This temple is situated at Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. This place is mentioned in puran. A number of saints have taken birth at this place. It is stated in puran as the greatest of all Kshetras i.e. Nagareshu-Kanchi. This is one of the Panchabhoota sthalas representing element “Earth”. This city boasts of 180 Shivalayas, 10 Vishnu temples but has only 1 Goddess Parvati temple.
Main idol – Kamakshi amman
Sthalavriksha – Champa tree
Sacred Teertha – Pancha ganga
The main idol of this temple is Kamakshidevi seated in Padmasana (Yogic posture). This signifies peace and prosperity. She holds a sugarcane bow and bunch of flowers in the lower 2 arms. She has a Paash (noose/lasso) and Ankush (Goad) on her upper 2 arms. There is also a parrot perched near the flower bunch.
There are a number of legends from the purans associated with this place and also for the fact that why only one Devi temple is found in this city. According to Kamakshivilasa, Goddess have to absorb all other Shakti forms to grant a boon to Kamadeva (God of Love). According to another legend the Rajarajeshwari pose signifies absolute control over the land under her control. Aadi-Shankaracharya re-established the Srichakra in the Kamakshidevi temple in the temple tank (sacred teertha) for the shrine.
In the shrine of Kamakshi amman close to the sanctum, Thirukklavanur, one of the Divya Deshams (temples of Vishnu) is present. It is believed that the old Kanchikamakshi temple is also a Shaktipeeth where Aadi-Shankara has installed the Srichakra.
Legends:
The following legends are stated in the purans regarding the Goddess Kamakshi.
In Kailash, Mother Parvati covered the eyes of Lord Shiva (who was in a secluded place) in a playful mood. This resulted in a total stand stilling of all activities of the universe. Parvati requested Lord Shiva for atonement and pardon. He advised Her to proceed to bhoolok and undergo penance. He stated that at the end of your penance you will be pardoned. He gave her the following instructions. You will be born as a daughter of sage Katyayan. He will take care of you for 8 years. At the end of 8 years he will hand over certain things to you. With these things you will proceed to Kashi. There you will take care of people from famine as Annapurni for 12 years. Then you will proceed to South. At a place in South, the things in your hand will change. That is the place where you have to perform the penance.
As per His instructions, when She reached the place in South, the things held in Her hand changed. The vessel in Her hand became a lamp; Rudraksha became a Bilva garland; Yogadanda became a Trishul; the fan became a parrot; and the Ganges water in Kamandalu became the Milk and so on. Parvati understood that the time has come for Her to start her penance. Sage Narada appeared there and initiated Her with Panchabaan Mantra. She did penance for 6 months by making Shivalinga of mud on the banks of river Kamba. In order to test Her, Lord Shiva sent Ganga Devi to destroy Shiva linga. Parvati commanded one of Her maid servant to catch the Ganga Devi in Kamandalu. Later on, the same maid became the Shakti for Pralaya (eternal deluge). Parvati held Shivalinga to Her heart to protect the Shivalinga. Even today we can observe the marks on Shivalinga. Later Lord Shiva manifested as Kameshwar and Parvati as Kameshwari. They married on the bank of river Kamba under a mango tree. The place where She worshiped Lord Shiva is Kanchipuram. Hence this became one of the Panchabhoota sthalam representing the element Earth.
Festivals:
1. Golden chariot festival – Every Friday.
2. On the first day of Tamil month, full moon day and new moon day there is chariot festival.
3. Navavarana Pooja is conducted on every full moon day.
4. Bramhotsavam is held every year in February. 5. Besides this, Navratri festival is held on a grand scale.
There is a 2nd part which is associated with the above legend which we will cover in the next article.
Courtesy: Following sites https://tamilnadu-
favtourism.blogspot.com/ and
https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/
Main idol – Kamakshi amman
Sthalavriksha – Champa tree
Sacred Teertha – Pancha ganga
The main idol of this temple is Kamakshidevi seated in Padmasana (Yogic posture). This signifies peace and prosperity. She holds a sugarcane bow and bunch of flowers in the lower 2 arms. She has a Paash (noose/lasso) and Ankush (Goad) on her upper 2 arms. There is also a parrot perched near the flower bunch.
There are a number of legends from the purans associated with this place and also for the fact that why only one Devi temple is found in this city. According to Kamakshivilasa, Goddess have to absorb all other Shakti forms to grant a boon to Kamadeva (God of Love). According to another legend the Rajarajeshwari pose signifies absolute control over the land under her control. Aadi-Shankaracharya re-established the Srichakra in the Kamakshidevi temple in the temple tank (sacred teertha) for the shrine.
In the shrine of Kamakshi amman close to the sanctum, Thirukklavanur, one of the Divya Deshams (temples of Vishnu) is present. It is believed that the old Kanchikamakshi temple is also a Shaktipeeth where Aadi-Shankara has installed the Srichakra.
Legends:
The following legends are stated in the purans regarding the Goddess Kamakshi.
In Kailash, Mother Parvati covered the eyes of Lord Shiva (who was in a secluded place) in a playful mood. This resulted in a total stand stilling of all activities of the universe. Parvati requested Lord Shiva for atonement and pardon. He advised Her to proceed to bhoolok and undergo penance. He stated that at the end of your penance you will be pardoned. He gave her the following instructions. You will be born as a daughter of sage Katyayan. He will take care of you for 8 years. At the end of 8 years he will hand over certain things to you. With these things you will proceed to Kashi. There you will take care of people from famine as Annapurni for 12 years. Then you will proceed to South. At a place in South, the things in your hand will change. That is the place where you have to perform the penance.
As per His instructions, when She reached the place in South, the things held in Her hand changed. The vessel in Her hand became a lamp; Rudraksha became a Bilva garland; Yogadanda became a Trishul; the fan became a parrot; and the Ganges water in Kamandalu became the Milk and so on. Parvati understood that the time has come for Her to start her penance. Sage Narada appeared there and initiated Her with Panchabaan Mantra. She did penance for 6 months by making Shivalinga of mud on the banks of river Kamba. In order to test Her, Lord Shiva sent Ganga Devi to destroy Shiva linga. Parvati commanded one of Her maid servant to catch the Ganga Devi in Kamandalu. Later on, the same maid became the Shakti for Pralaya (eternal deluge). Parvati held Shivalinga to Her heart to protect the Shivalinga. Even today we can observe the marks on Shivalinga. Later Lord Shiva manifested as Kameshwar and Parvati as Kameshwari. They married on the bank of river Kamba under a mango tree. The place where She worshiped Lord Shiva is Kanchipuram. Hence this became one of the Panchabhoota sthalam representing the element Earth.
Festivals:
1. Golden chariot festival – Every Friday.
2. On the first day of Tamil month, full moon day and new moon day there is chariot festival.
3. Navavarana Pooja is conducted on every full moon day.
4. Bramhotsavam is held every year in February. 5. Besides this, Navratri festival is held on a grand scale.
There is a 2nd part which is associated with the above legend which we will cover in the next article.
Courtesy: Following sites https://tamilnadu-
favtourism.blogspot.com/ and
https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/
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