Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple: Timings, History & Secrets

Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Temple: In the cities of India, Goddess Shakti is mainly worshipped in the part of Kanchipuram. The place holds significance among the other Shakti peethas.

Similarly, the three places where the goddess Shakti worshiped are Kanchipuram, where Kanchi Kamakshi Amman is honored—Madurai, where Goddess Meenakshi and Kashi, where the visalakshi deity is revered.

This is a sacred place of Shakti peetha. At this place, Parasakti, containing Saraswathi and Parvathi as her eyes, rules kanchi as goddess Kamakshi.

The kanchi kamakshi amman temple was known in Perunaraatrupadai, a religious Tamil literature. It praises the renowned Sangam era.

The king of Kanchipuram who ruled it was Thodaiman Ilandiraiyan of the Pallava dynasty; he constructed the temple.

It is considered that Adi Sankaracharya, an 8th-century Indian Vedic scholar, developed the Sri Chakra in the shrine.

Excited to know more about the temple? Read the complete article to know the timings, history, and secrets of the Kanchi Kamakshi temple.

Timing of Kamakshi Amman Temple

If you are planning to visit the kanchi kamakshi temple, it’s important to know the timing of the temple to experience spirituality.

The temple mainly follows a schedule that observes multiple rituals and darshans for the entire day.

Morning time – The temple opens early at 5:30 am for the devotees. It enables them to involve themselves in sacred rituals and see the first rays of the sun lighting the divine sanctum.

Afternoon time – In the afternoon, the temple remains closed till 12:00 pm. It’s advised to see certain timing for the darshan and rituals during the afternoon. It might be changed based on regular schedules.

Evening time – The evening time for darshan starts from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, especially enchanting at the Kamakshi temple.

The glow of lamps, the fragrance of incense, and the soothing mantra chanting make a serene environment for followers.

Folklore of Kanchi Kamakshi Amman

As per the legend, Goddess Kamakshi is situated in the temple after the demolition of the demon Bhandasura.

The demon originated from the ashes of Manmatha (god of love). She did a penance on a fire pit to honor lord shiva, who came to her and married her.

It’s believed that Kamakshi was originally a Ugra Swaroopini. After installing the Sri chakra, Adi Sankara embodied her as the Shanta Swaroopini.

According to the legends, during the days of Adi Sankara, the presence of Ugra Swaroopini could be experienced.

On the request of Sankaracharya to not leave the temple complex, the Goddess established.

The sign of this festival image of Kamakshi asking to leave from Sankaracharya, at his premise in the inner prakram, every time she is taken out for a procession.

Who Is Lord Kamakshi?

Representing the power of nature, Kamakshi Devi is explained as the supreme goddess of tranquility and beauty.

Also known as Kamakshi Amman, the Goddess is revered in the form of Maa Parvati and Goddess Shakti.

She is described as a manifestation of Goddess Tripura Sundari Devi, or universal mother goddess.

Being lord shiva’s consort, she is depicted as Kamakshi in South India and Kamakhya in East India.

Her name explains the ‘desirable one,’ or if you entirely translate, it’s ‘one whose eyes are full of passion.’

The story begins when Lord Shiva opens his third eye to destroy Kama Dev, the god of love.

But the universe has other plans with a twist of fate; what Shiva wanted to kill resisted and ended up becoming Bhanda, a demon.

It’s assumed that Goddess Kamakshi destroyed the asura that was created from the ashes of Kama Dev.

The Goddess at the Kamakshi temple at Kanchipuram is thought to be the greatest and most powerful shrine honored to Goddess Kamakshi. The deity is observed to be the reigning deity in the Kanchi.

She is even honored at the Meenakshi temple situated in Madurai and at Varanasi, established as Visalakshi.

Goddess Kamakshi is Raja Rajeshwari and an incarnation of widespread control – Parasakti.

This is why there is no particular Ambal or Sakti asylum in Shiva sanctuaries inside the borders of Kanchipuram.

Sri Adi Shankara had set up and purified a Srichakra in front of the Goddess, and the ordinary veneration is performed for this chakra – alluded to as the Kamakoti Peeta.

Significance of Kamakshi Amman Name

The deity is most known and referred to as ‘Sri Kamakshi.’ The name ‘Kamakshi’ derives from Sanskrit, where Ka means Goddess Saraswati, Ma means Goddess Lakshmi, and Akshi means eyes.

Hence, Goddess Kamakshi is considered to be one whose both eyes represent goddess Saraswati and goddess Lakshmi.

History Behind The Kamakshi Amman Temple

It is one of the Shakti peethas, the place where Navem or Nabhi of Goddess Sati felt when lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan chakra chopped Goddess Sati’s body.

The temple is thought of as the center of the earth or the eastern semicircle. According to the belief, after taking birth to kill Asur Bhandasur, the goddess sat here getting ‘kanya swaroop.’

The image of ‘swayambhu’ indicates it has originated but not been created. She is thought to have three forms in the temple.

It includes Sthula, Sukshama, and Shunya. Goddess Kamakshi built the idol of lord Shiva with mud in kanchi to revere him.

To verify her worship, lord shiva formed herself as the Kamba River, which has high tides.

Still, the goddess did not allow the mud idol to be destroyed in the tides; she grasped it closely with her hands.

She worshiped lord shiva by standing on a needle tip, which was covered by 5 fires to remove from the livelihood interest.

It made lord shiva happy with her dedication and to marry her. There are multiple Shiva temples in Kanchi, but ‘Sri kamakshi amman temple’ is the only one, along with the goddess shrine. Eight Shakti goddesses cover the temple premises.

In the temple of Kamakshi Amman, a standing idol of a deity is made of gold. The posture of an idol to which she prayed and called Bangaru Kamakshi. After an attack on the temple, the gold idol of the goddess was moved to Thanjavur.

Master Shiva and Vishnu encompass the Kamakshi sanctuary, arranged in the heart of Kanchipuram.

On one side, there are different Shiva sanctuaries and a few Vishnu sanctuaries and is alluded to as huge or Shiva Kanchi.

Architecture Of Kanchi Kamakshi Temple

In an area of around 5 acres, Sri kanchi kamakshi temple is situated. The architecture of the temple is one of complicated design.

The temple tank and multiple mandapams are discovered on the outer premises of the temple. It includes 100 pillared halls and Dwajaarohana Mandap.

Once entering the four-pillared hall of the temple, you would then enter the inner prakaram, and then following the series of steps, you will get to the sanctum.

Interesting Things Of Kanchi Kamakshi Temple

The kanchi kamakshi temple is distributed in an area of 5 Acres, along with four entrances, every one with a towering gopuram.

The main gate is on the eastern side and leads to the sanctum sanctorum, where the goddess is located.

The idol of the goddess is made from gold and silver and is adorned with jewels and flowers.

The goddess idol is seated in a yogic position, keeping a sugarcane bow, a lotus, a parrot, and even a noose in her four arms.

She is covered by multiple other lords, like lord shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and Ganesha.

The temple premise has many other shrines as well, like halls and ponds with their essence and beauty. Some of the notable things are:

The Golden Lotus Pond

In the temple premises, a large pond can be seen in the center of the temple, where followers take a dip and cleanse themselves before seeking darshan.

The pond contains a golden lotus in the centre, which is said to have been developed by the goddess Parvati herself.

The pond even has many fish and turtles that are known as sacred and fed by tourists.

The Aadi Peeta Mandapam

Adi Peeta Mandapam is a hall where the original model of the goddess Kamakshi was set up by the sage Durvasa.

The goddess idol is now placed in individual chambers and only carried during special events.

The hall even has a yantra made on the floor, which is thought to have a strong influence and energy.

The Gayatri Mandapam

Another hall where the deity is revered is Gayatri, the incarnation of the Vedas. The hall contains a Gayatri statue with five faces and ten hands, holding multiple weapons and signs. The hall has the idol of Goddess Saraswati, too (goddess of learning and arts).

The Bangaru Kamakshi Mandapam

A hall with a replica of the original shrine of the goddess Kamakshi is placed. The idol is made of gold and adorned with priceless stones and pearls.

It has a silver chariot, which is used to bring idols during processions and celebrations.

The sanctuary, moreover, has a gallery, a library, a marriage corridor, and an eating lobby, where free dinners are served to the lovers every day.

The sanctuary is moreover known for its various rituals, such as the Navratri, the Pongal, the Maha Shivaratri, and the Brahmotsavam. The celebration attracts thousands of pioneers and visitors from all over the world.

The sanctuary also offers different administrations and ceremonies, such as the archana, the abhishekam, the kumkum archana, and the kalasa puja. It can be performed by the lovers for their well-being and prosperity.

The Kamakshi Amman Sanctuary is a place where you can involve the divine elegance and gifts of the mother goddess, who fulfills the wants of her aficionados.

It is a place where you can respect the imaginative and building wonders of the old Dravidian civilization, which have stood the test of time and history.

It is a place where you can submerge yourself in the wealthy and dynamic culture and conventions of Tamil Nadu, which are celebrated with fervor and bliss.

Dress Code for Kanchi Kamakshi Temple

To manage the temple’s sanctity and appreciate religious customs, visitors wish to adopt a certain dress code and dress modestly, mainly in sarees or traditional Indian clothes.

Followers are supposed to remove their shoes before entering the temple. Specific areas and racks are allocated for that.

How To Reach Kamakshi Amman Temple?

Kamakshi Amman temple in kanchi, which is about 75 km from Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu.

You can get to Kanchipuram by multiple transport modes like bus, train and airplane.

By Air

The closest airport to the temple is Chennai International Airport, It’s well connected to big cities in India and abroad.

From the airport, you can get a taxi, cab, bus, or train to reach Kanchipuram, which will take up to 2 hours to reach the temple.

By Train

Kanchipuram railway station is the nearest one, which is about 3 km away from the temple.

You can get a train from Chennai or other closest cities to Kanchipuram; it will take about 1 hour.

You can take an auto, cycle-rikshaw, or taxi from the station to reach the temple. It will just take 10 minutes.

By Road

You can also drive to Kanchipuram by taking the NH 48 or NH 32, which are well-maintained and beautiful interstates.

You can also take transport from Chennai or other adjacent cities to Kanchipuram, which will take around 2 hours.

The transport stand is approximately 2 km from the sanctuary, and you can take an auto-rickshaw, a cycle-rickshaw, or a taxi to the sanctuary, which will take around 10 minutes.

The best time to visit the Kamakshi Amman Sanctuary is between October and March, when the climate is wonderful and comfortable.

You can, moreover, visit the sanctuary amid the celebration season, when the sanctuary is brightened with lights and blooms and the air is merry and exuberant.

Be that as it may, you ought to be prepared for the swarm and the surge and book your convenience and transport in development.

The Best Time to Visit Kamakshi Amman Temple

The suitable time to explore the kanchi kamakshi temple is from October to March when the weather is pleasant and convenient to see the beautiful views.

Benefits of Honoring Goddess Kamakshi

Goddess Kamakshi indicates and helps her followers who pray with dedication and pure heart.

She is incarnated as the goddess of fertility and blesses the one who is looking to become a parent.

She is also known for blessing her devotees with fame and virtue. You would be able to get rid of any impure or negative energies.

You can achieve mental peace and overcome depression. The goddess will bless you with good health and physical well-being. You would be able to achieve the job you seek along with success and prosperity.

Tips To Follow While Visiting Kamakshi Temple in Kanchi

There are a few tips you need to consider if you want to seek the darshan of the goddess:

• Always wear decent clothes while entering the temple, as it’s a sacred place. Ignore wearing Western, short dresses like sleeveless tops, short skirts, and other revealing clothes. Cover your head and shoulders with a scarf and shawl, and remove shoes before entering the premises.
• Follow the instructions of the temple, like keeping silent, not capturing idol photos or videos, not touching the shrine and yantra, and not bringing any leather items. Do not eat non-vegetarian food before going to the temple.
• Appreciate the customs and culture of temples, like being involved in aarti, presenting flowers and fruits to the deity, and invoking blessings of the priests and temple staff.
• Be aware of timings and the charges of temples like opening and closing, the darshan and puja timing and the puja cost. You can go through the temple’s official website or contact the staff to know more details.
• Take care of the touts and beggars outside the temple, who can try to fraud you or harrass for money. Do not give them attention and report to the temple authorities or police if they are troubling you.

Conclusion

Hence, I’m sure the blog has driven you through the entire details needed to plan your trip to kanchi kamakshi temple.

A sacred place where the goddess Kamakshi is situated is called ‘Nabisthana Ottiyana Peetam.’ Therefore, embrace divinity by visiting the temple.

This is one of the holy temples that gives an experience of spiritual energy. The ancient architecture, rituals, and occasions give more for a strong religious experience.

Thus, the next time you find yourself in Tamil Nadu, be sure to visit the sacred abode of the goddess Kamakshi in Kanchipuram.