Adi Kamakshi Temple (அடி காமாக்ஷி கோவேல்) Kancheepuram,Kanchipuram

 
Festival:

Navarathri (September-October) is celebrated for 13 days in the temple. Mother Adi Kamakshi is dressed differently during the first nine days. She is covered with sandal paste on the 11th day and taken in procession on the last day in a palanquin decorated with flowers.

Temple’s Speciality:

There is a Shakti Lingam in the front mandap of Mother’s shrine. It has the merciful face of Mother Sri Adi Kamakshi, hence called Arthanareeswara Linga.

Opening Time:

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Address:

Sri Adi Kamakshi Temple, Kancheepuram-635 501.

General Information:

There are shrines for Madaleeswarar Lingam, Saptha Kannikas (seven virgins), Nagar, Mahishasuramardhini in the prakara-corridor. There is also the sculpture of Mother Annapoorani. Mother Veerya Lakshmi, once in the sanctum sanctorum is in a separate shrine now.

Prayers:

Devotees perform abishek with milk during Rahukalam time (one and half hour a day covers the Rahukalam. The time varies from day to day). They light ghee lamps.

Thanks giving:

Devotees perform abishek with milk during Rahukalam time (one and half hour a day covers the Rahukalam. The time varies from day to day). They light ghee lamps.

Greatness Of Temple:

Poornima-New Moon Pooja: Mother Sri Adikamakshi graces in a sitting form on a lotus throne facing south. There are Angusa, Pasa and a rice bowl in Her hands. The heads of three demons are under Her feet. Srichakra Yantra is there in the shrine.

The first puja is performed to Sri Chakra. Special pujas are performed to Mother on Full Moon nights. Devotees pray during the Rahu kalam time on Sundays (from 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.) and Tuesdays (from 3.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.) with milk abishek and light deepas. While traditionally there are only women Dwarapalakis in Shakti temples, there are Dwarapalakas also in this temple in the front mandap while the former are in the Artha Mandap.

Worship for wedding: Shakti Lingam is in the front Mandap of the shrine with the face of Ambica. Hence, this is called Arthanareeswara Lingam. Girls of marriageable age worship here on Fridays in the Rahukalam time (10.30 a.m. to 12.00 a.m.) with abishek to Shakti Lingam and Mother Adi Kamakshi and light lamps. Couples separated due to difference of opinion pray for reunion. They offer sweet preparations to Shakti Linga as Nivedhana.

Mother Adi Kamakshi represents the three powers of Shakti, Mahalashmi and Maha Saraswathi offering the devotee courage, wealth and education. Along the compound wall of the temple there are shrines for Nardana Ganapathi, Maheswari, Vaishnavi, Brahmmi and Mother Durga.

Temple History:

Devas, a privileged community in the upper world came to Earth and prayed Mother Ambica to protect them from the harassment of the demons. Mother took the form of Mahakali and destroyed the demons and agreed to stay here itself as requested by the Devas. As Mother was furious during Her war with the demons, to calm her down from the fury, the Sri Chakra was installed in the temple. Mother was named Adi Kamakshi. As the Mother was Kali earlier, the place also has the name Kali Kottam.