Temple Legend
AROOBA LAKSHMI - SWAROOBA LAKSHMI
Sri Maha Vishnu at Paar Kadal [ksheera samudram/ocean of milk offended by Lakshmi comment on black form of Vishnu cursed to become formless , with a split body and hunch back. To get relieved of this curse Lakshmi goes on penance in the Gayathri Mandapam.
By virtue of this Lakshmi returns to her divine form and appears with folded hands [pattanjali]. This form of Lakshmi with folded hands cannot be seen elsewhere. Lord Vishnu watches this from hidden from behind. Hence he is called as ‘Tirukkalvar’ or even as Adi varaga perumal.
Vaishnavite saint Thirumangai Alwar’s Thiruthandagam calls this place as one 108 ‘Divya Kshetrams’ .Devotees worshipping the devi here, irrespective of caste, .colour, creed or gender pray for their sins to be cleansed by applying the prasadam on arooba lakshmi by themseves. This form of worship by ones own hand is a special feature in this holy places.
TAPAS KAMAKSHI
To marry Parameswaran, kamakshi standing on the five holy fire and on the needle edge and with one leg folded she undertook a severe penance.
As a result of that penance on Palguni [march/april] uthiram day she married Parameswaran. This is called as Palguni Uthira Divine Wedding. Hence devotees not fortunate to finda a suitable wedding match pray to the goddess on this day.
To marry Parameswaran, kamakshi standing on the five holy fire and on the needle edge and with one leg folded she undertook a severe penance. As a result of that penance on Palguni [march/april] uthiram day she married Parameswaran. This is called as Palguni Uthira Divine Wedding. Hence devotees not fortunate to finda a suitable wedding match pray to the goddess on this day.
BANGARU KAMAKSHII
During the invasion of Mughal Emperors to protect the gold sculpture of Kamakshi from them it was shifted to Udaiyar Palayam for its safety. The same is at Tanjore now. Bangar Kamakshi blesses the devotees who seeks her blessings.
SARASWATHI appears with 8 hands and also called as Mantrini, Matangi, Raja Shyamala and blesses Students with good education. School students from schools and colleges all over visit to seek her blessings. Near the sannidhi of Saraswathi, Maha Swami of Kanchi mutt consecrated Kamakshi’s paduka of Bangaru Kamakshi. Pujas are performed everyday for the paduka.
ANNA PURANI
On the rear side of the sanctum sanctorum is the shrine of Kasi Anna Purani. She appears With food vessel in one hand and a ladle in other hand. Through the Biksha Dwaram [Bikshai Hole] devotees pray to Anna Purani for giving them food for ever.
DHARMA SASTHA
After Saraswathi Devi we find Dharma Sastha with Purna and Pushkala. Ancient legends say that Chola King Karigala has taken floral bunch from Dharma Sastha , went upto Himalayas and hoisted the victory flag there.
ADI SANKARA
After establishing Mutts in four directions, Adi Sankara reached Kanchipuram. He established the Kamakoti Peetam and ascended the Sarvagna Peetam. Attained salvation by merging into Kamakshi. He consecrated Sri Chakra with his own hands in the sanctum Sanctorum infront of Kamakshi and Performed pujas for the same..During any festivals in the temple Adi Sankara is given first reverence .
As he is Considered as an incarnation Lord Siva, he faces kamakshi in front when she goes on procession She goes in his way. After Adi Sankara the pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti peetam are the permanent Trustees of this temple.. Ganapathyam-Vinayaga, Saivam-Siva, Vaishnavam-Vishnu, Saaktham-Ambal, Kauvmaram-Murugan, Sauram-Sun are six religions he formed for worship. To establish the fact that Kamakshi is the centrifugal force all religions, it is said that the temples of Sangupani Vinayagar for Ganapathyam, Kausikeswarar for saivam, Ulagalantha Perumal for vaishnavam, Kaligambal for saktham, Kumarkkottam for Kaumaram and Sun sannidhi in Maha Kaleswarar Temple are found in the four thorough fares around the temple.
There is a separate sannidhi with the sculpture of Adi sankara in this temple.69th Pontiff of Kanchi Mutt Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal dedicated Golden chariot, Golden Skirt, Golden Kavasam, Golden Lion for Kamakshi from the gold received from the Swarnabishekam performed on Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi swamigal[maha periyava] And the 69th pontiff himself..
DUNDEERA MAHARAJA [EMPEROR]
Maharaja Dundeera ruled Kanchipuram which came under the Thondai Mandala [region] empire. Thondai Mandalam is otherwise called as Dendeeram. In the north near Kalahasthi river Swarnamuk also called ,ponmukili and in the south Pennai river called as pinakini because Lord Sive created this with his bow called as pinagam, in the East an ocean and a great natural lake in the west near virunchipuram are the four boundaries of Thonda Mandala empire or Dundeeram..
During a drought period Kamakshi blessed the region with golden shower. Hence the village is called as Pon Vilaintha Kalaththur. King Dundeera’s statue can be seen in the madpam opposite to Procession deity.
BHAIRAVAR
In the outer perimeter near the temple tower is the shrine of Bhairavar. He is also called as the temple’s Protecting God. When the doors of the temple is closed , a puja is performed for the bhairavar and the temple keys are taken by the priest with the permission of Bhairavar. This is an everyday ritual. He is an avtar of Lord Siva.
HOLY TANK AND PERUMAL SANNIDHI.
The holy tank is called Pancha Ganga because ganga which emanated from the crown of Siva descended here into the tank. A male and a female demon in the tank troubled all the devotees. Devi killed those demons. The blood of the demons produced many more of them. Lord Vishnu killed them by standing, lying down on them and sitting on them.
A shrine of Perumal in these postures is seen next to the Temple Tank. Shrine of Durga is seen on the northern bund of the tank .People belonging to the Koorja kingdom worshipped her. The Shrine was renovated and consecration was performed by Sri.Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal in 1976. Annual Float festival takes place for three days in a year in this tank.
SHRINES TO BE WORSHIPPED
- Hyagriva [Left of Raja Gopuram Main entrance ]
- Agathiyar [ Right of Raja Gopuram Main entrance ]
- Sindhoora Ganapathy [right opposite to the main entrance]
- Sri.Naga Subramaniar
- Rishi Gopuram
- Prasanna Ganapthy
- Vigna Nivarana Ganapathy
- Dhurvasa Maharishi
- Palliyarai
- 1Ishta Siddhi Vinayagar
- Bala Subramaniar [right opposite to Sanctum sanctorum]
- Utsava Kamakshi [procession deity – Lakshmi on the left /Saraswathy on right]
- Suibramaniya with Valli, Deivayanai ; Vinayagar and Adi Sankarar.
- Dundeera Maharaja [opposite to Utsava kamakshi Shrine]
- Aabath Nivarana Ganapathy.
- Valli, Deivayanai and Subramaniar.
- Saraswathy [ashtabujam and minister of the Devi]
- Bangaru Kamakshi [Bangaru Kamakshi Padam/feet] Adi Sankarar
- Dharma Sasth, Purna and Pushkala
- Anna Purani
- Sakthi Ganapathy
- Singara Velar
SHRINES TO BE WORSHIPPED
- Hyagriva [Left of Raja Gopuram Main entrance ]
- Agathiyar [ Right of Raja Gopuram Main entrance ]
- Sindhoora Ganapathy [right opposite to the main entrance]
- Sri.Naga Subramaniar
- Rishi Gopuram
- Prasanna Ganapthy
- Vigna Nivarana Ganapathy
- Dhurvasa Maharishi
- Palliyarai
- 1Ishta Siddhi Vinayagar
- Bala Subramaniar [right opposite to Sanctum sanctorum]
- Utsava Kamakshi [procession deity – Lakshmi on the left /Saraswathy on right]
- Suibramaniya with Valli, Deivayanai ; Vinayagar and Adi Sankarar.
- Dundeera Maharaja [opposite to Utsava kamakshi Shrine]
- Aabath Nivarana Ganapathy.
- Valli, Deivayanai and Subramaniar.
- Saraswathy [ashtabujam and minister of the Devi]
- Bangaru Kamakshi [Bangaru Kamakshi Padam/feet] Adi Sankarar
- Dharma Sasth, Purna and Pushkala
- Anna Purani
- Sakthi Ganapathy
- Singara Velar
- Hyagriva [Left of Raja Gopuram Main entrance ]
- Agathiyar [ Right of Raja Gopuram Main entrance ]
- Sindhoora Ganapathy [right opposite to the main entrance]
- Sri.Naga Subramaniar
- Rishi Gopuram
- Prasanna Ganapthy
- Vigna Nivarana Ganapathy
- Dhurvasa Maharishi
- Palliyarai
- Ishta Siddhi Vinayagar
- Bala Subramaniar [right opposite to Sanctum sanctorum]
- Utsava Kamakshi [procession deity – Lakshmi on the left /Saraswathy on right]
- Suibramaniya with Valli, Deivayanai ; Vinayagar and Adi Sankarar.
- Dundeera Maharaja [opposite to Utsava kamakshi Shrine]
- Aabath Nivarana Ganapathy.
- Valli, Deivayanai and Subramaniar.
- Saraswathy [ashtabujam and minister of the Devi]
- Bangaru Kamakshi [Bangaru Kamakshi Padam/feet] Adi Sankarar
- Dharma Sasth, Purna and Pushkala
- Anna Purani
- Sakthi Ganapathy
- Singara Velar
GAYATHRI MANDAPAM
- Kalvar Perumal
- Saundarya Lakshmi
- Ardha nareeswara
- Sri Kamakshi [Main Deity]
- Tapas Kamakshi [to the right of Ambal]
- Pila Dwaram [opp;Tapas Kamakshi]
- Sri Chakram [Established by Adi Sankara with Eight Vaak Devis]
- Varahi [CommandeR of Devi’s forces-to the left]
- Arooba Lakshmi
- Sowbagya Ganapathy
- Santhana Ganapthy
- Santhana Sthambam [progeny Pillar]
- Adi Sankarar [Ascended Sarvagna Peetam]
- Jaya Sthambam [Victory Pillar-after victory over Pandasuran, the demon]
- Vara Siddhi Vinayagar
- Kala Bhairavar
- Mahisashura Mardhini
- Bali Peedam – Thwajasthambam [Flag Pillar]
- Pancha Gangai [Holy Tank]
- Thirumanjana Ganapathy [Tank bund]
- ,Ashta Bhuja Durga [with eight hands]
- Bhooda Nigraha Perumal [Stood/Sat/lying down]
- Nardhana Ganapathy
