Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram – Association of
Adi Shankaracharya with Kamakshi Amman Temple
Adi Shankaracharya
is significantly associated in the rich history of the temple. Like many other
ancient goddesses, the form of Kamakshi was less benign than the current form.
There used to be various forms of animal and human sacrifices in ancient
Shakthi temples and it is believed that Adi Shankaracharya led to the more
peaceful representation of the goddess by placing a divine Chakra before it.
And the
goddess agreed to show her benign side in the temple, while the forms of
Shakthi outside Kanchipuram still had angrier forms of Shakthi. There is no
verifiable historical proof for this, though it is a part of the local
folklore. Symbolic of this, during the festivals when the processional deity is
taken for a procession around the temple streets, it takes leave from Shankaracharya,
at his shrine in the inner corridor. It is also believed that Shankaracharya
defeated Buddhist and other philosophers in this place, sparking a revival for
Hinduism.
The
Saint Adisankara born at Kaladi in Kerala travelled across all the parts of the
country. When he visited Kanchipuram he felt the goddess is in a ferocious mode
that the entire sanctorum was very hot. So to personify her and accomplish to
her to normal state the saint sung songs in the praise of goddess named
“Soundarya Lahari” then he established a Sri Chakra in front of her idol to
keep her cool and personified. This Srichakram is visible to all of us and all
the poojas are done to Srichakram too. The Saint established Sri Kanchi
Kamakoti Peetam and attained Sarvagyna Peetam in this holy city.
This Sri
Chakra soon became the All India famous Kamakoti Peetam, a Hindu religious
institution.