Kamakshi
Encyclopedia
The goddess Kamakshi is a form of Tripura Sundari
or Parvati
or the universal mother goddess
. The main abode of Kamashi is the Kamakshi Amman temple
at Kanchipuram
. Other important forms of goddess Tripura Sundari
are Meenakshi
of Madurai
, Akilandeswari
of Thiruvanaikaval
and Vishalakshi
of Varanasi
. the Kalikambal Temple
at Madras (Now Chennai
). The main temples of Kamakshi Devi
in Goa
are the Kamakshi Rayeshwar temple at Shiroda
.
Goddess Kamakshi is considered to be the representation of Shri Vidya
- Shri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari - she reigns supreme in Kanchi. The image of the goddess has been carved out of a Salagrama shila and the Meru in the temple is also made of Salagrama, believed to be consecrated by sage Durvasa
, one of the renowned Shrividya upasakas. Kanchi is one of the most powerful pithas
of the Devi. Many literary and musical compositions have been about this great Devi and many devotees have been blessed by her.
as they appear to have different names. However in the Hindu pantheon, the "names" of the deities are more descriptions than names. Tripura Sundari, like many of the forms of the supreme, has 1000 names assigned to her and these can be found in the Lalita sahasranama
text. One of the names in this text is "Kamakshi" which means "She whose eyes awaken desire, or She who has beautiful eyes".
Shri Kamakshi temple located at Shiroda
was built in the late 16th century. The other shrines in the temple complex are that of Shree Shantadurga
, Shree Laxmi Narayana and Shree Rayeshwar. Boarding and Lodging for the pilgrims are provided by the temple authorities.
This temple was originally located at Raia in Salcette and was moved to its present location in 1564-1568,because as a part of Goa Inquisition
the Portuguese demolished almost all the Hindu shrines..The antiquity of the original temple is unknown. The new temple is located at Shiroda.
There are other temples for Kamakshi in Goa is the one at Ramnathi
.
, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It has a unique mythological background. The Goddess Kamakshi was incarnated from Goddess parvathi and Goddess Saraswathi. This temple was built in 1150 AD. Brahmotsavam(Grand carnival) is celebrated every year around early June.
Tripura Sundari
Tripurasundarĩ or Mahã-Tripurasundarĩ , also called Śoḍaṣĩ , Lalitã and Rãjarãjeśvarĩ , is one of the group of ten goddesses of Hindu belief, collectively called Mahavidyas.As Shodashi,...
or Parvati
Parvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
or the universal mother goddess
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
. The main abode of Kamashi is the Kamakshi Amman temple
Kamakshi Amman Temple
The Kamakshi Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Kamakshi, one of the forms of the goddess Parvati. It is located in the historic city of Kanchipuram, near Chennai, India and is popularly associated with Sankaracharya, one of the greatest Hindu gurus...
at Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
. Other important forms of goddess Tripura Sundari
Tripura Sundari
Tripurasundarĩ or Mahã-Tripurasundarĩ , also called Śoḍaṣĩ , Lalitã and Rãjarãjeśvarĩ , is one of the group of ten goddesses of Hindu belief, collectively called Mahavidyas.As Shodashi,...
are Meenakshi
Meenakshi
Minakshi is an Avatar of the Hindu Goddess Parvati - and consort of Shiva - who is worshipped mainly by South Indians. She is also one of the few Hindu female deities to have a major temple devoted to her - the far famed Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu...
of Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
, Akilandeswari
Akilandeswari
Akilandeswari is one of the main forms of the Hindu goddess, Parvati. The famous abode of Akilandeswari is the temple of Thiruvanaikoil. Other important forms of Parvati are Meenakshi of Madurai, Kamakshi of Kanchipuram and Vishalakshi of Varanasi....
of Thiruvanaikaval
Thiruvanaikaval
Thiruvanaikaval is a famous Shiva temple in Tiruchirapalli , located in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple was built by Kocengannan , one of the Early Cholas, around 1,800 years ago...
and Vishalakshi
Vishalakshi
The Vishalakshi Temple of Divine Mother Sati, wife of Lord Shiva stands at Meer Ghat just behind Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, India. Devout Hindus consider this as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas mentioned in the Puranas.-Manikarni:...
of Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
. the Kalikambal Temple
Kalikambal Temple
The Kalikambal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Kalikambal and Kamateswarar. The temple is located in Thambu Chetty Street, George Town a prominent financial centre of Chennai, India.-History:...
at Madras (Now Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
). The main temples of Kamakshi Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
are the Kamakshi Rayeshwar temple at Shiroda
Shiroda
Shiroda may refer to:* Shiroda , village in Maharashtra, India* Shiroda, North Goa, village in Ponda taluk, North Goa district, Goa, India...
.
Goddess Kamakshi is considered to be the representation of Shri Vidya
Shri Vidya
' is the name of a Hindu religious system devoted to the goddess Lalitā Tripurasundarī, Bhuvaneshvari or simply . According to British scholar Gavin Flood she is a tantric form of the goddess , consort of Vishnu...
- Shri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari - she reigns supreme in Kanchi. The image of the goddess has been carved out of a Salagrama shila and the Meru in the temple is also made of Salagrama, believed to be consecrated by sage Durvasa
Durvasa
In Hindu mythology, Durvasa , or Durvasas, was an ancient sage, the son of Atri and Anasuya. He is supposed to be an incarnation of Shiva. He is known for his short temper. Maledictions or curses he gave in his rage ruined many lives. Hence, wherever he went, he was received with great reverence ...
, one of the renowned Shrividya upasakas. Kanchi is one of the most powerful pithas
Shakti Peethas
The Shakti Pithas are places of worship consecrated to the goddess Shakti or Parvati or Sati or Durga, the female principal of Hinduism and the main deity of the Shakta sect...
of the Devi. Many literary and musical compositions have been about this great Devi and many devotees have been blessed by her.
Shri Kamakshi and Tripura Sundari
While to many westerners it might seem that Kamakshi must be different from Tripura SundariTripura Sundari
Tripurasundarĩ or Mahã-Tripurasundarĩ , also called Śoḍaṣĩ , Lalitã and Rãjarãjeśvarĩ , is one of the group of ten goddesses of Hindu belief, collectively called Mahavidyas.As Shodashi,...
as they appear to have different names. However in the Hindu pantheon, the "names" of the deities are more descriptions than names. Tripura Sundari, like many of the forms of the supreme, has 1000 names assigned to her and these can be found in the Lalita sahasranama
Lalita sahasranama
Lalita sahasranama is a sacred Hindu text dated to the 12th century A.D. for the worshippers of the Goddess Lalita Devi, i.e. the Divine Mother, in the form of her and the male gods' feminine power, Shakti. Lalita is the Goddess of bliss, an epithet for Parvati. Etymologically, "Lalita" means "She...
text. One of the names in this text is "Kamakshi" which means "She whose eyes awaken desire, or She who has beautiful eyes".
Shri Kamakshi Temple, Goa
Shiroda
Shiroda may refer to:* Shiroda , village in Maharashtra, India* Shiroda, North Goa, village in Ponda taluk, North Goa district, Goa, India...
was built in the late 16th century. The other shrines in the temple complex are that of Shree Shantadurga
Shantadurga
Shantadurga also known as Shanteri/Santeri is the form of the Goddess Durga, commonly worshipped in Goa, India .She is also called Saibini in Konkani as a mark of reverence....
, Shree Laxmi Narayana and Shree Rayeshwar. Boarding and Lodging for the pilgrims are provided by the temple authorities.
This temple was originally located at Raia in Salcette and was moved to its present location in 1564-1568,because as a part of Goa Inquisition
Goa Inquisition
The Goa Inquisition was the office of the Inquisition acting in the Indian state of Goa and the rest of the Portuguese empire in Asia. It was established in 1560, briefly suppressed from 1774–1778, and finally abolished in 1812. The Goan Inquisition is considered a blot on the history of...
the Portuguese demolished almost all the Hindu shrines..The antiquity of the original temple is unknown. The new temple is located at Shiroda.
There are other temples for Kamakshi in Goa is the one at Ramnathi
Ramnathi
The temple of Ramnathi is located in Ramnathim, Bandivade in Goa.-Legend :Shri Ramanath Deity was originally installed 3000 years B.C by Rama at Rameshwar. When Rama came back from Lanka along with Sita, after killing Ravana, in order to absolve him of killing a Brahmin he decided to pray to Shiva....
.
Shri Kamakshi Temple, Jonnawada
This temple is located on the banks of Pennar river at JonnawadaJonnawada
Jonnawada is a pilgrimage in Andhra Pradesh, India on the banks of river Pennar.-History:It is famous for Sri Mallikarjuna swamy and Kamakshi amma temple constructed in the year 1150. The goddess Kamakshi is believed as an incarnation of Shakti...
, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It has a unique mythological background. The Goddess Kamakshi was incarnated from Goddess parvathi and Goddess Saraswathi. This temple was built in 1150 AD. Brahmotsavam(Grand carnival) is celebrated every year around early June.