Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram – Legends
Parvathi penance on Lord Shiva:
After
quelling the demon Tharuka, Lord Shiva and Uma Devi were engaged in a blissful
conversation at the Mount Kailas in a holy hall called “Mani Mandapam”. While
it was going on, Devi came behind the Lord and blindfolded him with her hands
just for fun. The whole Universe plunged in to darkness. The work of creation
stopped, Yagnas were deterred. Penance and Charity were abandoned. Living
beings suffered in gloom. Growth of Knowledge was hindered. Books on Vedhas
disappeared. The entire world was in a state of stupor on account of
darkness. Devas and hermits yelled in fear. Their cry reached the ears of
the Goddess Uma Devi. She removed her hands from the eyes of Lord Siva which
began to shine in effulgence. The universe restored its lost light and action.
Lord
Siva told Uma that the whole world grieved and sin enveloped as a result of she
closed his eyes. As it is a sin, Shiva directed Devi to do atonement by either
worshipping from a place where Lord Siva was in appearance or from the place
where his followers were in their greatness. The goddess Parvathi got a curse
due to this and had to born on earth as Kamakshi. Goddess Kamakshi was praying
under a mango tree with a Shiva lingam made of sand to marry Lord Shiva.
At that
moment, Lord Shiva incarnated as Kamba River with high tides to test Kamakshi.
Kamakshi grasped the idol closely with her two hands and prevented it from
getting eroded in the tides. She also performed Pooja by sitting in a needle
tip surrounded by “Panchakagni” (surrounded by 5 fires) to free herself from
the interest of livelihood. The Lord Shiva became happy, gestured before her
and married her. When the goddess was performing penance, her fury was felt
well beyond the Champaka grove affecting the villagers outside. The saint Dhurvarsa
requested her to become peaceful.
Kamakshi Amman killing Bhandakasuran:
Rakshasha
named Bhandakasuran did severe penance for Lord Brahma and got several boons.
He became very powerful and started troubling Devathas. Devathas urged Lord
Siva for help. As Lord Siva knows only Sri Bala Tripurasundari Devi has the
power to kill Bhandakasuran, he advised them to go to Kanchipuram through
Bilamarga (tunnel), which is the safest place during Pralayam and pray for Bala
Tripurasundari Devi.
Devathas
came to Kanchipuram. They stayed in Kanchipuram in the disguise of parrots on a
Champaka tree and prayed for Bala Tripurasundari Devi. Goddess was pleased by
their prayers and came out of a Bila in a very ferocious form with 8 hands,
Chakra and 18 weapons and killed Bhandakasuran, who is sleeping in
Kailasam. She dragged the body of Bhandakasuran from Kailasam to
Kanchipuram and entered the Bilam in the form of a small girl.
Devathas
recognized the goddess and took their original identities, but were frightened
to go near the goddess as she looked very ferocious. They all prayed her to
calm down. She took the form of a beautiful young girl with all the ornaments
and with a smile on her face. She ordered Devathas to bury the body of
Bhandakasuran in the ground and install a Jalasthambam on
it. Devathas buried Bhandakasuran as said by goddess. They built
Gayathri Mandapam and did vahana of the goddess in the form of a young girl on
the Ratna Simhasana.
Later
they closed the doors and kept chanting Devi Slokas. They waited till next morning
and then opened the doors. They wondered to see Lalitha Parameswari Devi in her
original form of Maha Tripurasundari with full of grace in her face, instead of
the young girl. They Chanted Slokas in praise of her. She was pleased by
their prayers and told she will be blessing every one coming here with her
eyesight itself by the name of “Kamakshi Devi”.
She
emerged as Swayambu on Srimukha Nama year, Phalguna month, and when sun is in
Kumba rasi, Krishnapaksha Thithi, Purvapalguni Nakshatram, and Friday.
Devatha’s wanted to do Pattabishekam to Maha Tripurasundari Devi. Vishwakarma
had sent Pallakku, Lord Brahma had sent pearl necklace, Lord Vishnu had sent
Navaratna Kiridam, Lord Siva had sent Srichakra Pathakam made of all
ratnas as gifts and decorated goddess with all ornaments and did
Pattabishekam.
They
urged her to stay here permanently. It is important to go to Swarna
Kamakshi Mandiram after visiting Kamakshi Devi and not to do Sastanganamaskara
in Gayathri Mandapam. We can see idol of Thundeera beside Vuschava Kamakshi.
It seems as if he is in Dhyanam. Devotees pass by without disturbing him. While
crossing him devotees close their mouth by their hand (silence) as a sign of
respect.
Goddess Lakshmi penance on getting back her beauty:
Once the
goddess Lakshmi was given curse by the Lord Vishnu to incarnate as Aroopa form
(deformed). Goddess Mahalakshmi comes to Kanchipuram and performs the worship
chanting in the name of Lord Vishnu to free her from this Aarupam. After long
prayers, the Goddess is freed from her Aarupam and given a Rupam by the Lord
Vishnu. There exists a belief that Goddess kamakshi kumkum has to be
offered to the idol of Aarupa Lakshmi within the sanctorum where by the goddess
Lakshmi will fulfill your needs on the prayer.
Dasaratha getting boon from Kamakshi for heirs:
The
history reveals us that King Dasaratha performed “Putra Kameshti Yagam” in the
temple for the Birth of a child to his kingdom. The King performed pooja to the
“Nabisthanam” of the goddess in the temple. The King Dasaratha within a few
months received a child. The King Dasaratha belongs to the “Ishyavagu Vamsam”. The
prime deity is Goddess Kamakshi for this clan. The extract of this story is
visible in “Markandeya Puranam”. The faith is if prayed truly the goddess
provides child for the childless couples.
The
Santhana Sthambha inside the Gayathri Mandapa of this temple is associated with
the king Dasaratha, the father of Lord Rama. He came to this temple and prayed
to Kamakshi Amman for the grant of a boon to get sons.
Ganesha incarnation as son of King Akasa Bhoopathi:
In olden
days, there was a king named Akasa Bhoopathi didn't have son. He came here and
prayed Kamakshi Amman. Kamakshi's son Lord Ganesha incarnated as the son
(Thundir Maharaja) of the king. You can find the idol of Thundir Maharaja in
this temple.
Kamakshi absorbing all Shakthi forms:
According
to Kamkshivilasa is that the Goddess had to absorb all the
other Shakthi forms to give boon to Manmatha (the Hindu god of
fertility and love).
Raja Rajeswari absolute control over the Land:
Another
legend attributes it to the Raja Rajeswari pose of the deity that
signifies an absolute control over the land under its control, leaving no other
forms of Shakthi.
Mother turning a dumb to poet:
The
temple was visited by a dumb devotee named “Mookan”. The devotee begged the
goddess to free him from this dumbness so that he can perform poems on the
praise of the goddess. The goddess suddenly provides him grace by freeing him
from dumbness and giving him intellectuality in creating poetry. He was very
happy with the goddess that he wrote a poetry named “Mookapanchashati” in which
he praises entirely about the grace of the goddess with her beauty.
The
temple goddess has been so graceful that she has made dumb to a poet, has given
birth to the childless couples and provides wealth to all her devotees. The
goddess destroys evil and helps the prosperity of goodness to prosper
throughout the world.