Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram – Adi Shankara Shrine

Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram – Adi Shankara Shrine
The shrine of Adi Sankara is also to the west of the first prakaram of Kamakshi Amman and to the left of Dharma Sastha. The story goes that the Vedas, the seat of Karma (action), Bhakthi (devotion) and Gnana (wisdom) became mutilated and abused in Kaliyuga. Adi Shankara, the great teacher /Acharya, was born in Kaladi in Kerala to Sivaguru and Aryammal.
He took Sanyasa (celibacy orders) and wrote commentaries and preached the real meaning of the Vedas Upanishads, Bhagwad Gita and Brahma Sutras. He traveled all over India and preached Sanathana Dharma. He established the Mutts in Sringeri, Dwaraka, Badrinath and Puri. He appointed his disciples to take charge of these centers and to spread the philosophy of Advaitha, the philosophy of non-duality.
Finally, Sankara came to Kanchi and took back the Kamakshi Devi Shrine from the Buddhists. He renovated and installed Kamakoti Peeta and the Shri Chakra. He wrote the songs of ecstasy on Kamakshi Amman called the ‘Soundarya Lahari’ and ‘Lalitha Thrisithi’. He attained Moksha (eternal bliss) by entering the pilakasam, (the secret cavity) in this temple. Adi Sankara is also called Kamakoti Peeta Jagath Guru Sankara.