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.