Navavarana Puja Kanchipuram

[Lenora Rademacher]

TheGoddess Kamakshi is in a sitting posture in the temple. This posture is called the Padmasana posture. The Padmasana posture is said to resemble a lotus. In the Yogic practice this resembles the form of meditation. Shs holds a Sugarcane bow on her left upper arm and Lotus, Parrot in her right upper arm and also has divine chakras called Pasa and Angusa in her arms.

History reveals that Goddess Kamakshi was praying under a mango tree with a Shiva lingam made of sand to marry the great Lord Shiva. After a long duration of dedicated and devoted meditation to Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva appeared before her and married the Goddess Kamakshi, a divine form of Parvati. There are no traditional Parvati or Shakti shrines in the city of Kanchipuram, apart from this temple, which adds even more legend to this temple.

Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities in India. History proclaims that Kanchipuram was ruled by the Pallava Kings. The city is most famous for its silk production and old temples. The city is located on the Palar river. It has all types of people from weavers to Vaishnavites.

It has many big temples like Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple, Sri Ekambaranthar Temple, Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Sri Ulagalanda Perumal Temple, Sri Kumarakottam Temple, Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Sri Kachapeswarar Temple and much more. kanchipuram also attracts tourist and foreigners in plenty due to its rich culture and heritage. The city has a huge spree of Silk Weavers Society. The city is quite famous all over the world for its Silk Variety and Quality.

There is huge demand for export of Silk saris within and outside India. There are many eminent scholars like C.N.Annadurai who were born in this city. The city has developed a niche for the industrial corridors for great giants like Nokia, Motorola, Hyundai and many others. The city also has hotels and restaurants for the comfort of tourist and foreigners. There is a very old Mutt established by Sri Adisankaracharya Called Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. This mutt is world renowned for its charitable activities and Institutions. There are also other Spiritual mutts within Kanchipuram.

As a result of that penance on Palguni [march/april] uthiram day she married Parameswaran. This is called as Palguni Uthira Divine Wedding. Hence devotees not fortunate to finda a suitable wedding match pray to the goddess on this day.

To marry Parameswaran, kamakshi standing on the five holy fire and on the needle edge and with one leg folded she undertook a severe penance. As a result of that penance on Palguni [march/april] uthiram day she married Parameswaran. This is called as Palguni Uthira Divine Wedding. Hence devotees not fortunate to finda a suitable wedding match pray to the goddess on this day.

BANGARU KAMAKSHII

During the invasion of Mughal Emperors to protect the gold sculpture of Kamakshi from them it was shifted to Udaiyar Palayam for its safety. The same is at Tanjore now. Bangar Kamakshi blesses the devotees who seeks her blessings.

ANNA PURANI

On the rear side of the sanctum sanctorum is the shrine of Kasi Anna Purani. She appears With food vessel in one hand and a ladle in other hand. Through the Biksha Dwaram [Bikshai Hole] devotees pray to Anna Purani for giving them food for ever.

DHARMA SASTHA

After Saraswathi Devi we find Dharma Sastha with Purna and Pushkala. Ancient legends say that Chola King Karigala has taken floral bunch from Dharma Sastha , went upto Himalayas and hoisted the victory flag there.

ADI SANKARA

After establishing Mutts in four directions, Adi Sankara reached Kanchipuram. He established the Kamakoti Peetam and ascended the Sarvagna Peetam. Attained salvation by merging into Kamakshi. He consecrated Sri Chakra with his own hands in the sanctum Sanctorum infront of Kamakshi and Performed pujas for the same..During any festivals in the temple Adi Sankara is given first reverence .

As he is Considered as an incarnation Lord Siva, he faces kamakshi in front when she goes on procession She goes in his way. After Adi Sankara the pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti peetam are the permanent Trustees of this temple.. Ganapathyam-Vinayaga, Saivam-Siva, Vaishnavam-Vishnu, Saaktham-Ambal, Kauvmaram-Murugan, Sauram-Sun are six religions he formed for worship. To establish the fact that Kamakshi is the centrifugal force all religions, it is said that the temples of Sangupani Vinayagar for Ganapathyam, Kausikeswarar for saivam, Ulagalantha Perumal for vaishnavam, Kaligambal for saktham, Kumarkkottam for Kaumaram and Sun sannidhi in Maha Kaleswarar Temple are found in the four thorough fares around the temple.

There is a separate sannidhi with the sculpture of Adi sankara in this temple.69th Pontiff of Kanchi Mutt Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal dedicated Golden chariot, Golden Skirt, Golden Kavasam, Golden Lion for Kamakshi from the gold received from the Swarnabishekam performed on Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi swamigal[maha periyava] And the 69th pontiff himself..

DUNDEERA MAHARAJA [EMPEROR]

Maharaja Dundeera ruled Kanchipuram which came under the Thondai Mandala [region] empire. Thondai Mandalam is otherwise called as Dendeeram. In the north near Kalahasthi river Swarnamuk also called ,ponmukili and in the south Pennai river called as pinakini because Lord Sive created this with his bow called as pinagam, in the East an ocean and a great natural lake in the west near virunchipuram are the four boundaries of Thonda Mandala empire or Dundeeram..

HOLY TANK AND PERUMAL SANNIDHI.

The holy tank is called Pancha Ganga because ganga which emanated from the crown of Siva descended here into the tank. A male and a female demon in the tank troubled all the devotees. Devi killed those demons. The blood of the demons produced many more of them. Lord Vishnu killed them by standing, lying down on them and sitting on them.

A shrine of Perumal in these postures is seen next to the Temple Tank. Shrine of Durga is seen on the northern bund of the tank .People belonging to the Koorja kingdom worshipped her. The Shrine was renovated and consecration was performed by Sri.Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal in 1976. Annual Float festival takes place for three days in a year in this tank.

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