Kamakshi Amman Temple
History behind Kamakshi Amman Temple
The famous scholar and saint Adi Shankaracharya founded the Sri Chakra at the original Kamakshi Amman temple. The present Kamakshi temple also has a Sri Chakra established by NrusimhAdvari during the 16th century. After traveling everywhere, when Adi Shankaracharya visited Kanchipuram, he felt the Goddess is in a fierce form. To change her intense form into a sober form and to accomplish her to normal state, the saint sung songs in praise of Goddess and established a Sri Chakra in front of her idol to keep her cool and personified. This Sri Chakram is visible to all of us and all the poojas are done to Sri Chakram also. The Saint established Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam and attained Sarvagyna peetam in this holy city.
This Sri Chakra soon became the All India famous Kamakoti Peeta. The glory of Kamakshi Devi is mentioned in Devimahatyam in Markandeya Puranam, Lalithopakyanam in Brahmanda Puranam, Sanathkumara Samihitha in Skanda Puranam and Kanchi Puranam.
Legend behind Kamakshi Amman Temple
There is also a legend that once Lord Vishnu turned to blue color due to the poison of Vasuki. Godded Lakshmi Devi made fun of her saying she is fairer than him. Lord Vishnu got angry and cursed her to become ugly. Goddess Lakshmi Devi realized her mistake and went to Kancheepuram to pray for Kamakshi Devi. Kamakshi Devi was pleased with Goddess Lakshmi’s prayer and asked her to stay on her left side.
Pooja details and timings
Abhishekam
Fees: Rs1000/-
Timings:
Morning: 5.30 a.m
Noon: 11 a.m
Evening: 4.30 p.m
Sahasra Namarchana
Fees: Rs 50/-
Timings:
Morning: 9 a.m TO 10 a.m
Evening: 7 p.m TO 8 p.m
Archana
Fees: Rs 2/-
Navavarana Pooja
During full moon days only
Fees: Rs 2000/-
Timings: 9.30 p.m (limited tickets)
Golden Chariot Procession
Fees: Rs 2000/-
Timings: 7.30 p.m on Fridays, full moon days, new moon days, first day of Tamil month
Cow Pooja
Early morning around 5.30 before abhishekham
Details of Kanchi Kamakshi Amman
On further moving straight, one can see Goddess Kamakshi seated in Padmasana (seated in the form of lotus), a yogic posture signifying peace and prosperity. The Goddess has four arms holding a Sugarcane bow on her left upper arm, lotus and parrot in her right upper arm. The Goddess also has divine chakras called Pasa (lasso) and Angusa (goad) in her arms. The deity also has a Chandrapirai (moon) on her forehead. The place where Goddess resides is “Gayatri Mandapam”.
Goddess Kamakshi is surrounded by deities like Saraswati, Annapoorani, Ayyappan, and Adisankaracharya on its outer prakaram. The Goddess also has Varahi, Arupalakshmi Kalvarperumal (one of the 108 Divya Desam of Vaishanavities), Arthanariswarar and Roopalakshmi deities surrounding the sanctorum of Goddess on its Gayatri Mandapam.
The Goddess lives in temple in 3 forms – Sri Kamakshi, Sri Bilahasam and Sri Chakram. The temple also has a golden Gopuram on the sanctorum of the Goddess Kamakshi deity which is visible to all devotees.
Festivals celebrated in the temple
Address of the Temple
Kamakshi Amman Temple
Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502
+91 44 27 233433 - 2722 1214
Email: kanchikamakshitemple@yahoo.in
Temples near Kamakshi Amman Temple
- Kamakshi Devi Temple
- Aatcheeswarar
- Kachi Anekadhangavadeswarar
- Deivanayaka Easwarar
- Satyanathaswami
- Kalva Perumal
Hotels Near Kamakshi Amman Temple
Telephone: 9994346996
Hotel Tamilnadu
Telephone: 044-27222553,27222554
M M Hotel
Telephone: +91-44-2723 0023
Heritage
Telephone: +91-44-2722 7780
GRD
Telephone: +91-44-2722 5250