History:
The Golden City of Kanchi or Kancheepuram is one of the seven sacred pilgrim centres for the Hindus.. Kanchi is popularly known as The City of Thousand Temples. Mainly consists of Siva Kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi. Kanchipuram is around 75 kms from Chennai.
The city was the capital of the early Cholas and it was the Pallava capital between the 6th and 8th centuries. Temple festivals are held throughout the year and apart from the temple car or the ratha festivals are held in January, April and May. There are other days when the idols are taken out in procession on their respective vahanas or vehicles. The Cholas built the famous Kamakshi Amman Temple temple in its present from in the 12th century A.D.
Main Temples and places
1. Kamakshi Amman Temple:
This temple is among the three important Sakthi Peetams alongwith Madurai and Kashi. The beautiful deity of the Devi is in the sitting posture, holding a bow of sugarcane and arrows of flowers. She is being worshipped also as Rajarajeshwari, Tripurasundari and Lalitha Kameswari. The Kanchi Peetam(Sri Chakram), established by Sri Adi Sankaracharya, is in front of the Goddess and all pujas are offered to this. There are separate shrines for Adi Sankaracharya and sage Durvasa, a Devi Upasaka. The idol is taken out only after formally seeking Adi Sankaracharya's permission during festival processions.
2. Ekambareswara Temple :
Sri Ekambareswara is in the form of "Prithvi Lingam" hence Kanchipuram is also known as one of the Pancha Bhutha Sthala. According to a Puranic story, Kailash Parvathy closed the eyes of Lord Shiva, while playing, bringing darkness to the entire world. Getting angry at her behaviour, Lord Shiva cursed Parvathi to become black like Kali. Unable to bear the punishment the Goddess descended on this place and did penance under a mango tree making a Lingam out of earth . Hence much significance is attached to this shrine and the mango tree, situated within the temple.
3. Varada Raja Perumal Temple:
Situated on top of Hastigiri Hill, it is the centre of attraction in Vishnu Kanchi. This temple was constructed by the Vijayanagar Kings and the grand gopurams are architectural marvels. The beautiful site has sculptures in the Hall of Hundred Pillars. One can find chains amazing stone carved chains on four corners of the hundred-pillared mantapa. In "Anantha Theertham" the holy tank, Lord Attigiri Varadaraja is lying below water and is taken out only once in a generation for the worship of devotees. The famous golden lizard is in this temple complex.
4. Kanchi Mutt:
It is one of the Sankara Peetams established by Sir Adi Sankara, Kanchipuram is the home religion besides culture, art, learning, philosophy and music. The Brindavanam of Paramacharya Sri Chandrashekharendra Saraswathi is worshipped here. The present swamijis are Sri Jayendra Saraswathi and Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi.
Here i have some amazing collection of photos. You will definetly appreciate the devotion of our great indian arcitecture and devotion by our great Satavahana, Pallava and Vijayanagara kings.
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