KANCHIPURAM
The Golden City of Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred places of India. It is also hailed by Kalidasa as "Nagareshu Kanchi"(Best City among others). This pilgrimage centre is important for both Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Popularly known as "The City of Thousand Temples" is mainly consists of Siva Kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi. Kanchipuram is around 72 kms. from Chennai.
KAMAKSHI
AMMAN TEMPLE
This
temple is among the three important Sakthi Peetams alongwith Madurai and Kashi.
The sanctum faces the Gayathri Mandapam. The beautiful deity of the Devi is
in the sitting posture, holding a bow of sugarcane and arrows of flowers. She
is being worshipped also as Rajarajeshwari, Tripurasundari and Lalitha Kameswari.
The Kanchi Peetam(Sri Chakram), established by Sri Adi Sankaracharya, is in
front of the Goddess and all pujas are offered to this. There are separate shrines
for Adi Sankaracharya and sage Durvasa, a Devi Upasaka. The idol is taken out
only after formally seeking Adi Sankaracharya's permission during festival processions.
This is in fulfillment of a divine promise.
EKAMBARESWARA TEMPLE
Sri Ekambareswara is in the form of "Prithvi Lingam" hence Kanchipuram
is also known as one of the Pancha Bhutha Sthalas. According to a Puranic story,
Kailash Parvathy closed the eyes of Lord Shiva, while playing, bringing darkness
to the entire world. Getting angry at her behaviour, Lord Shiva cursed
Parvathi to become black like Kali. Unable to bear the punishment the Goddess
descended on this place and did penance under a mango tree making a Lingam out
of earth . Hence much significance is attached to this shrine and the mango
tree, situated within the temple.
KAILASANATHA TEMPLE
This temple was built by Kind Rajasimha, the Pallava king and is known for
its beautiful sculptures. The image of ardhanareeswara, seated on a bull with
the feminine aspect carrying veena, is noteworthy. Other important temples in
Shiva Kanchi are the Kachapeswara temple where Lord Vishnu worshipped Shiva
in the form of a tortoise, Chitragupta temple, the only one of its kind in the
South India, Kumara Kottam., a popular temple of Sri Subramanya, Satyavrateswara
and Agastiswara shrines.
VARADARAJA PERUMAL TEMPLE
Situated on top of Hastigiri Hill, it is the centre of attraction in Vishnu
Kanchi. This temple was constructed by the Vijayanagar Kings and the grand gopurams
are architectural marvels. The beautiful site has sculptures in the Hall of
Hundred Pillars. The separate shrines in the temple are, Sri Perundevi Thayar,
the divine consort, and Yoga Narasimha in a cave below Hastigiri Hill. In "Anantha
Theertham" the holy tank, Lord Attigiri Varadaraja is lying below water
and is taken out only once in a generation for the worship of devotees. Other
important temples include those of Vaikunta Perumal, Ulagalanda Perumal, Ashtabujam
Perumal, Yathoktakari and Vilakkoil Kerumal.
SRI SANKARA MUTT
It is one of the Sankara Peetams established by Sir Adi Sankara, Kanchipuram
is the home religion besides culture, art, learning, philosophy and music. The
Brindavanam of Paramacharya Sri Chandrashekharendra Saraswathi is worshipped
here. The present swamijis are Sri Jayendra Saraswathi and Sri Shankara Vijayendra
Saraswathi.