Devi Kamakshi
Prevailing in the form of Shakti, ,the Goddess at Kanchipuram is called as “Sri Kamakshi”, “Ka” meaning Goddess Saraswati, “Ma” meaning Goddess Lakshmi and “Akshi” meaning Eye. The name in its entirety refers to the Goddess in Kanchi with Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi as her eyes. The residing place of the goddess in Kanchi is called “Nabisthana Ottiyana Peetam”- the place where the naval part of the Sati fell when Lord Shiva whirled her burnt dead body in anger. The Lalitha Sahasranama describes her as She who fulfils desires by her sight. It is one of the most important of the 51 Shakti peethas. Kanchi Kamakshi, Madurai Meenakshi and Kasi Visalakshi are said to be the three “must visit” Devi temples.
Beautifully carved temple. Photo courtesy tourmet.com
The temple is about 5 acres in are, and the sanctum is capped with a gold plated vimanam (spire). Enshrined in a seated posture in the sanctum, Goddess Kamakshi is seated with Bhrama Vishnu Rudra Eswara and Sadasiva. Her shrine is positioned in a way that the devotee can never show his/her back to Her. One can enter from one of the four sides of the spire, each with its own entrance, to see the deity. The Goddess sits in Padmasana and is seen with floral Arrows in her lower right hand, Ankusa (elephant goad) in upper right hand, Bow made of Sugarcane in lower left hand, Pasa (noose) in upper left hand, a parrot sitting on her right shoulder and a crescent moon in her crown.
According to the most popular legend she sat here under a mango tree and worshiped Lord Shiva by making a Shivalinga made of sand. Pleased with her devotion Lord Shiva married HER. There are two fact which give credence to this belief. One is that there is a large mango tree in the temple premises which has been there for generations – since the beginning. The other is that one of the Pancha Maha Bhhta (five elements) temples of Shiva, representing the earth element is in Kanchipuram and every day the priests make a Shivalinga with sand.
There is also a statue of Sri Adisankaracharya in the temple that is also worshipped. In this very temple, Sri Adisankaracharya defeated a Buddhist philosopher who had debated about the Goddess. Adishankara also did pratisthana of a Sriyantra yantra just before the garbhagudi (where the Devi idol is). Every Full moon night the priests perform the famous Nava-avarana pooja of the Sriyantra. It is believed that he attained Samadhi at Kanchipuram, although another school of thought holds that Kedarnath in the Himalayas is the site of his Samadhi.
While the temple is several thousand years old, the present temple according to some literary and historical evidence point to the fact that it dates back to the sixth century, and that the Chola, Pandya and Pallava, and later the Vijayanagara kings and other Telugu rulers lent their unique touches to the architecture. Some say that the sanctum sanctorum was to be renovated by the Pandyas in the 14th century. Its entrance is marked with a signature gopuram, a towering structure that is decorated with murals of ancient Gods and Goddesses. The tiny sculptures are carefully shaped to depict stories surrounding the deity inside the temple. This style is symbolic of the Dravidian architecture commonly found in the temples of Southern India.
Two priestly families have been managing the temple for thousands of years. They are the ones who conduct all the Poojas. They are the Neelakkal family and the Kamakoti family. Neelakkal Ramachandra Sastrigal is the head priest at present.
The main shrine is bordered by various religious structures, like the hundred-pillared hall and a sanctuary for elephants that offers worship to the Goddess by trumpeting every morning. There are several other smaller shrines surrounding the sanctum. A large tranquil pond completes the outer prakaram (boundary).
Pond. Photo courtesy holidify.com
Ancient yet ageless, this sacrosanct abode is reflectiveof civilisations gone by. Its artistic gopurams in the backdrop of mythology in its origins, creates a powerful aura that draws in not just devoted believers, but also interested visitors from across the world.
Poojas Timings. Online booking not available. Tickets for same day or advanced booking available at the temple counter.
Dress code: Men Dhoti or Kurta pyjama, ladies sari or Punjabi dress.
- Abhishekam is performed daily 3 times, at 5:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 4:00 PM
- ChandanaAlankara is performed on all Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4:30 PM
- Navavarna Pooja is performed on poornimas(full moon) after 9:30 PM
- Ashtotthara Archana is Performed from 7:00 AM to 12 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Festivals
- Swarna Ratha is the chariot festival which happens on specific days.
- On the 7th day of the month of Maasi there is the annual temple festival where processions are taken out in silver chariots.
- Resplendent ceremonies take place on Fridays falling in the month of Adi and Thai per the Tamil calendar.
- Festivals like Navaratri, AipassiPooram, VasantaUtsavam in Vaikasi see grand celebrations as well.
Other things to see:
Ekambareswar Shiva Temple is one of the famous Pancha Tatwa temples,
Kailasanatha Temple is a beautiful ancient 8th century temple.
Varadharaja Perumal Temple is a beautiful Vishnu temple. It has a golden lizard and touching it is believed to rid you of Balli Dosha or sin of touching a lizard.
Panduranga Temple
Mahabalipuram 68 km ayay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 7th- and 8th-century Shiva temple. It is one of the famous tourist sites in India with abeautiful beach.
Kanchipuram is world famous for its silk sarees.
How to reach
By Air
Chennai International Airport located approximately 62.5 kilometres from Kanchipuram provides a very good air connectivity with rest of the world.
By Rail
Both New and Old Kanchipuram Railway Stations are located about 1 kilometre away from the Kamakshi Amman Temple.
The Chengalpattu – Arakkonam Railway Line passes through Kanchipuram and daily trains link Kanchipuram with Pondicherry, Tirupati, Chengalpattu and Arakkonam.
Four major trains namely Nagercoil Express, Madurai Express, LokmanyaTilak Express and Nagercoil Mumbai Express can be boarded to reach Kanchipuram. However, the trains might be late than their scheduled times. A faster and more convenient alternative to reach Kanchipuram by train is to take a train to Chennai and travel by road from Chennai to Kanchipuram via taxi or bus.
By Road
Road Transport is the most suitable mode of transport to reach Kanchipuram. From Chennai city it is 74 km. From Chennai airport it is 62.5 km. The Chennai Bangalore National Highway No. 4 passes the outskirts of the city. State Highways No 58 and 116 also pass through Kanchipuram. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation operates daily bus services those connect Kanchipuram to a number of important cities.
Other important places at Kanchipuram: There are many temples at Kanchi but the following are the important ones.
Ekambareswara temple of Lord Shiva 1 km away. One of the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, and specifically the element of earth, or Prithvi.
Kailasanathar temple 2 km away. Built in 675 ad it is the oldest structure in Kanchipuram. The architecture is beautiful.
Varadaraja Perumal temple, 4 km away, It is said to be one of the 108 important Divya Desam temples of Lord Vishnu.
Hotel accommodation: Several hotels with ac and non ac rooms available.
