|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kamakshi Amman Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated
to Godess Kamakshi a divine form of Parvati. It is located
in the historic city Kanchipuram, near Chennai, India and
is popularly associated with Adi Sankaracharya, one of the
greatest Hindu saints. Along with Madurai Meenakshi,
Thiruvanaikaval Akilandeswari, Vishalakshi Varanasi,
Kamakshi is an important part of worship of Parvati.
|
|
Top |
|
History
The town of Kanchi was the capital of the ancient Pallavas.
The Kailasanathar temple here is one of the grand Pallava
monuments. The Kamakshi Amman temple at Kanchipuram is an
ancient one and is associated with Aadi Sankaracharya of the
1st millennium CE. The Tamil saying Kanchi Kamakshi, Madurai
Meenakshi and Kaasi Visalakshi illustrates the importance of
the Shakthi shrine that it is.
Ekambreswarar temple, the Kamakshiamman Temple and the Kumara
Kottam temple and the Ulagalanda Perumaal Temple are the
primary shrines in Periya Kanchipuram. The first three
mentioned above are located in a manner as to suggest the
Somaskanda manifestation of Shiva, Uma and Skanda in the town
of Kanchi. There are no shrines to Ambal, in any of the
shrines to Shiva in Kanchi. Kamakshi is considered to be
wholly present in Kanchipuram, as the only Ambal shrine.
Legend has it that Kamakshi offered worship to a Shivalingam
made out of sand, under a mango tree and gained Shiva's hand
in marriage.
|
|
Top |
|
Mythology
Adi Sankaracharya is significantly associated in the rich
history of the temple. Like many other ancient godesses, the
form of Kamakshi was less benign than the current form. There
used to be various forms of animal and human sacrifices in
ancient Shakthi temples and it is believed that Adi
Sankaracharya led to the more peaceful representation of the
godess by placing a divine Chakra before it. And the godess
agreed to show her benign side in the temple, while the forms
of Shakthi |
 |
|
outside Kanchipuram still had more angrier forms of
Shakthi. There is no verifiable historical proof for this,
though it is a part of the local folklore. Symbolic of this,
during the festivals when the processional deity is taken for
a procession around the temple streets, it takes leave from
Sankaracharya, at his shrine in the inner corridor. It is also
believed that Sankaracharya defeated Buddist and other
philosophers in this place, sparking a revival for Hinduism. |
|
Top |
|
The Temple Architecture
The temple covers an area of about 5 acres, and the sanctum is
crowned with a gold plated vimanam. Kamakshi is enshrined in a
seated posture in the sanctum - and is referred to as the
Parabhrama Swarupini, seated with Bhrama Vishnu Rudra Eswara
and Sadasiva. A Sri Chakram has been installed in front of the
image and worship is offered to it.
|
|
Top |
|
Festival
Four worship services are offered each day. Like most other
Hindu temples, the start of the spring (March-April), the
Tamil month of Masi is when the annual festival is celebrated.
During this time the chariot processions (Ther) and lake
processions (Theppam) are done. Other festivals include
Navaratri, Aadi and Aippasi Pooram, Sankara Jayanthi and
Vasanta Utsavam in Vaikasi. Generally all fridays are
considered to be holy, though the fridays in the Tamil month
of Adi (July 15 - Aug 17) and Thai (Jan 15 - Feb 15) are
celebrated with great pomp.
|
|
Top |
|
|
|
|
