Tamil Nadu Temple Bike Ride Diaries: Day-2 :17-02-2024(Continued)

The second Temple that I visited today is Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple.

I was fortunate enough to participate in the Kamakshi Amman Procession around the Temple Premises.

Its historic and spiritual centre in South India, Kanchipuram is the seat of Goddess Kamakshi. It is one of the seven Mokshapuris (Ayodhya Mathura Maya Kashi Kanchi Avantika Puri Dwarakavati caiva saptaide moksha dayika) and fifty one Shakti Peethas.The Goddess Kamakshi is in a sitting posture resembling a Lotus, and hence called the Padmasana. The Goddess holds a Sugarcane bow in her left arm and Lotus and Parrot in her right, in addition to Pasha-Ankusha. A Chandra Prabhai (Crescent shape of the moon) on the forehead is also present. The Ambal Sannadhi is in the Gayatri Mandapam.

History Behind the Kanchi Kamakshi Temple

Counted among one of the Shakti Peetha’s, this is the place where the Navel or Nabhi of Goddess Sati fell when Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshana Chakra touched Goddess Sati’s body.

The temple is also believed as the center of the earth or eastern hemisphere. There is a belief that after taking birth for killing Asur Bhandasur, Devi sat here taking “Kanya Swarup.” The idol is “Swayambhu,” which signifies it has appeared and not created. She is believed to have three Swarups in the temple. These include Sthula, Sukshama, and Shunya.

Goddess Kamakshi created the mud idol of Lord Shiva in Kanchi to worship him. To test her worship, Lord Shiva incarnated himself as Kamba River that has high tides. But the Goddess did not let the mud idol erode away in tides. She grasped it closely with her hands.She also prayed on a needle tip that is surrounded by 5 fires (Panchakagni) to free her from the livelihood interest. Lord Shiva became happy with her worship and married her.

There are various Shiva temples in Kanchi, but “Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple” is the only one with the Goddess Sanctorum. Eight Shakti Goddesses also surround the temple.There was a standing image of Kamakshi Devi in Gold. This is a pose in which she prayed and is called Bangaru Kamakshi. An attack was expected at the temple, so the image in Gold gets shifted to Thanjavur

Lord Shiva and Vishnu surround Kamakshi temple situated in the heart of Kanchipuram. On one side, there are various Shiva temples and few Vishnu temples and is referred as big or Shiva Kanchi. The other side of the Kamakshi temple has big Vishnu temples and some Shiva temples too. This side is known as small or Vishnu Kanchi.

Stories linked to the Temple:

• Rishi Durvasa overcame his curse after worshipping and praying to Kamakshi. Later, he installed Sri Chakra here and wrote Saubhagya Chintamani Kalpa, also known as Durvasa Samhita. He has written a detailed Vidhi (way) in this about how to worship Kamakshi Devi. Today also the worship is done exactly as it is mentioned in Saubhagya Chintamani Kalpa.7 Gotras priests called Shastri’s can worship here. But, only two priests worship here and the rest five worship at Thanjavur Kamakshi temple.

• The sanctum of the Goddess remained very hot that signifies her Raudra Rup. It was only after Adi Shankara pacified her that she came in her peaceful form. Adi Shankara also wrote “Saundra Lahiri” here.

• Ayodhya’s King Dasaratha from Suryavanshi Ikshvaku Vansh is believed of performing “Putra Kameshi Yagam” here for the child’s birth. After performing Puja at the “Nabisthanam,” the King was blessed with a child within a few months. Devi Kamakshi is also Ikshvashu Clan’s Kuldevi. Since then, there became beliefs that childless couples get children after praying here. The story has a reference in Markandeya Purana.

• “Mookan,” a dumb devotee visited the temple and begged Goddess for freeing him from dumbness. He wanted to perform poems in the praise of Goddess. She freed him from dumbness and gave him the power to think and create poetry. He also wrote poetry “Mookapanchashati” in 500 verses praising about the Goddess beauty and grace.

Festivals of the Temple:

• Shiva and Kamakshi’s marriage is celebrated in Phalgun month that falls in February or March. There is a belief that people who are getting married should come and attend this festival.

Goddess Kamakshi is taken on a boat ride on this special day. Rukmani temple in Dwarka also celebrates this day.

• Sharda Navratri and Chaitra are celebrated here in the same way as other Devi Temples of India. Special celebrations take place every full moon day or Purnima.

• Brahmotsava is celebrated in Magh that is in January or February. During this time, the idol is taken every morning and evening out. Kamakshi Devi rides on Golden lion on the 4th day and on the silver chariot on the 9th day. Then on the final or 10th day that is also a full moon, all the devotees and Goddess take a holy dip in the temple tank.

• Kamakshi Amman rides in Gold chariot on Chaitra month’s first day.

• Four worships are offered every day.

• Navaratri, Sankara Jayanthi, Aadi, Vasanta Utsavam, and Aippasi Pooram are the other festivals celebrated in this temple.

Source:Behindeverytemple.org

Tamil Nadu Temple Ride Diaries

Temple Darshan Ride, Day 1:

The Ranganayaka Swamy Temple, Nellore

The Ranganayaka Swamy Temple, 

also known as the Talpagiri Ranganathaswami Temple or the Ranganayakulu Temple, 

is an ancient temple in Nellore. 

It dates back to the 7th century CE and was founded by the kings of the Pallava dynasty, who ruled over this region for many centuries. In the 12th century CE, it was renovated and expanded by King Raja Mahendra Varma, who belonged to the Chola dynasty.

There is a beautiful story behind the name “Talpagiri.” It is said that when Lord Sri Maha Vishnu came to Earth, he wanted to rest alongside his wife, Sridevi. He asked the serpent deity, Adisesha, to be his dwelling during their stay on Earth. Adisesha then transformed into a mountain at a special location, which we now call “Talpagiri Kshetram.” The name “Talpa” means the divine bed of Adisesha, which is where Lord Maha Vishnu rests. 

According to legend, the great Sage Kashyapa conducted a sacred ceremony called the Poundarika Yagna at this location on the day of Ekadasi. As a result, Lord Maha Vishnu appeared and blessed the sage. 

This is why Talpagiri Kshetram is considered a very special and holy place.

The main deity worshipped at the temple is Lord Ranganatha, who is depicted lying on a serpent bed named Anantha. 

The Lord Ranganatha vigraha is a beautiful black stone sculpture that measures about 10 feet long. It features the goddess Sridevi sitting on the Lord’s chest, while Lord Brahma sits on a lotus that rises from the Lord’s navel. At the Lord’s feet, you’ll find smaller statues of Sridevi and Bhudevi. In front of the main deity, you’ll see the Utsava murtis, which are festival deities. There’s also a lovely sitting statue of the goddess Sridevi, known as Ranganayaka Devi.

One unique thing about this temple is that the idols face west, towards the Penna River, which is different from most temples where the deity faces east.