Thursday, December 27, 2007

Maangaadu Sri Kamakshi Amman


Maangaadu is a small beautiful village located at the outskirts of Chennai near Poonamallee.

As per the legend, one day in Kailash, Parvathi Devi playfully closed the eyes of Lord Shiva from behind, with her palms. As a result of this, the whole universe was surrounded with darkness and all the living beings suffered. Lord Shiva became angry and the Goddess craved for his pardon.

Lord Shiva guided her to the earth and asked her to perform a severe penance to join him again. As per the God’s instructions she came down to earth and reached this place of dense Mango grove called Maangaadu. (means ‘Mango forest’ in Thamizh)

She started her rigorous penance here in the standing posture on the Panchagni (Fire). She stood one legged on Panchagni with right leg folded. She was holding her right hand raised above her head holding the Japamala (Rudraksha). Even today we can see this Moorthi of Sri Tapas Kamakshi at Maangaadu.

This Panchagni Sadhana is not an easy task. This Panchagni penance is performed to kill five evils which dominate people and lead to misery. The five evils are Kama (Desire), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Madha (Ego) & Maacharya (Attachment). If one wins over all these five they can attain the supreme bliss.


Lord Shiva, who was happy with her penance, came down to earth to marry her. He gave dharshan to her in Maangaadu and married her at Kanchipuram, where even today they both bless the devotees at Ekambareswarar Temple.


There is a temple for Lord Shiva where he came down to meet her. This temple is Velleeswarar Temple located nearby Kamakshi Amman Temple.


Also there is another temple for Lord Vishnu (Vaikunda Perumal temple) in Mangadu. It is said that Lord Vishnu, being the brother of Goddess Parvati came for the wedding with Kanayazhi (gem stone ring) for Parvati as his gift (சீர் வரிசை) is still waiting here, as the wedding didn't happen at Mangadu.


Even after Goddess left the place, the power of the Agni didn’t subside, out of which the whole place in and around Maangaadu suffered with unbearable heat and the Ugram of the Goddess.


Sri Aadhi Sankaracharya, during his visit here, installed an Ardhameru Sri Chakra and brought down the heat and ugram of the place. This Sri Chakra is a rare of its kind in the country and not seen anywhere else.

Even today, no abhishekams are performed to the Sri Chakra as it contains rare herbs. Only Kumkuma Archana is performed that too only to the Sri Chakra and not the idol, as the powers of Sri Kamakshi Amman has been instilled in the Chakra by Sri Aadhi Sankaracharya.


The idol Sri Aadhi Kamakshiamman made of Panchaloha (5 metals) was installed by Sri Kanchi Paramacharya Swami in the later years.


Six weeks worships are very popular here. The devotee who has some prarthana or wish can choose any one day of the week and to visit the temple along with 2 lemons, of which one will be retained at the temple and the other one has to be taken back home.


Again the following week, on the same day, he or she has to carry the old lemon from home along with 2 other fresh lemons. Like wise, if one visits on the same day for six weeks continuously, the Ambaal grants the wishes of the devotee.


Golden Chariot is very popular here which is pulled everyday between 6.30 and 7.30 pm.


Maangaadu is just 24 kms from Chennai city and is located off the Chennai Bangalore highway on the way from Poonamallee to Kunrathur.


Temple Address:
Mangadu Sri Kamakshi Amman Devasthanam, Mangadu, Chennai – 602101. Tel: 91 44 26272053. email : mangadukamakshi@sancharnet.in

13 comments:

  1. Saravana,

    I had been to Mangadu many times, but i do not know the fact that Lord siva came down to earth to marry her and the marriage was held in Kacheepuram.

    So u Have become like Mr.Koothabiran(Indo oru Thagavel, personality in All india Radio).

    Good, Keep it up.

    What's up next?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Saravanan Iyer
    Your contributions on this front with good photographs and vivid minutest detail, is quite laudable.
    Please keep going.
    with best wishes

    ReplyDelete
  3. Really informative and peace provoking.
    Thank you once and I will be too happy to receive this regularly.
    Regards
    Vaishnavi Arunachalam

    ReplyDelete
  4. In our family all like Maangadu temple and the great cool looking Kamakshi
    Thanks for providing good information
    Anbudan
    N.Jayakumar

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice work and explanation of the temple is wonderful. keep it up. Its really interesting.All the best

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dear Sri,Saravanan,
    You are doing wonderful service.
    God's Blessings are always with you,
    B.ganesan (ganesh) of Abu Dhabi
    camp:Tampa, florida, usa

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear Saravanan
    Kudos to your laudable service. It really helps those people, especially the old ones, who cannot afford to travel thus far, to have dharshan over their PC or laptops. May god bless you and your family a long, healthy and wealthy life.
    BEST WISHES
    K.Hariharan
    korattur, chennai +919962039633

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Mr.Saravanan,


    I heared that one Sri angalamman temple will be there in kolathur, Chennai.I would like to go thr, can you help me?

    Thanks
    Magi

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Saravanan,

    Its really a wonderful service which you are doing. Myself and my family are the devotees of Lord Arthameru Sri Chakra Sri Mangadu Kamakshi Amman. Its so interesting and get more info. about the temple.

    Wish you and your family. May God's blessings will always shower you.

    Regards
    S.Nagarajan, Pune

    ReplyDelete
  10. i feel mandagu ammam my mother,i never miss to see her whenever i land in chennai,though i miss to visit my relatives. I feel She is every thing in my life, day to day activities. I am nowhere without Her.I sincerly pray Her for UR Good Health and Long Life to Share things about Her. Best Wishes to u and ur family

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tvam Agni Roopaya Tapasa Jwalanthi!

    ReplyDelete
  12. sri mangadu amma is my mother i never forget her
    help

    ReplyDelete
  13. Really nice work... very interesting to know the history of each temple... continue ur good job... keep posting...

    ReplyDelete