|
 Mangadu is one of the important Shakti peedams in the country. Though it is situated close to the city, within 20 km, it still retains its village-like appearance. People congregate in thousands to this temple for a darshan of the presiding deity, Kamakshi.
Legend has it that Uma, in a playful mood once, closed the eyes of Lord Shiva with her palms. This caused universal darkness for a while. All the devas, rishis and humans stumbled and were terrified. Lord Shiva was angered and He ordained Shakti to be born on earth and remain there to atone for Her act. Shakti accordingly was born as Kamakshi in Mangadu and was awaiting the arrival of the Lord, to marry Her, as promised by Him. As this did not happen, she decided to perform a penance. She lit fire on all sides, in five homa kundams and stood in the kundam at the centre, stood on the leaping tongue of flame, on her left toe and went into a divine trance for ages. Lord Shiva then asked her to go to Kanchipuram where, He said, He would marry her. She went to Kanchi where the Lord appeared before her and married Her.
In Her hurry to leave for Kanchi, the legend says, She did not put off the fire that She had lit. The people of Mangadu and vicinity could not bear the heat. When Adi Shankara came to Mangadu, as part of his pilgrimage all over India, the people requested him to help them by putting off the heat emanating from the homa kundams. He installed the ardha-Meru Sri Chakra and thus nullified the heat. |
The Sri Chakra established by him has the shape of a koorma (tortoise) as its base. There are three steps over the base and a 16 petalled lotus and a yantra have been installed over the steps. The Sri Chakra has 43 triangles, representing 43 devatas. Since it is made of eight different herbs, abishekam is not performed for the Sri Chakra. Puja is performed with sandal paste etc., along with kunkuma archana. The Sri Chakra established by Adi Shankara is the speciality of Mangadu.
Even after the establishment of Sri Chakra, people were afraid of going to the temple, because of the awe-inspiring posture of Kamakshi in penance, standing on fire on her left toe, installed in the sanctum sanctorum. This is a panchaloka idol, now known as Adi Kamakshi. This idol was consecrated in a separate structure, to the left of the temple, by His Holiness Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi. He installed an idol of Kamakshi holding a parrot in one hand and sugarcane in the other.
After the installation of Kamakshi in her graceful and merciful form, the temple has been attracting people in large numbers. Adi Puram, Chitra Pournami and Navarathri are celebrated with verve in this
temple.
Pa. Marimuthu
English version by Hari
Krishnan.
|
