Kamakoti Peetham/Sthalapuranam

[Guest guest]

Had a look at the sthalapuranams at the URL posted by Sridharji

http://www.hindubooks.org/temples/ and here copied out the write-up on

Kamakshi Temple in Kanchi. It also gives an explanation about Kamakoti

Peetham, which is the shriyantra before Kamakshi which is placed in a yoni

(like the one we see in shivalingams) which has the pictures of

ashtalakshmi.

 

============================================

Sri Kamakshiamman Temple:

Kanchi is sacred as one of the three Sakti peethas of India. Kamakshi is

said to be the Supergoddess, Parasakti, having Saraswati, Lakshmi and

Parvati as her eyes. She blesses all that dedicate themselves to her. The

sanctum sanctorum faces southeast in the centre of Gayatri Mandaparn. The

tradition says that there was a delightful grove of Champaka trees around

the main temple now known as Gayatri Mandaparn. The Devas took the form of

parrots and worshipped Sri Devi here.

The Kamakoti Peetham is enshrined in the Sri Chakra just in front of Sri

Devi and all pujas and sacrifices are offered to the Sri Chakra. It is said

that Sri Devi after giving protection to the Devas enshrined herself in the

Sri Chakra in Sookshma (subtle) form. There is a great concavity to the

right of Sri Devi. It is said that Sri Devi appeared through the great

concavity called Bilakasa to save the Devas from, the Asuras. Sri Adi

Sankaracharya installed the Kamakoti Peetham in this shrine and he is said

to have remained here for the rest of his life on earth. The Sri Chakra is

placed in front of Sri Devi. The image of Sankaracharya is worshipped in the

temple.

The association of Sankaracharya with Kamakshi temple is that Kamakshi was

under divine wrath and she in the form of Goddess Kali was moving out at

nights and creating havoc in the city. People became alarmed. Sankaracharya

who prayed devotedly to Kamakshi appeased her wrath and extracted a promise

that she would not go out to the town without his permission. Even now

whenever processions of Kamakshi are taken out from the temple, they are

halted before the shrine of Sankaracharya with the intention of getting

permission from him to go outside the temple, in a true spirit of

fulfillment of the promise once given to Sri Sankaracharya by Kamakoti

Amman.

 

The sacred tank in the temple is called Pancha Ganga. Tradition says that

when a grave was dug to bury Bandhasura, a new Asura came out and fought

against the Devas. Iswara therefore deputed two of his Ganas who drank the

blood of the Asura and put an end to the increasing number. But the two

Sivaganas lost their divine qualities and became brutal and marched on Lord

Vishnu. Lord Vishnu took pity on them and giving darsan standing, sitting

and sleeping made them again regain their good heart. The two Ganas realised

their folly and regretted their misdeeds. Iswara then released five torrents

of Ganga from his five tresses and made the two Ganas bathe in the. Pancha

Ganga to wash off their sins. These two Sivaganas are still serving as

Dwarapalakas. The temple covers an area of 4 acres and 16 cents. The annual

festival takes place in the Tamil month of Masi (February-March). On the 9th

day, the Silver Car festival is held. Poora Nakshatra in the Tamil month of

Aippasi (October - November) is the birthday of Sri Devi when special

abhishekams are conducted.