அருள்மிகு காமாட்சி அம்மன் கோயில், காஞ்சிபுரம்Arulmigu Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram

Sthala Mahātmyam

The Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple is among the most revered Shakti shrines of India, ranked with Madurai Meenakshi and Kashi Visalakshi as a supreme Devi centre and associated with the Shakti Peetha tradition of Kanchipuram. The name Kamakshi is read as 'Ka' (Saraswati), 'Ma' (Lakshmi) and 'Akshi' (eyes) — the Supreme Goddess in whom all Shaktis reside. Legend relates that Kamakshi performed severe penance here, worshipping a sand lingam amid fire to win Shiva as Kameshwara; another tradition tells of her vanquishing the demon Bhandasura. Uniquely, Kanchipuram — otherwise dense with Shiva temples — has no other Amman shrine, for the Goddess is said to hold all Shakti within this sanctum. She is enshrined seated in a majestic yogic Padmasana, bearing sugarcane bow, flowery arrows, pasha and ankusha. Adi Shankaracharya is revered as having installed the Sri Chakra before her, transforming her fierce Ugra form into the serene Shanta Swarupini.