Bangaru Kamakshi Amman Thanjavur Tamilnadu
I had been to Thanjavur on
4th November 2014 and had darshan at Sree Bangaru Kamatchi amman temple.
The Virgin goddess holds a parrot in her hand and she keeps the other
hand in a slanting position below the hip region and her right leg
appears to be turned inwards slightly and this is known as "
tribhangam " and this is how Brahma got darshan of her.
Due to the invasion of
Kanchi by hostile powers the then sankaracharya (Shri Chandrashekara
saraswathy IV-1746-1783) of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam shifted base to
Tanjore and later to Kumbakonam. It is said that the gold vigraha
of amman was brought to Thanjavur from the Kamakshi temple of Kanchipuram
during this time. It was one of the 5 Kamakshis inside the
Kanchi temple.
The solid gold idol from
kanchi was initially shifted to Udayarpalyam and later to Tanjore. It is said
that to smuggle out the idol out of Kanchipuram, it was wrapped with cloth and
the shiny surface was smeared by black punugu ( secretion of the Civet cat) and
taken in a palanquin as if it was a child with small pox. The feet of the
idol are symbolically installed in Kanchi temple. Even today the
idol is routinely smeared with punugu and appears black.
The temple uses Sadaari
like the Vaishnava temples. The garlands offered by devotees are taken out
in the morning and evenings only and on not removed during the
intervening period. Even to day the heirs of the Rajas of Thanjavur
offer thirumangaLyam during Panguni Uttaram (Meena masam Uthiram star).
The stotram on Goddess Kamakshi by Adi Sankara
Kamakshi Stotram of Sri Adi Shankara
Kamakshi Stotram - Kalpanokaha_Pusspa_Jaala
कान्तां कञ्ज_दलेक्षणां कलि_मल_प्रध्वंसिनीं कालिकाम् ।
काञ्ची_नूपुर_हार_दाम_सुभगां काञ्ची_पुरी_नायिकां
कामाक्षीं करि_कुम्भ_सन्निभ_कुचां वन्दे महेश_प्रियाम् ॥१॥
Kaantaam Kan.ja_Dale[a-Ii]kssannaam Kali_Mala_Pradhvamsiniim Kaalikaam |
Kaan.cii_Nuupura_Haara_Daama_Subhagaam Kaan.cii_Purii_Naayikaam
Kaamaakssiim Kari_Kumbha_Sannibha_Kucaam Vande Mahesha_Priyaam ||1||
चन्द्रार्कानल_लोचनां सुरुचिरालङ्कार_भूषोज्ज्वलाम् ।
ब्रह्म_श्रीपति_वासवादि_मुनिभिः संसेविताङ्घ्रि_द्वयां
कामाक्षीं गज_राज_मन्द_गमनां वन्दे महेश_प्रियाम् ॥२॥
Candra-Arka-Anala_Locanaam Surucira-Alangkaara_Bhuusso[a-U]jjvalaam |
Brahma_Shriipati_Vaasava-[A]adi_Munibhih Samsevita-Angghri_Dvayaam
Kaamaakssiim Gaja_Raaja_Manda_Gamanaam Vande Mahesha_Priyaam ||2||
वाचाम् आदिम_कारणं हृदि सदा ध्यायन्ति यां योगिनः ।
बालां फाल_विलोचनां नव_जपा_वर्णां सुषुम्नाश्रितां
कामाक्षीं कलितावतंस_सुभगां वन्दे महेश_प्रियाम् ॥३॥
Vaacaam Aadima_Kaarannam Hrdi Sadaa Dhyaayanti Yaam Yoginah |
Baalaam Phaala_Vilocanaam Nava_Japaa_Varnnaam Sussumna-[A]ashritaam
Kaamaakssiim Kalita-Avatamsa_Subhagaam Vande Mahesha_Priyaam ||3||
विश्वं तत् परिपाति विष्णुरखिलं यस्याः प्रसादाच्चिरम् ।
रुद्रः संहरति क्षणात् तद् अखिलं यन्मायया मोहितः
कामाक्षीं अति_चित्र_चारु_चरितां वन्दे महेश_प्रियाम् ॥४॥
Vishvam Tat Paripaati Vissnnur-Akhilam Yasyaah Prasaadaac-Ciram |
Rudrah Samharati Kssannaat Tad Akhilam Yan-Maayayaa Mohitah
Kaamaakssiim Ati_Citra_Caaru_Caritaam Vande Mahesha_Priyaam ||4||
वीक्षा_शिक्षित_राक्षसां त्रि_भुवन_क्षेमङ्करीम् अक्षयाम् ।
साक्षाल्लक्षण_लक्षिताक्षर_मयीं दाक्षायणीं सक्षिणीं
कामाक्षीं शुभ_लक्षणैः सुललितां वन्दे महेश_प्रियाम् ॥५॥
Viikssaa_Shikssita_Raakssasaam Tri_Bhuvana_Kssemangkariim Akssayaam |
Saakssaal[t]-Lakssanna_Lakssita-Akssara_Mayiim Daakssaayanniim Sakssinniim
Kaamaakssiim Shubha_Lakssannaih Su-Lalitaam Vande Mahesha_Priyaam ||5||
आम्नायाम्बुधि_चन्द्रिकाम् अध_तमः_प्रध्वंस_हंस_प्रभाम् ।
काञ्ची_पट्टण_पञ्जराऽऽन्तर_शुकीं कारुण्य_कल्लोलिनीं
कामाक्षीं शिव_कामराज_महिषीं वन्दे महेश_प्रियाम् ॥६॥
Aamnaaya-Ambudhi_Candrikaam Adha_Tamah_Pradhvamsa_Hamsa_Prabhaam |
Kaan.cii_Pattttanna_Pan.jara-Aantara_Shukiim Kaarunnya_Kalloliniim
Kaamaakssiim Shiva_Kaamaraaja_Mahissiim Vande Mahesha_Priyaam ||6||
चिन्मात्रां भुवनेश्वरीम् अनुदिनं भिक्षा_प्रदान_क्षमाम् ।
विश्वाघौघ_निवारिणीं विमलिनीं विश्वम्भरां मातृकां
कामाक्षीं परिपूर्ण_चन्द्र_वदनां वन्दे महेश_प्रियाम् ॥७॥
Cin-Maatraam Bhuvaneshvariim Anudinam Bhikssaa_Pradaana_Kssamaam |
Vishva-Aghaugha_Nivaarinniim Vimaliniim Vishvambharaam Maatrkaam
Kaamaakssiim Paripuurnna_Candra_Vadanaam Vande Mahesha_Priyaam ||7||
क्षोणी_भृत्_तनयेति च श्रुति_गिरो याम् आमनन्ति स्फुटम् ।
एकानेक_फल_प्रदां बहु_विधाऽऽकारास्तनूस्तन्वतीं
कामाक्षीं सकलार्ति_भञ्जन_परां वन्दे महेश_प्रियाम् ॥८॥
Kssonnii_Bhrt_Tanayeti Ca Shruti_Giro Yaam Aamananti Sphuttam |
Eka-Aneka_Phala_Pradaam Bahu_Vidha-[A]akaaraas-Tanuus-Tanvatiim
Kaamaakssiim Sakala-[A]arti_Bhan.jana_Paraam Vande Mahesha_Priyaam ||8||
आनन्दामृत_वारि_राशि_निलयां विद्यां विपश्चिद्_धियाम् ।
माया_मानुष_रूपिणीं मणि_लसन्मध्यां महामातृकां
कामाक्षीं करि_राज_मन्द_गमनां वन्दे महेश_प्रियाम् ॥९॥
Aananda-Amrta_Vaari_Raashi_Nilayaam Vidyaam Vipash-Cid_Dhiyaam |
Maayaa_Maanussa_Ruupinniim Manni_Lasan-Madhyaam Mahaa-Maatrkaam
Kaamaakssiim Kari_Raaja_Manda_Gamanaam Vande Mahesha_Priyaam ||9||
कल्याणी कलितावतार_सुभगा कस्तूरिका_चर्चिता
कम्पा_तीर_रसाल_मूल_निलया कारुण्य_कल्लोलिनी
कल्याणानि करोतु मे भगवती काञ्ची_पुरी देवता ॥१०॥
Kalyaannii Kalita-Avataara_Subhagaa Kastuurikaa_Carcitaa
Kampaa_Tiira_Rasaala_Muula_Nilayaa Kaarunnya_Kallolinii
Kalyaannaani Karotu Me Bhagavatii Kaan.cii_Purii Devataa ||10||
The temple is nearer to
Brahadeeswarar Alayam and about 1.5 kms from there. Buses from new bus stand
and old bus stand connect this place and one has to walk about 0.5 kms from the
bus stand.
The Kumbabishekam of this temple was done on 23rd March 2017 in which the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt Sankaracharyas attended and blessed the devotees - Some photographs are shown above.
