The Kanchipuram Kamakshi temple is situated at nealy about 5 acres of land and has four entrances. The Temple was built in the 14th Century by the great Chola artisans. Kanchi Kamakshi temple is situated at about 5 acres of land and has four entrances. The main entrance of the temple has a Kalabhairavar deity on its left and the Mahishasura Mardini deity on the right. On the centre of the entrance you can see a huge Dwajasthampa. Moving further to the entrance of the Kamakshi deity you can see a Vinayaga deity. Moving on a straight line further, Goddess Kamakshi is visible. Goddess Kamakshi is surrounded by deities of Ayyapan, Saraswati, Annaporani and Adisankaracharya on its outer prakaram Holidays Planer. The Goddess also has Varahi, Arupalakshmi Kalvarperumal (one of the 108 Divya Desam of Vaishanavities), Roopalakshmi and Arthanariswarar deities surrounding the sanctorum of Goddess on its Gayatri Mandapam. There is Santhanasthampam inside the prakaram of Goddess which is called the Nabisthan of the Goddess. There is a Srichakra Yantra (Sri Kamakoti Peetam) established by Jagadguru Sri Adisankaracharya in front of the Goddess deity. There is also a temple tank inside the premises. Kamakshi temple has a close relation with the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam and its successive Sankarcharyas. The temple has a gallery of Adisankarcharya’s Life history inside the temple premises itself. Goddess Kamakshi is the main deity and the temple is one of the fifty one Shakti peetas. The temple is spelled as Nabisthana – Ottiyana peetam. The temple also has a golden Gopuram on the sanctorum of the Goddess Kamakshi deity which is visible to all devotees.
Rules and Rituals of the temples
1. Abhishekam which is done 3 times a day. Starting in the Morning at 5:30 a.m. In the Afternoon – at 10:30 a.m and in the Evening at 4:30 a.m. There are special darshan called Santhana Kappu (Sandal Darshan) which is on every Wednesday and Saturday evenings.
2. Temple does Pournami Pooja / Navavarna Pooja (Full Moon day) which is held at Night 9:30 p.m. onwards every month.
3. Saharsranamam Archana (Daily) is done daily in the Morning – 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and in the Evening – 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
4. Ashtothram Archana is done in the Morning – 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and in the Evening – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It will not be an exaggeration to say that Kamakshi Amman Temple is a Beautiful Place For Vacations.
How to reach the Temple
1. Through Airways the city of Chennai is the nearest airport to Kanchipuram.
2. Through Railways there are various Trains for Kanchipuram which are available from Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tirupati, and Bangalore.
3. Through Roadways -Kanchipuram which is 75-km away from Chennai is well connected by a network of roads. There are also frequent buses from the city to Chennai, Bangalore and other places.
4. For local transportation bicycles can be hired from the shops near the bus stand.
5. Cycle Rickshaws and auto rickshaws are also available on hire to move in and around the city.
