Arulmigu Kamakshi Amman Temple Mangadu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

SRI KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE

Mangadu, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

Goddess

The main diety of this temple is Sri Kamakshi Amman faces East direction in this temple. Kamakshiamman is seated in a majestic Padmasana, an yogic posture signifying peace and prosperity, instead of the traditional standing pose. The goddess holds a sugarcane bow and bunch of owers in the lower two of her arms and has a pasha (lasso), an ankusha (goad) in her upper two arms. There is also a parrot perched near the ower bunch.

Interesting Facts

Sati devi's back had fallen here and the temple is also one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 26°C during night)Average - May (33.7 °C during the day and 21 °C during night)Lowest - October to February (26 °C during day and 17 °C during night)Monsoon season - June to September

Dress Code

For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
These rules are applicable for foreigners also. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.
Pilgrims/visitors will not be allowed inside the temple if dress code is not followed.

Do's & Dont's

Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at Temple.
Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the Temple.

Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the Temple Premises.

transport connections

Name	Distance	Contact Number
Mangadu Bus Stand	55.7 KM	1800 419 4287
Pallavaram railway station	71.9 KM	139
Chennai International Airport	74.6 KM	044-2256 0551

Railway Station Name	Distance	Contact Number
Pallavaram railway station	71.9 KM	139

Airport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Chennai International Airport	74.6 KM	044-2256 0551

Architecture

Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple faces East direction, it has a 5 tier Rajagopuram on the eastern side and 3 tiered Gopurams on the other three sides. On the centre of the entrance you can see a huge Dwajasthamba. The Jayasthambam (pillar of victory) is in front of the main entrance. It was established to mark the spot where the slaughtered remains of Bhandakasuran were buried. The Golden Vimaanam for the goddess are special features. The temple also has a golden Gopuram on the sanctorum of the Goddess Kamakshi deity which is visible to all devotees. Artha Mandap, Thapas Mandap and the front Manda was built by the celestials, with the four walls representing the four Vedas and the twenty-four pillars representing the twenty-four syllables of the sacred formula of Gayatri. Several mandapams such as the 100 pillared hall, the Dwajarohana mandapam, the Santhana Sthambam (the pillar of progeny) is to the left of the sanctum of the main deity and in front of Varahi.

Religious Significance

This is the holy place where Mother Kamakshi performed severe penance standing on one leg amidst fire before her wedding with Lord Ekambareswarar in Kancheepuram. Siva and Devi were sporting in their garden in the Mount Kailash. Devi in her playful mood closed the eyes of Lord Siva. Immediately the whole creation fell into eternal darkness. Goddess craved Siva's pardon. Lord Siva directed Goddess to the earth for performing severe penance. Goddess came and started her severe penance on the Panchagni in Mangadu. Goddess performed penance on the Panchagni, resting the left leg on the Panchagni, folding the right leg. Her left hand is raised above her head, holding a jabmala. This can be seen in this Mangadu Temple as Tapas Kamakshiamman. Shrividya Parameshvari, who forms the inner core of the Prakata Gayatri and thus called Rahasya Gayatri, is enshrined at the center of the Gayatri Mandapam as Kamakshiamman.

It is believed that King Dasaratha (Father of Lord Rama) performed “Putra Kameshi Yagam” here. Kanchipuram is the seat of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham established by Adi Shankaracharya. It is believed that Shankaracharya attained Samadhi at Kanchipuram, although another school of thought holds that Kedarnath in the Himalayas is the site of his Samadhi. Mother Kamakshi left for Kancheepuram without dousing the Panchagni fire. This made Mangadu and the surrounding places too hot and dry. In this Mangadu the Goddess Sri Kamakshi came and started her penance standing on panchagni in the midst of forest of Mango trees. Then Lord Siva appeared before Goddess Kamakshi and married her at Kancheepuram.

History

Temple was Built from 14th Century by Pallava Kings and developed by Chola artisans. It is believed that the temple was established by Shankaracharya.

Temple Timings

Day	Timings
All Days	05:00 AM - 01:30 PM	01:30 PM - 09:30 PM
Friday	05:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday	05:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Tours

Airports

Airport Name	Distance
Shamshabad	40 KM
Lorem Ipsum	12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name	Distance
Secunderabad	10 KM
Nampally	12 KM
Begumpet	6 KM
Lingampally	20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name	Distance
MGBS	35 KM
CBS	28 KM
kukatpally	20 KM
Lingampally	30 KM
Uppal	35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Private Transport	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757