CHENNAI: Sri Kamakshi Amman temple in Kancheepuram was buzzing with activity when I recently visited it to get clarifications from a priest over some doubts that had cropped up in my mind and also to learn about the little known aspects of the presiding deity. I wondered whether a Devi described as “Unnatha Kartha” can be frightening in her appearance to the sincere devotees.
Someone had recently told me that the original Kamakshi was in the Adhi Kamakshi Amman temple outside the famous temple I was visiting.
Another person had claimed that Kamakshi was originally a Ugra Swaroopini, and that Adi Shankaracharya, after establishing Sri Chakra (in front of the main deity), personified her as Shanta Swaroopini.
I approached Neelakkal C N Ramachandra Sastrigal, a 70-year plus hereditary priest of Kamakshi temple, to collect details about the Goddess. He recalled a stanza from the Dhyana sloka in Lalitha Sahasranamam: “Shree vidyam shantamurtim sakala suranutam Sarvasanpatpradatrim.” He highlighted the “Shantamurtim” aspect of the Devi.
“Lalitha Thirupura Sundari dwells here as Goddess Kamakshi, is always graceful and protects the devotees with Her eyes. Her name ‘Kamakshi’ itself signifies that Saraswathi and Lakshmi aspects are in her eyes.” There are no shrines for Ambal in any of the shrines for Shiva in Kancheepuram.
The sanctum where Kamakshi idol is installed is called Gayathri Mandapam and has 24 pillars. On the right side of the Gayathri Mandapam is a sannadhi for Varahi and Arupalakshmi and Santhana Ganapathy, and we can see Santhana Sthambam covered by a silver plate. Dasaratha consecrated the Santhana Sthambam to pray to be blessed with children. Sri Kamakshi is the family deity of Rama and his descendants.
On the right side of Sri Ambal is Bilakasam. On Tamil month Aippasi (October- November) Pooram day, over 1,000 litres of milk is offered into Bilakasam, and it disappears from there mysteriously. It is believed that on that day Kamakshi Devi came forth from Bilakasam.
One of Sri Ramachandra Sastrigal’s sons, Syama Sastry, (one of the priests in the temple now), gave me details about a work “Kamakshi Vilasam. It gives a vivid description of the glory of Sakthi Kamakshi. In the Kamakshi temple, poojas are performed according to Sowbhagya Chintamani, written by Sage Durvasa.
Only priests belonging to two gothras (Kausika and Bharatwaja) are performing poojas in the temple now.