body fallen here.
Sloka:
"Ayodhya Madhura Maya Kasi Kanchi Avantika!
Dwarakavathi Saiva Sapthaithate Mokshadaiyeka!"
The above slokam says that Holy India consists of seven Mokshapuris (saptapuris) out of which one mokshapuri is in South India named as Kanchipuram. (The other six being Kashi, Haridwar (Maya), Ayodhya, Ujjain (Avantika), Mathura, Dwarka).
"Ayodhya Madhura Maya Kasi Kanchi Avantika!
Dwarakavathi Saiva Sapthaithate Mokshadaiyeka!"
The above slokam says that Holy India consists of seven Mokshapuris (saptapuris) out of which one mokshapuri is in South India named as Kanchipuram. (The other six being Kashi, Haridwar (Maya), Ayodhya, Ujjain (Avantika), Mathura, Dwarka).
History:
Kanchi Kamakshi Temple is the most important Amman/ Devi temples in South India. It is located in the city of Kanchipuram which is 110 kms away from Chennai. It is also known by its former names Kanchiampathi, Kanjeevaram, and the nickname "The City of Thousand Temples". Apart from Kamakshi Amman temple other important temples here are Sri Ekambaranthar Temple, Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Sri Ulagalanda Perumal Temple, Sri Kumarakottam Temple, Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Sri Kachapeswarar Temple etc.
Here Main deity Kamakshi (divine form of Parvati Devi) is seated in padmasana posture holding sugarcane bow, bunch of flowers in the lower two of her arms and has a pasha (lasso), an ankusha (goad) in her upper two arms with a parrot sitting on the flowers. The Goddess also has a Chandraperai (a shape of moon like structure) on her forehead. Sri Adi Sankaracharya has installed Srichakram before the main deity which holds the power of Sri Kamakshi Devi. The most interesting fact is there is no other Parvati temple in Kanchi, which is very unusual given that in Tamilnadu you can see a temple at every corner of the street. The temple was built in 6th Century AD by Pallava kings.
Kanchi Kamakshi Temple is the most important Amman/ Devi temples in South India. It is located in the city of Kanchipuram which is 110 kms away from Chennai. It is also known by its former names Kanchiampathi, Kanjeevaram, and the nickname "The City of Thousand Temples". Apart from Kamakshi Amman temple other important temples here are Sri Ekambaranthar Temple, Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Sri Ulagalanda Perumal Temple, Sri Kumarakottam Temple, Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Sri Kachapeswarar Temple etc.
Here Main deity Kamakshi (divine form of Parvati Devi) is seated in padmasana posture holding sugarcane bow, bunch of flowers in the lower two of her arms and has a pasha (lasso), an ankusha (goad) in her upper two arms with a parrot sitting on the flowers. The Goddess also has a Chandraperai (a shape of moon like structure) on her forehead. Sri Adi Sankaracharya has installed Srichakram before the main deity which holds the power of Sri Kamakshi Devi. The most interesting fact is there is no other Parvati temple in Kanchi, which is very unusual given that in Tamilnadu you can see a temple at every corner of the street. The temple was built in 6th Century AD by Pallava kings.
This the only temple where in the Sanctum sanctorum is only for SRI KAMAKSHI AMMAN with eight other Shakti Goddess surrounding the temple. The place where Goddess resides is called "Gayatri Mandapam". According to Kamakshi Rahasya, this mandapam was built by the celestials with the four walls representing the four Vedas and the twenty-four pillars representing the twenty-four syllables of the sacred formula of Gayatri. Amman lives in temple in 3 forms - Sri Kamakshi, Sri Bilahasam and Sri Chakram.
Goddess Kamakshi has Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi as her two eyes. Goddess Kamakshi is said to have done penance here under the mango tree to marry Lord Shiva. She made idol of Lord Shiva with sand. Lord Shiva wanted to test her and incarnated as Kamba river and tried to destroy the idol with high tides of the river. Kamakshi Devi protected the idol by placing her two hands around it. Legend has it that Kamba river runs deep below Kanchi. Hence the place is also called as Satyavrita Kshetra.
Another story that is prevalent is: Once Goddess Parvati closed Lord Shiva's eyes with her hands, for fun. The next moment, entire world became dark and golden complexion of Goddess Parvati also turned to black. She was surprised and asked Lord Shiva the reason. He told her that all the sins in the world had culminated in Her and hence She had turned black. On her request Lord Siva provided Her the solution. He adviced Her to go to Badari and be born as daughter of Katyayana Muni. And after she grows up, Katyayana Muni would realize Her as an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, and would provide her with Yoga Dandam, Rudraksha Rosary (prayer beads), vessels, Chamaram, roasted seeds and parasol. He told that She had to take them to Kasi (varanasi) to relieve the famine. From that day she would be known as Annapurna. She was supposed to live in Kasi for 12 years and then proceed towards south. At that time the Rudraksha Rosary would turn into Vilva Garland; and the Parasol into a Nagaparanam; Yoga Dandam would become Trisula; Chamara would transform into young girls; the vessel into a lamp. He also said that the place where the roasted seeds would start germinating that place would be Kanchi.
Goddess Kamakshi has Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi as her two eyes. Goddess Kamakshi is said to have done penance here under the mango tree to marry Lord Shiva. She made idol of Lord Shiva with sand. Lord Shiva wanted to test her and incarnated as Kamba river and tried to destroy the idol with high tides of the river. Kamakshi Devi protected the idol by placing her two hands around it. Legend has it that Kamba river runs deep below Kanchi. Hence the place is also called as Satyavrita Kshetra.
Another story that is prevalent is: Once Goddess Parvati closed Lord Shiva's eyes with her hands, for fun. The next moment, entire world became dark and golden complexion of Goddess Parvati also turned to black. She was surprised and asked Lord Shiva the reason. He told her that all the sins in the world had culminated in Her and hence She had turned black. On her request Lord Siva provided Her the solution. He adviced Her to go to Badari and be born as daughter of Katyayana Muni. And after she grows up, Katyayana Muni would realize Her as an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, and would provide her with Yoga Dandam, Rudraksha Rosary (prayer beads), vessels, Chamaram, roasted seeds and parasol. He told that She had to take them to Kasi (varanasi) to relieve the famine. From that day she would be known as Annapurna. She was supposed to live in Kasi for 12 years and then proceed towards south. At that time the Rudraksha Rosary would turn into Vilva Garland; and the Parasol into a Nagaparanam; Yoga Dandam would become Trisula; Chamara would transform into young girls; the vessel into a lamp. He also said that the place where the roasted seeds would start germinating that place would be Kanchi.
Mother Kamakshi performed severe penance by standing on one leg before Her wedding with Lord Ekambreshwar
He also added that Parvati would see a Shiva Lingam under a mango tree and instructed that she has to do penance daily with the ablution of milk, and decorate the Lingam with Bilva leaves garland. He promised that He would appear before Her and marry Her. At that moment Parvati’s dark complexion would vanish and she would get back her golden complexion.
The legend says that Brahma and Vishnu decorated the entire city of Kanchi with flowers. Shiva came as Ekambaranath and married goddess Kamakshi in an elobarate manner for nine days. Mahavishnu and Mahalakshmi were the principle participants in the ceremony as Kamakshi was considered as Vishnu’s sister.
Kanchipuram is the seat of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham established by Adi Sankaracharya. As per one group of thought Sankaracharya attained samadhi at Kanchipuram. Adi Sankaracharya travelled from Kaladi in Kerala across all the parts of the country. He saw Goddess in a ferocious form while visiting Kanchipuram as the entire sanctorum was very hot. In order to reduce the heat and bring her to normal state, the saint sung songs in the praise of Goddess named "Soundarya Lahari". Later he established a Sri Chakra in front of Her idol to keep Her cool and personified. This Srichakram is still seen in the temple and all the poojas are conducted to Srichakram too.
The legend says that Brahma and Vishnu decorated the entire city of Kanchi with flowers. Shiva came as Ekambaranath and married goddess Kamakshi in an elobarate manner for nine days. Mahavishnu and Mahalakshmi were the principle participants in the ceremony as Kamakshi was considered as Vishnu’s sister.
Kanchipuram is the seat of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham established by Adi Sankaracharya. As per one group of thought Sankaracharya attained samadhi at Kanchipuram. Adi Sankaracharya travelled from Kaladi in Kerala across all the parts of the country. He saw Goddess in a ferocious form while visiting Kanchipuram as the entire sanctorum was very hot. In order to reduce the heat and bring her to normal state, the saint sung songs in the praise of Goddess named "Soundarya Lahari". Later he established a Sri Chakra in front of Her idol to keep Her cool and personified. This Srichakram is still seen in the temple and all the poojas are conducted to Srichakram too.
Mooka Panchasati was written in praise of Kanchi Kamakshi by a dumb devotee, Mookan. Mookan begged the Goddess to free him from this dumbness so that he can write poems praising Her. The Goddess blessed him by freeing him from dumbness and giving him intellectual capability to write poetry. He wrote 500 poems praising Her.
Interestingly, of the 108 holy temples of the Lord Mahavishnu, 14 are located in Kanchipuram.
Interestingly, of the 108 holy temples of the Lord Mahavishnu, 14 are located in Kanchipuram.
OM DEVI JAGANMATHAA NAMAH
