Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple is a famous temple dedicated to goddess Kamakshi or Parvati. This is one of the three holy places of Shakti worship (Shakti Peeta) while the others being Meenakshi temple at Madurai and Visaalakshi temple in Varanasi. The deity is recognised as having Saraswati and Maha Lakshmi in her two eyes. Kamakshi sits at the centre of the Gayathri Mandapa, which has 5 steps representing Panchakshri Mantra of Lord Siva and twenty four pillars signifying the twenty four letters of the sacred Gayathri Mantra. She holds a sugarcane bow and bunch of flowers in the two lower arms and has a pasha (lasso), an ankusha (goad) in her two upper two arms. There is also a parrot perched near the flower bunch.

Sri Aadhi Varaha Perumal Temple is located inside the temple complex of Kanchi Kamakshi Amman temple and also revered as one of the 108 Divya Desam temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The presiding deity Lord Aadhi Varaha Perumal (Lord Vishnu) is in a standing posture facing west direction. Other deities of this temple are Garuda and Anjaneyar. The Pushkarani (temple tank) of Sri Aadhi Varaha Perumal temple is called as Nithiya Pushkarani and Vimanam (tower above the sanctum sanctorum) of this temple is called as Vaamana vimanam.

Story behind the name Thirukkalvanoor:

The legend says that when Goddess Kamakshi, one of the forms of Goddess Parvati, and Goddess Lakshmi were taking bath in Kama koshtam pond, Lord Narayana was said to be hiding behind a pillar and hearing on what they were speaking about. Goddess Kamakshi found that Lord Narayana is hearing to them by hiding Himself. As a result, Goddess Kamakshi gave him a playful punishment by making Him stand, then sit and finally to lie down. Because of this, Lord Narayana is found in all the three sevas i.e. Nindra, Irundha and Kidantha seva on north side of pond of the temple. One can see the images of Lord Vishnu in the standing posture (Nindra Kolam), sitting posture (Irundha Kolam) and sleeping posture (Kidantha Kolam) near to the temple tank. Since Lord Narayana saw them taking bath without knowing them, Parvati kept Him the name as “Kalvan” and this Divyadesam is called as “Thirukkalvanoor“.

Parvathi’s penance on Lord Vamanadeva: As per Purana, Lord Siva cursed Parvati due to some differences of opinion. Parvati prayed and meditated on Lord Vamanadeva at this place standing on one foot. Parvati absolved the curse and hence was named Kamakshi.

Sri Kamakshi Amman

Lord Sri Aadhi Varaha Perumal