The Kamakshi Temple is an ancient Hindu Temple located in the historic city of Kanchipuram in Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated to Kamakshi, the goddess Parvathi, known as Tripura Sundari, Rajarajeshwari, Shodashi and Lalitha. The Kamakshi temple was built by the famous Pallava Kings (Pallava Dynasty) that existed between 275 CE to 897 CE who ruled a portion of South India. Their capital was Kanchipuram.
Hindu legends say that Kamakshi Amman is considered and worshipped very much similar to the Meenakshi at Madurai and Vishalakshi at Varanasi. All the three are different incarnations of one and the same goddess Parvathi. But the Kamakshi is the only Shakti Shrine across all Shiva Temples in Kanchipuram (it is said that about 1000 small and Shiva Temples exist) having no separate shrine for Amman.
The Idol of the main Deity, Kamakshi Amman can be seen as seated in the Majestic Padmasana pose. Padmasana is a cross-legged Yoga pose which signifies Peace and Prosperity instead of the traditional standing posture. Kamakshi Amman is holding a Sugarcane Bow and bunch of five Flowers in the lower two arms while a Pasha (Lasso) and Ankusha (Goad) in the upper two arms. There is also a Parrot perched near the flower bunch. Local legends say that Adi Shankaracharya established the Sri Chakra in the Kamakshi Amman temple in the trough-like structure in the Shrine.
Read more about the Kamakshi Amman temple at
- The temple website Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Ambal
- Wikipedia
