DEVARAJA PERUMAL TEMPLE, KANCHIPURAM

DEVARAJA PERUMAL TEMPLE, KANCHIPURAM

Devaraja Perumal temple is on the Vishnu Kanchi and on the eastern side of Kanchipuram and at about a distance of 3.5 kms from Bus Stand.  It is a large temple and one of the 108 Divya Desams.  It has 2 Rajagopurams and 5 prakaras.  The Western Rajagopuram is 96 ft height and immediately after the entrance is the Anantha Saras Pushkarani.  Next to it is the 100 pillar Mandapam.  The small hillock inside the temple is known as Hasthagiri.  In this moutain only the Main Deity Sree Devaraja Perumal blesses the devotees in Nindra Kolam (Standing posture).  He is facing West.

Brahma wanted to have darshan of Sriman Narayanan with four hands, as he had at Vaikundam in Kanchi.  Vishnu's Asareeri voice told for that he has to do 100 Aswametha Yagams.    As one Aswametha yagam itself would take many years, Brahma was not knowing what to do.  Same Asareeri voice told one Aswametha Yagam at Kanchi would be equal to 100 in other places.   He did Aswametha yaga at Kanchi and his tapas resulted in Mahavishnu appearing in the Yaga Kunda in Krutha Yuga, Yuva varusha, Chiththirai Month, Sukla Paksha Chathurthi day and in Hastha Nakshatram and that day was Sunday and Morning with Kotisurya Prakasham.  Since he came from the boon (வரம்)  given by Lord Vishnu, he came to be known as Varadhar.  Brahma wanted this Lord of the Vedas (Vedanayagar) to bless everyone and he blesses devotees from the Temple established by Indra, which has the Punyakodi Vimana.  Thirumanjanam for the Perumal is done on Fridays and days with Hastha Nakshatra.  Poojas performed for the Lord: By Brahma in Krutha Yuga, by Gajendran in Thretha Yuga, by Brahaspathi in Dwabara Yuga and by Thiruvananthaazhvaan in Kali Yuga.

Sree Perundevi thayar blesses devotess in sitting posture and facing East.  She is also known as Bhargavi, as she appeared in the Puthrakameshti Yaga performed by Bruhu Maharishi and on a Panguni month Uththiram Nakshatra day.  She worshipped Sree Devaraja with Lotus flowers and married him.   Every Friday Yekantha Thirumanjanam will be done.  (No public darshan).    Sree Vedantha desikar prayed the Thayar with Sreethuthi and brought gold rain to help in a marriage of a poor girl.   There are no processions (வீதி உலா)  for the Thayar.  Thayar gives darshan during Theppam.  The Thirumanjanakkeni is within the temple precincts and the Theppam here is known as Perundevi Thayar Theppam.

                                                    
                                                           Perundevi Thayar

One has to climb 24 steps to have the Darshan of Devaraja Perumal  and this 24 denotes the gayatri Mantra.  Perumal gave darshan to Brahma, Naratha Muni, Bruhu Maharishi, Adisheshan and Gajendran here.  Hasthagiri as the days gone by has become Aththigiri.  Infact, the name Aththigiri Varadhar comes from this and not that idol of Varadhar is made in Fig tree (அத்தி).  Aththi Varadhar is kept safety for 40 years in the temple tank known as Anantha Saraswthi in a mandapam and when he is taken out by pumping out the water, he gives darshan for 48 days, first 24 days in sayana (Kindantha kolam) and the next 24 days in standing posture (நின்ற கோலம்).    Presently, Sree aththi varadhar has been taken out and he gives darshan from 1st July 2019.  

                                                             Aththi Varadhar

There are other sannidhis in this temple for:  Yoga narasimhar, Chakarathazhwar, Karumanikka Varadhar in Sree Alavanthar prakaram, Thiruvanthazhwar, Danvanthiri and Valampuri Vinayagar.  

Golden Lizard (தங்கப்பல்லி)  is outside the Perumal Sannidhi on the northern corner and near Kachivayththan Mandapam.    Two sons of  Sringiberar Muni were disciples of Gautama Muni.  When they brought water for the Pooja one day, a  lizard was found dead and Gautama Muni cursed them to become Lizards.  When the disciples requested for the relief from the curse, Gautama Muni said that they would have relief if they go to Kanchi.  After having darshan in sapthagiri, they asked for relief from the Lord Varadharajar.  Lord said while the athma of them will have relief and go to Vaikundam, the body of them will be in metal form behind him.  The Lord said those who come to worship him if they also pray to them, they will be blessed.

Other sannidhis are: Ramar, Krishnan, Andal, venugopalan, Varahar, Ranganathar, Vedantha Desikar, Manavala Munivar, Nammazhvar, Udaiyavar, Malayala Nachiar etc., 

In a year, almost 250 days, there are festivals and Lord's procession and in the Tamil Month of Vaikasi, Brahmothsavam is celebrated.  Mangalasachanam of the lord has been done by Thirumangai Azhwar, Bhoothath Azhwar and Peyazhwar.  Vedantha Desikar, Manavala Munivar and Appaiya Dikshitar have sung in praise of the Lord.

அத்திபூரான் புள்ளை யூர்வான் அணி மணியின்
துத்தி சேகர் நாகத்தின் மேல் துயில்வான் முத்தீ
மறையாவான் மாகடல் நஞ்சுண்டான் தனக்கும்
இறையாவான் எங்கள் பிரான் -  பூதத்தாழ்வார்

Temple Timings:
06.00 AM - 12.00 NOON
04.00 PM - 09.00 PM

KACHABESWARAR TEMPLE, KANCHIPURAM

KACHABESWARAR TEMPLE, KANCHIPURAM


Kachabeswarar temple is very near to the bus stand.   It has an imposing 5tier Rajagopuram on the northern entrance and there are 3 prakaras. The Ishta Siddhi Theertham is the temple tank.  Sthala Vruksham is Banyan tree and the temple is also referred as Alala Koil.  The main deity Kachabeswarar is in the form of a Siva Linga and which is said to be Swayambu faces West.

                                                       Kachabeswarar

                                               Ishta Siddhi theertham

                                                            தெப்பம்

Kachabam means Tortoise or "Koorma".  Lord Siva was worshipped by the Koorma avatara Vishnu here and hence the name Kachabeswarar.   The consort of Kachabeswarar is Sowndarambigai.   The churning of Amritham from parkadal was done easily with the help of Manthara mountain.  But it started sinking in the Milky Oscean and Vishnu in the form of the Koorma took the load of Mandhra Parvatham on its back.  This helped everyone to get the Amrutham.  This made the tortoise to become arrogant and Lord Siva took the shell of the tortoise and strung on his garland on his neck.  Lord Vishnu regretted his act and came here to get the blessings of Lord Siva. 

It is also said that as the churning of the Milky Ocean was with the Meru Mountain (Manthara) and the force with it was churned, adisesha with the rubbing of Meru on its body, spat the alakala visham.  Because of the heat of that, several living beings in the Parkadal were suffering.  As a Prayachiththa, Vishnu prayed here.

                                                          Anjanakshi Amman

Goddess is Anjanakshi Ambal.   She has a separate sannidhi and faces South.  Anjanam means eyes and she protects her devotees like her eyes.  Admiring her beauty, she is also called as Sundaravalli.    Srichakra has been installed in the temple before this sannidhi.

There are also the sannidhis for - Pancha Sandhi Vinayagar, Valli Deyvanai sametha Subramanyar, Adikesava Perumal, Ashta puja Saraswati, Vishnu Durgai, Sooriyan and Bhairavar.  

The temple is estimated to be 1600 years old.  In the 7th century book, Thandiyalankaram, there is a reference to this temple as shown here:

“நீல மணிமிடற்ற னீண்ட சடைமுடியான்
நூலணிந்த மார்ப னுதல் விழியன் தோலுடையான்
கைம்மான் மறியன் கனல் மழுவன் கச்சாலை
எம்மா னிமையோர்க் கிறை என்பது”

கருங்குவளை போன்ற அழகியமிடற்றினையும், முடியின் கண்ணே நீண்டு இருக்கப்பட்ட சடையினையும், மார்பினிடத்தே அணியப்பட்ட முப்புரி நூலினையும், நெற்றியின்கட் சேர்ந்து விழியினையும், உடையாக அசைத்த தோலினையும், கரதலத்தேந்திய மானினையும், கனல்  போன்ற மழுவினையும், திருக்கச்சாலை (கச்சபேசும்) என்னும் திருப்பதியினையும், உடையவனாய்  எம்மை யாண்டு கொண்ட பெரியோன் இமையவர்க்குத் தலைவன் -  என்னும் பொருள்பட கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Temple Timings:
05.00 AM - 12.00 Noon
05.00 PM - 08.00 PM

KUMARAKOTTAM, KANCHIPURAM

KUMARAKOTTAM, KANCHIPURAM   

Kumarakottam, the Balasubramanya Swamy temple, is just a km away from the Bus Stand and is in the West Raja Street and is in the part known Periya Kanchi.  The northern end of the road is the Kanchi Mutt and the Southern end Kachabeswarar temple.  The temple initially built by Pallavas in the 9th Century and later the Chozhas and Vijayanagara Samrajya kings contributed for rebuilding the same.  The temple in its present form came up in 1915.  It is a coincidence that Kumarakottam is in between Ekambareswara temple and Sree Kamakshi temple resembling the principle of Somaskandar.

Kachiappa Sivachariar, a saintly scholar, composed Skanda Puranam in praise of Lord Murugan.  Each day he would write a part of the life of Lord Muruga and would keep it in the moolastham of the Lord.  It is said that the Lord himself would correct from these and thus ihe Kandapuranam was a corrected Manuscript by none other than the Lord Himself.

                                       kandapurana Arangetra Mandapam
                       (Initiation of Kandapuranam in Tamil - mandapam built in honour)

Legend has it that Lord Murugan imprisoned Brahama for his ignorance on the Pranava Mantra OM and assumed the role of Brahma himself thus manifested as Brahma Shasta here with the Kamantala and Rudraksha beads.  Lord Muruga later repented for not adhering to his father Lord Siva's command not to imprison Brahma and released Brahma and also did penance here by installing a Siva linga called Devasenapateeswarar.  The Lord here is seen with Deer skin as his dress, Dharbai as Arignan (அரைநாணும்) and with Kamandala and Rudraksha Beads in his hands and the sannidhi of Valli and Devayanai are by the side.

                              View of inside of the temple - Thulabaram can be seem

Arunagirinathar in his Tirupugazh has sung about the Lord at Kumarakottam starting with the word - 'Arivilappittar'.  

அறிவிலாப் பித்த ருன்ற னடிதொழாக் கெட்ட வஞ்சர்
     அசடர்பேய்க் கத்தர் நன்றி ...... யறியாத

அவலர்மேற் சொற்கள் கொண்டு கவிகளாக் கிப்பு கழ்ந்து
     அவரைவாழ்த் தித்தி ரிந்து ...... பொருள்தேடிச்

சிறிதுகூட் டிக்கொ ணர்ந்து தெருவுலாத் தித்தி ரிந்து
     தெரிவைமார்க் குச்சொ ரிந்து ...... அவமேயான்

திரியுமார்க் கத்து நிந்தை யதனைமாற் றிப்ப ரிந்து
     தெளியமோ க்ஷத்தை யென்று ...... அருள்வாயே

இறைவர்மாற் றற்ற செம்பொன் வடிவம்வேற் றுப்பி ரிந்து
     இடபமேற் கச்சி வந்த ...... உமையாள்தன்

இருளைநீக் கத்த வஞ்செய் தருளநோக் கிக்கு ழைந்த
     இறைவர்கேட் கத்த குஞ்சொ ...... லுடையோனே

குறவர்கூட் டத்தில் வந்து கிழவனாய்ப் புக்கு நின்று
     குருவியோட் டித்தி ரிந்த ...... தவமானைக்

குணமதாக் கிச்சி றந்த வடிவுகாட் டிப்பு ணர்ந்த
     குமரகோட் டத்த மர்ந்த ...... பெருமாளே.

In the 20th Century, Pamban Swamigal was shown the way to Kumarakottam by none other than the Lord himself assuming the form of a small boy.

There is a sannidhi for Lord Vishnu and he is known as Urugum Ulla Perumal. (உருகும் உள்ளப் பெருமாள்).    This sannidhi is next to the Palliyarai of Lord Murugan and the Perumal is seen with Sridevi and Bhoodevi and Markandeya Munivar.   Markandeya Munivar also was swept away in the Pralaya and  he asked Thirumal where all the earthily things have gone in the Pralaya and the Lord replied they are in his stomach.  The Munivar ridiculed the Lord. Lord painful of the fact he had been insulted by the Munivar worshipped the Pilakasa Ambal and came here.  Hence the Lord's name became Urugum Ulla Perumal.

Temple Timings:
05.00 AM - 12.00 noon
04.30 PM - 08.30 PM

ULAGALANDHA PERUMAL, KANCHIPURAM

ULAGALANDHA PERUMAL, KANCHIPURAM 

Ulagalantha Perumal is in Vamana Agraharam and is at a distance of 0.5 km from the Bus Stand and is in Periya Kanchi.  This is one of the 108 Divya Desams.  It is unique among Divya Desams that within the same complex, it houses the Divya Desams:  Thirukaarvaanam, Thirukaaragam, Thiruooragam and Thiruneeragam.   The entrance gopuram is consists of 3 tiers with 7 Kalasas.    The temple was built by Nandivarma III, during 846-869 AD. This temple had renovations later during the rulers of Pallavas and Chozhas.  

Ulagalantha perumal, the 5th incarnation of Mahavishnu as Vamana, was a Brahman, was smaller in stature and was holding an umbrella and a water pot.  He was born to Sage Kashyapa and Athithi and also the younger brother of Indra.  Lord Vishnu's bhagavatha purana says that the Vamana Avatar was meant to restore the powers of Indra over the heavan.  Bali, grandson of Prahalada, a great devotee of Vishnu dethroned Indra and took control of lthe heavens.  He emerged as a mighty person with the control of Earth, Pathal and Heavens and was known as Mahabali.  Lord Vishnu who wanted to restore Dharma and took the Avatar of Vamana.  He did not want to kill his great devotee.  On the day of his Upanayana, Vamana approached Mahabali who was busily engaged in a Yagna.  He did not pay much attention what Vamana was asking and granted the three paces of land that could be traversed through.  Lord Vishnu as Vamana placed the first step in the heaven, the second on the earth and there was no place for the third step.  As Mahabali bowed in reverence, the Lord placed his foot on the head of Mahabali and pushed him to Palthala and asked Mahanali to be in control of Pathala.   The Heaven and earth were thus retrieved from the control of Mahabali.  

Urchavar

The main deity facing west shows one finger of right hand for having done the first step measurement and left hands points to the toe to show that he had measured the second step.  The third step is seen as the Lord's foot on the head of Mahabali.  The posture of vishu thus is known as Tiruvikraman and thus also the name Ulagalanda Perumal.   The roof of the sanctum is elevated so as to accommodate the huge deity of around 30 ft height.   

The anjaneya sannidhi opposite to Ulagalantha Perumal is famous and known as Chanku Chakra anjaneya with four hands and with folded hands towards the Ulagalantha Perumal.

The temple theertham is known as Naga Theertha and is outside the temple complex.  

Tiruooragam sanctum has the Adisesha as the deity.  As vamanar took a huge form as Trivikram, Mahabali could not see the Lord in his entirity.   He requested to the lord to see him in full form whereupon he gave darshan as Adisesha.

Karunagara Perumal on Adishesha and with his consort Padmamani Nachiar is in Thirukaragam.   Garga rishi did penance here on the lord, thus the place was known to be initially as Garagam and later got changed over the days to Karagam.  This is in the third prakara.

Kalvar Perumal with his consort Kamalavalli Thayar facing north is in Thiurkarvanam.  Separate Sanidhi is there for Aranavalli Thayar.   This is also in the third prakara.
                                                             Kalvar Perumal

Aranavalli Thayar Sannidhi and Srimushnam Andavan

Thiruneeragam in the temple has no presiding deity but a Jagadeeswara Idol with four hands is here.  .  Lord is with his consort Nilamangaivalli.  This is in second Prakara.

Temple Timings:
07.00 AM - 12.00 Noon
04.00 PM -  08.00 PM

SUNDARA VARADHA RAJA PERUMAL, UTTIRAMERUR

SUNDARA VARADHA RAJA PERUMAL, UTTIRAMERUR

This temple is very near to the Uttiramerur Bus Stand and is famous for the Perumal who can be seen in all the three forms of Nindra, Amarntha and Kindantha Kolams.   The temple is comparatively a large one with a grand 5 tier Entrance Gopuram.  

Uthiramerur was ruled by the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Sambuvarayars, the Vijayanagara Rayas and the Nayaks. As per the inscriptions in the temple, the Pallava king Nandivarman II (Pallavamalla) 730–795 CE established the village around 750 A.D. It is believed that he donated the village to Vedic Brahmins from Srivaishanva community.  

The constitution of the assembly under Parantaka Chozha as detailed in the inscriptions (in Tamil as written in those days) that one can still find on the walls of the Assembly Hall, 200 yards east of Sundara Varadan Temple, leaves one in awe of the great governance model followed by this Chozha ruler.    Kolatunga Chozha, in the 11th Century AD, is said to have built the Vaikunta Perumal Koil on top of the super structure of the Assembly Hall, but the inscriptions remain intact on the walls of the temple. This structure has been recognised as a heritage monument and is currently under the Archeological Survey of India.

It is believed that Lord Vishnu in different forms gave Darshan to Pancha Pandavas and this place is also known as Navamurthy Sthalam, as in a 3-tier structure of sanctums 9 forms of vishnu are giving darshan, 4 in ground floor, 4 in first floor and one in the second floor.

This temple has sanctums at three levels.  Stairs have been part of the temple structure to reach the first and second floors.  

In the ground level sanctum the Perumal is in standing postion - Nindra kolam - Sundaravaradaraja Perumal with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi and is facing East.  With four hands he holds the Chakra and Chanku in upper hands and exhibits the Abhaya Hastha and Kadihastha mudras by his lower hands.  He is also known by the names Vellaimoorthi Emperuman.   Bheeman, one of the Pandavas got darshan of this Lord.  There are 3 sanctums around this in the first floor, all in standing postures of Sree Achyutha Varadhar on the South, Sree Anirudra Varadhar on the West and Sree Kalyana Varadhar on the North.  On the Southwest corner is the sannidhi of Sree Ananthavalli Tahyar and on the Northwest is that of Sree Andal.  Sree Anirudra Varadhar gave darshan to Nakula and Sree Kalyana Varadhar to Sahadeva.


In the first floor, the Perumal facing east is Sree Vaikunda Varadaraja Perumal with the Nachiars in a sitting posture - Amarntha.   Dharman of the Pandavas had the darshan of this Perumal.  Around this sanctum in the first floor, are the sanctums of Sree Krishna on the South, Yoga Narasimhar on the West and Bhoodevi sametha Bhoovaraha Perumal on the North.  All of them are in sitting posture.   Sree Krishna is seen giving Darshan to Arjuna in worshipping posture and he is with Varadha and Abhaya Mudra.

                                                   Vaikundavaradha Perumal

Varahar

The second floor is with a single sanctum and Perumal is in lying posture - Kidantha Kolam - Sree Anandapadmanabha Perumal is lying on the Adisesha, facing east with Bhoo devi sitting on the serpantine bed.   He is giving Darshan to Markandeyan.  

The temple tank of is known as Brahma Theertham.  

On the outer walls of the sanctum of Sundaravaradharaja Perumal are stone inscriptions - from these it is derived that the Parameswara Thachan of Padagam of Kanchipuram has built this temple with the help of the Pallava King  Nandi Varman and that it has been built as per Temple Vasthu known as Mayan Madam.  The Poojas for this temple are performed as per the Vaikanasa Agama.  

The temple could be reached from various important places as can be seen from the Board:

Sri Sundharavaradharaja Perumal
Sri Vaikunta Vasa Perumal Devasthanam,
Uthiramerur Taluk ,
Kancheepuram District ,
Pin code – 603 406.

Temple Timings:
06.30 AM - 11.30 AM
04.30 PM - 08.00 PM

















There are also a few mo 

BALASUBRAMANIAM TEMPLE, UTTIRAMERUR

BALASUBRAMANIAM TEMPLE, UTTIRAMERUR

The Uttiramerur Balasubramaniam temple can be seen from the Sundaravaradha rajar temple and is very near to it.  The Balasubramaniam temple has a 5 tier Gopuram.  

here are shrines for Ekambaranathar, Mahatripurasundari, Kasi Viswanathar, Santhana Ganapathi and Vel in the form of Velayuthamurthy in the inner prakara itself.  Lord Kadambanathar is in northeast corner and enables Lord Subramanya to worship him.  The Velayuthamurthy is in the northwest corner.  The Unjal and Vasantha mandapams are in the outer prakara.  The Balipeetam and Kodimaram are here.

Lord Balasubramaniam here is stands gracious with 6ft tall and with a beautiful Vel and flag staff with the Cock.  The time when I went for Darshan was in the evening and the sayankala pooja with deepa arti was going on.  Mother Gajavalli - combination of Valli and Devayanai is on the left.  It is said that the depth to which the Vel kept by the Lord to protect the Kashyapa Muni is not known.  Sumithiri Chandikeswara is in the place of Chandikeswara.  

Velayuthamurthy

 

T

This place also has the Tamil Name - Ilayanar Velur - to denote that the Lord stood on his Vel and protecting the rishis under penance from the Asuras, Ilayanar meaning youth Muruga and Velur meaning his Vel in that place.    This was a forest region and the river that was flowing through this place was then kwown as Uttaravahini, now known as Seyyaru.
Many sages were performing Penance here and Kashyapa Muni had his hermitage and was doing penance. Two demons Magran and Mulayan were giving him trouble while penance and when the Sage sought the help of Kadambanathar, he said his younger son would help the Sage to overcome the problem.  Lord also told the Sage, that he would give his sword to Murugan to eliminate the demons.   As told by his father, he summoned the demons and advised them to stop worrying the Sage Kashyap.  But they did not heed to his advice and thus Lord Muruga eliminated both of them by keeping  his Vel as guard on the eastern side of the hermitage and severing the head of Magaran with the sword given by his father.  Mulayan tried to escape by using the Maya taught by the mother of Surapadma but could not do so, as he was killed by the Sword of Lord Shiva.   The place where the head of Malayan fell is known as Malayankulam and the where Magaran was killed, is known as Magaral.

Thirupugazh slabs mounted on the walls of the temple:

Elephant is the Vahana of Murugan here, as he got Peacock only after killing Surapadman.

In fact, thre is a vigraha of Murugan on the elephant Iravatham in Margaleeswarar temple near Uttiramerur.

Temple Timings:
05.00 AM - 08.00 AM
04.00 PM - 07.00 PM

SREE KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE, KANCHIPURAM

SREE KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE, KANCHIPURAM

Sree Kamakshi amman temple is at a distance of one km from the bus stand.  The importance of the temple is centred around the story of Ekambareswarar and the penance Goddess Parvathi undertook to unite with the Lord.  When the marriage took place under the Mango tree, Mavadi - Goddess place was known as Kamakottam and thus when Adi Sankara established his Peetam - it was known as Kamakoti Peetam and the presiding deity of the Mutt also was the Kamakshi here.  Ka means Goddess Saraswathi and Ma means Goddess Lakshmi and Akshi means the gracious eyes.  Thus the Goddess Kamakshi in Kanchi signifies that she lives here with both Saraswathi and Mahalakshmi as her eyes.  The place where the Goddess is known as Gayatri Mandapam.  She is in three forms - Sree Kamakshi, Sree Bilahasam, Sree Chakram.    She is in a sitting posture of Padmasana.  She has Pasa, Angusa, Pushpabana and sugarcane in her four hands.  She wears a crown and has the Surya and Chandra as Karnabaranas and presents as Raja Rajeswari.   When Adi Sankara visited the place, he felt that the Goddess is in a ferocious mode and the sanctum was very hot and thus he sang the Soundarya Lahari in praise of her and also installed a Sree Chakram in front of her to cool her.  The Goddess presents herself in Sootchumaroopa in the Chakra.  The Sree Chakram is visible and poojas are performed to the chakram.   

                                                                  Kamakshi

In the moolasthana, to the right of the Ambal is the Tapas Kamakshi standing in one leg.  As advised by Kathyayana Muni, Parvathi came from Kailaya and worshipped Kamakshi here.  By her anugraha, she got the benefits of her Tapas by duly worhsipping Ekambaranathar under the Mango Tree. On the left of the Ambal, is the Aurupa Sannidhi of Lakshmi.  Kalvar perumal sannidhi is on the right side of Ambal and faces Southeast.  Vishnu checks whether Lakshmi regained her Soundarya by Sabavimochanam hiding himself.   Soundarya Lakshmi sannidhi is next to him and faces South.   Thus in the Gayatri Mantapam, are the deities - Varahi, Aurupalakshmi, Arthanareeswarar, Roopalakshmi, Kalvar Perumal.     On the outer prakara, are Ayyappan, Saraswati, Annapoorani and Adi Sankara.   On the West of this outer prakara are:  Durvasa Maharishi, Uthsava Kamakshi, Thundeera Maharaja, Bangaru Kamakshi and Rajashyamala.   In the third prakara are:  Kala Bhairavar, Mahishasuramardhini and Booth Nigha Perumal and Panch Ganga Theertham of the temple.

The temple was once visited by a Dumb devotee and his prayers were answered by the Goddess as he wanted to sing her in praise.  Thus came "Mookapanchashati" in which he praises the Goddess and eulogises the beauty of her.  

Once Vishnu cursed Mahalakshmi to take an Aurupam form and she came to Kanchipuram and prayed on the Lord.  There is a belief that the Sree Kamakshi Kumkuum is to be offered to the Aurupam deity of Mahalakshmi in the sancturm sanctorum for fullfilling of the wishes of the devotees.  Here there is a adhi varagha perumal too.  A Santhanasthambam in the prakara is known as Nabisthan of Goddess.  Hence, the temple being one of the 51 Shakti peetas, is also known as Nabisthana - Ottiyana Peetam.   

  
Golden Chariot of the temple is taken out in procession on Fridays around 7.00 PM. 

Sthala Viruksham: Shenbagam 

The temple is administered by Sree Kanchi Mutt.  
In the Kamakshi Amman temple, there is a separate shrine for Adi Sankara who installed the image of Devi Kamakshi with due scriptural sanction and authority. He attained samadhi in Kanchi itself.

In the Kamakshi temple a significant representation of Goddess Mother is as in deep penance, standing on one leg, the other being folded up to the hip and the right arm raised touching the crown of the head. This sculpture resembles closely the figure of Sankara absorbed in penance in the same posture. The identity of the Mother and Sankara is obviously sought to be conveyed by this sculpture. (Kamakoti.org on Kamakshi temple)

Temple Timings:
05.30 AM to 12.30 PM

04.00 PM to 08.15 PM

Fridays upto: 09.30 PM

Pournami     : 10.30 PM