Kanchipuram

Yaa devi sarva boodeshu buddhi roopena samsthitha |
Namasthasyei Namasthasyei Namasthasyei namo namaha ||

Kamakshi devi temple in Kanchi popularly known as Kanchipuram is one of the 51 'Devi sthals'. Ekambara-easwar is the devi's consort in this temple. This place became an abode of Devi Kamakshi because the rib-bone from the burnt dismembered body of Dakshayani fell here. This temple is called Sri Chakkara Peetham and Ekambara peetam.

Kanchi is one among the seven sacred cities of liberation leading the soul to the heaven. The other six holy cities are Ayodha, Mathura,Haridwar, Kasi, Ujjain and Dwaraka. Kanchi is a city of temples with over 100 shrines. For centuries this has been a city of learned people with close associations with Adi Sankara Bagavat-pada.

When the acharya swamy visited Kanchi all the learned people accorded a grand reception to him. He visited the cave-temple of Sri Kamakshi and found her in a ferocious state. The Devi, it was said used to go around the town at night everyday and eat whatever or who-ever crossed her path. The acharya wanted to put an end to this and bring forth the merciful and benevolent side of the Goddess. Once when he was sleeping out side the cave-temple Sri Kamakshi came out as usual and was about to kill and eat him. The Acharya however tricked the devi to go back to her 'peetam' (seat) and consecrated her on it permanently. Consort Ekabparar has separate temple.
Kamakshi Devi is considered as the center of the whole universe. Her whole body and eyes were dazzling in brilliance like one million suns and ordinary devotees could not look at her image to pray. So to make her benign the acharya drew the 'Sri-Chakra' by him self and consecrated the same outside the cave . Kanchi, apart from being the foremost of the Shakti Peethas, is also the abode of the holy Prithvi Linga. The great Lord Shiva has manifested here in the form of 'earth Linga'- one of the five elemental forms with Sri Kamakshi as his consort. In the old Kanchipuram there is a temple dedicated to 'sahasra-lingam' (1000 Lingams in monolithic form).

Kanchipuram also became the foremost seat of Hinduism with the establishment of Kamakoti peetam by the Adi-sankara Baghavat-pada. for the propagation of Sanatana Vedic dharma and also Advaita Vedanta. The successive Acharyas of this great Peetham have continued to guide the people in spiritual and social matters up to the present day.

Kanchi is divided into two parts one known as the shiva Kanchi with the 'earth Linga' as Ekambareswarar with his consort Kamakshi devi.
The other is known as Vishnu Kanchi with Varadharaja perumal as the presiding diety.
Both the parts of Kanchi have over a period of time deteriorated and it was left to the Adi-Sankaracharya to commence renovation of the temples and establish regular daily rituals in accordance with the scriptures.

The hymn 'Soundarya lahiri' composed in the praise of Devi Kamakshi by the Adi Sankara baghavat pada is an enduring and a most beautiful composition. The hymn consists of 100 'slokas'. This is in praise of the Devi describing her indescribable heavenly qualities and serene beauty.

The feature of the temple

Kamakshi Amman temple carpet area is about 5 acres. It has four entrances on four directions with tall temple towers on all the entrances.
The main shrines name is Devi Kamakshi and her sanctum sanctorum is called Gayatri Mandapam and it has 24 pillars in. This mandapam representing 24 letters of Gayatri Mantram. . The idol is in sitting posture with four arms carrying Pasam (rope), Ankusam (lance), flower arrow and sugarcane bow. “Ragasya roopa Pasatya krodha karangusojwala Manoru pekshu kodhanda panacha tanmatra sayaka” Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam. The Sri Chakkaram is placed in front of the deity. Another Kamakshi devi's idol is in penance posture is placed near in the left side of the Main shrine. She is called Tapasu Kamakshi if one come circumfluence from the main deity can find a vishnu sanctum Named Kalava perumal (it is a one of the divya desam Alwar prayed and did Mangaalasasanam ) Sowndarya Lakshmi, Sowbhagya Ganapathi, Aruba Lakshimi, Santhana Lakshmi Pillar Ardhanareeswarer, Varahi Devi .

The outside parikrama (Circumfluence)from the Main shrine can worship Nagar, Varasiddi vinayagar Subramanyar, Annapoorani, Darmasastha with his consorts Poorna , Pushkala and Saraswathi Lakshmi and Adi Sankara etc

Another highlight of the temples is that main shrine of Kamakshi Amman and Adi Shankara have gold plated roofs. You can also find Nuttrukkaal Mandapam (the hall of 100 pillars) with architecturally beautiful sculptures in this temple.

Ekambareswarar at Kanchipuram

The temple features:

This temple is located  just opposite of Sri  Kamakshi Temple ..The carpet area of the temple is 21,43,200 sqft and is built south facing . It has a tower in 9 stages and 172 ft. in height. The temple has five corridors.(Pragarams)

The deity is called Ekampareswarar in the east facing pose. It is said the deity is self incarnated. The lord's consort Devi Kamakshi has seperate temple facing east.

The temple tree is 'Mango'. It is said this ancient tree is about 3500 years old. This tree has only 4 branches as four vedas and it is yielding four colors mangoes every year. The temple has five theerthams.

Punniya-theertham , Ishtasiddhi-theertham , Kappudaiya-theertham ' Satva-theertham and Ulagani-theertham

This sthalam is one of the 'Pancha-bootha-sthalams. (Pritvi sthalam ie earth) There are many stone inscriptions in this temple giving the history of the kshetram

The saints who sang hymns on the Lord:

Sundarar, Thiru-navu-k-arasar and Thirugana-sambandhar.

Legendry description is:Once the devi closed the lord siva's eyes for fun. But all the universe became black as night. Hence all the work including the creation work was stoped. The Lord siva got angry with devi and told her that she should go to the earth and she should follow all the 32 duties. some for example :

Deva-yagam Pithir-yagam Bootha-yagam, Manusha-yagam/ Brahma-yagam Upadhesam Parnasala-dhanam Boomi Dhanam Swarna-dhanam Kannika-dhanam Anna-dhanam Vayodhiga seva Sivabakthi Etc

Sakthi did all the duties according to the lord's instruction. She was doing penance under a mango tree. One day Lord wished to test Sakthi's devotion on him and he created a deluge. Afraid of the floods devi embrased the lord. The lord felt the imprint of devi's bangles and breast on him. Siva was pleased with her and appeared in front of devi. He married her again which was happily witnessed by all the devas and the people of the world.

If come our os the main sanctum as circumfluence we can have dharshan Nilathundaperumal this is also one of the divya desam and alwars prayed and did Mangalasasanam and further move from the perumal sanctum we can have Shasralinga dharshan .

Other interested temples in Kanchipuram

Among the 108 Divya Temples 25 Divya desam temples are in kanchipuram

Other then these temples :

Sri Varadharajaperumal temple

Sri Mukteeswarar Temple

Kamakottam temple

Kailasa Nadar Temple

Shoppings

The famous Kanchi Pattusaree (One can go and see the weaving place and can buy the fresh saree)

Comtact :-

KANCHI KAMAKSHI AMMAN DEVASTHANAM
New No. 6, Old No. 144/A,
Kamakshi Amman Sannathi Street ,
Kanchipuram - 631502
Tamilnadu
India