Personages who worshipped Sri Kamakshi Devi Lakshmi
Vishnu, who was fair-complexioned, became dark on exposure to poisonous fumes during churning of Milk Ocean. At this, Lakshmi, who resides in his chest, spoke to him in sport in a disparaging manner. An angry Vishnu cursed her to become dark and old. Lakshmi came to Kamakoti Peetham in Kanchi and worshiped Parasakti. Devi blessed that Lakshmi would henceforth be present on her right side in Gayatri Mandapa as Anjana Kamakshi, blessing devotees and that one who touches Lakshmi from foot to head, meditates on her and has her darshan would be granted the eight riches by Lakshmi. Hayagriva Hayagriva wished to get back the earlier form of Vishnu and came to Kamakoshtam and did austerities, meditated and prayed to Sri Kamakshi Devi. At that time a Rakshasa named Padma came there, thought he is a horse and took him to Patala with intent to make him his vehicle. Devi killed the Rakshasa and blessed Hayagriva with the face of Vishnu, which he desired. Hayagriva killed all Rakshasas in Patala, took the inexhaustible pot of Amrita created by Sukracharya, came to Kamakoshtam and performed Abhisheka of Devi with Amrita. He took residence on Devi’s right side in Gayatri Mandap. Manu The eighth Manu, Vaivasvata wished to gain good awareness of merits and sins before embarking on rule of the earth. He entrusted the kingdom to his minister Sumantra, took leave of Maharishi Vasishtha and went to Kamakoshtam. He received initiation in Devi mantra from sage Durvasa, and did penance for a hundred years. One day Sri Kamakshi Devi took the form of Saraswathi and poured the waters of Panchatirtha from a pot on his head and blessed him with knowledge of all arts. Manu became equal to Saraswathi in knowledge. He returned to his capital, authored the celebrated Manusmriti and ruled the kingdom justly as per dharma. Dasaratha Dasaratha had no offspring; as instructed by Vasishtha, he went on pilgrimage. He came to Kamakoshtam and worshipped Parasakti. One day he heard Akasavani (voice from sky) that he would get children in a year. He reached Ayodhya happily and enjoyed the pleasure of children eventually. Tundira (Tunda) Maharaja Akasabhupati, who came from the sky as part of Chandra and who was appointed king by Brahma in Kanchi, misappropriated funds earmarked for religious activities, lost devotion and adopted Buddhism. He did not have children owing to that sin. With the beneficial effect of earlier merit, he once happened to approach Goraksha Siddha and listen to teachings of Vedic dharma. He then abandoned Buddhism and drove away Buddhists and their preceptors. He ruled the kingdom justly, got initiated into Devi mantra, renovated all temples in Kanchi and, with great devotion to Devi, performed all dharmic activities. Devi was much pleased and asked Ganapati to go and become the son of the king. Ganapati was quite happy to be the son of Devi’s great devotee. He went and told the king accordingly. The king’s joy knew no bounds; he informed his queen, who embraced Ganapati with boundless cheer. Ganapati became a baby at that time. King Akasabhupati performed Vedic rituals for the new born baby. On the twelfth day, he conducted detailed Puja, Homa etc. in Devi’s temple. While Samaradhana (feeding) of brahmanas was going on, there was a shower of gold for a Muhurtha (48 minutes). The king asked the sages present including sage Srivatsa about the cause of the wonder. They could not give a proper reply. Ganapati, the twelve-day old baby got up from the cradle, walked up to the king and said, “I shall tell you the reason. In the heap of black gram kept for cooking of food for brahmanas, a piece of your gold dropped and got mixed by chance. The cooks prepared Modakas out of that gram and served. Sri Kamakshi Devi came in the guise of an ordinary woman and sat in the row of women and ate food. The Modaka which had the piece of gold was eaten by her and went into her belly. That caused the shower of gold. Come, you can still see that woman having her food.” Ganapati took the king to the row of women; as soon as Devi saw the king, she vanished. Ganapati partook of the balance food from Devi’s plate and shone with mastery of all Sastras. The brahmanas and the king partook of the food left after being eaten by Devi and Ganapati, and also became proficient in all arts. Everyone now treated Ganapati as Guru, gave him the divine name of Tunda (pot-bellied) (Tundira in local parlance), and made him sit in the side of Sri Kamakshi, facing west and coronated him as king. Ganapati is seated in the second Avarana (enclosure) of the temple. He has the form of Ganapati in Kritayuga, Deva in Tretayuga, Manu in Dvaparayuga, and idol in which his glory is latent in Kaliyuga. As he is ever in deep meditation on Devi, one, who goes there during circumambulation of the shrine, should take care to observe complete silence so as not to disturb his meditation. Chola King There was a Chola king called Vikrama in the lineage of Vrisha. His kingdom was captured by his younger brother Salya. Vikrama left the kingdom with his wife and reached Kamakoshtam. He developed good gardens, made big garlands and gave for Devi’s decoration in the temple every day. By Devi’s grace he begot a beautiful female child. Kulasekhara Pandya, the king of Pandyas, was looking for a suitable match for his son. Devi told him in his dream to go to Kanchi, get his son married to the beautiful daughter of Vikrama, and also take Vikrama to his Chola capital and get him coronated as king. Kulasekhara Pandya was too pleased and did everything accordingly. At Kanchi, he performed special Pujas to Devi, took Vikrama to his kingdom and got him coronated. The marriage of the Pandya heir with the Chola bride was also celebrated. After the Pandya king left, Vikrama entrusted his kingdom to his son and went to Kanchi. He grew flower-gardens after removing forests, renovated the temple and lived a life of dispassion. At the end, he attained to Devi’s holy feet. Similarly, Gunarudra (Rudra merged with Brahma) and Adisesha (rudra merged with Vishnu) worshipped Devi and attained to Mukti. In every yuga, many humans have also adored Sri Kamakshi Devi and attained all their wishes including Moksha. Appendix Glory of Kanchi and Sri Ekamranatha Temple (from other Puranas) Kanchi has twelve names – Bhuvanasara, Trimurthivasa, Vindupuram, Kanchi, Layajit, Kalijit, Sakalasiddhi, Tapomayam, Brahmapuram, Adipeetham, Kannikappu and Sivapuram. Further descriptions glorifying Kanchi are given below. Kanchi is also known as Adbhuta Kshetra as it has many wonders: three places which show the dead parents et al; three springs providing nectarine water etc.; four fields throwing up crops even after harvesting; thrones showing Brahma et al; five tanks where three lotuses are seen in one stalk; six rare birds on the right of the Mango Tree in Ekamreswara Temple; seven places where rabbit chases elephant etc.; eight tanks which give such rare powers; nine rare stones which, on touch, turn humans into Devas; nine gardens showering the nine gems; ten places of assembly which turn great sinners dumb; eleven lamps where the shadow of humans is not seen. In south of Kumarakoshtam a lotus flower is said to be there, where Subrahmanya is playing as a child; a golden tree and a divine peacock are said to be in Subrahmanya Temple in Kumarakoshtam. Rare birds are said to exist: Kapotha at the foot of the Mango Tree, dove at Tirumagaral and Chakravala at Chakratirtham. Kanchi is called Alankaranagara as it has many halls (mandapas) like Mandapa of education, accounting, dance, thousand-pillared, folk dance, hall of audience, music, Tulabharadanam, Mukti etc. There are three Mukti mandapas: one on the banks of Sarvatirtham; second in Muktiswara Temple; third is now a Muslim Dargah. There is a Paramananda Mandapa in south-west of Gangaikondan Mandapam. This was earlier Vahana Mandapa of Sri Ekamranatha; now a mosque. Kanchi is known as Satyavrata kshetra as sages, who were masters of Charya, Kriya, Yoga and Gnana lived here: Satyasatya; Satyasodhaka; Satya Sankalpa; Satyakama. Kanchi is called Bhaskara kshetra as it has: seven great rivers like Kshira, which bestowed Gnana on Brahma, Punya, Bahu, Vegavathi, Haridrambu,Pampa, Kampa etc.; many Tirthas like Ishtasiddhi Tirtham, which conferred desired Siddhis on sages like Dadhichi, Sivaganga, Mangala tirtham, Indra tirtham, Kayarohana Tirtham, Panchatirtham, which flowed from the tresses of Sadasiva, Sarvatirtham which flowed out of Rudra’s hairs etc.; hills like Hastigiri, the abode of Varadaraja; Temples like Kamakoshtam, which showers in crores the desired fruits including Dharma, Artha (wealth), Kama (mundane desire) and Moksha, Tripurari Koshtam, Kumara Koshtam, Kachchapalayam etc. Kanchi is known as Dharma Kshetra as this is the place where Parvathi performed (and Siva enabled) thirtytwo dharmas with only two Nazhis (measures) of rice. Kanchi is called Rakshatandava Kshetra as this is the place where Siva performs Tandava denoting Panchakrityas, in the form of brilliant mass of light, out of unbounded compassion towards jivas: Kachchapesa – creation (Srishti); Chidisa – protectin (Sthiti); Kayarohanesa – removal (Samhara); Virattahasa – disappearance (Tirodhana); Ekamresa – blessing (Anugraha). Kanchi is known as Mukti Kshetra as Siva blesses jivas with Sivagnana, which confers Sayujya Mukti with no rebirth, Dvadasantita (beyond Brahmarandhra) Mukti. Kanchi is called Varanagara as this is the place where many Devas and Asuras were blessed with fulfilment of whatever they wished for: KR IRS 7525 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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