The bone of Sati — Devgarbha, the womb of the divine, at Kanchipuram, the City of Thousand Temples and one of the seven Saptapuri cities.
The Kanchi Peetha at Kanchipuram marks where a bone of Sati fell. The Goddess is Devgarbha — "the womb/matrix of the divine" — a name of extraordinary theological depth, identifying the Goddess as the primordial container of all reality. The Bhairav is Ruru (the Deer Lord, a gentle form). Kanchipuram is one of India's seven sacred Saptapuri cities (where liberation may be attained) and contains over 100 ancient temples — Kanchi Kamakshi Amman being the most famous Shakti shrine.
Adi Shankaracharya established one of his four mutts (Kamakoti Peetham) in Kanchipuram, giving the city a special place in the Advaita Vedanta tradition as well as the Shakta tradition. The Kanchipuram Kanchi Kamakshi Amman — "she whose eyes fulfil all desires" — is worshipped in the rare seated, meditative (Saumya) form holding a sugarcane bow, connecting this Peetha to the Sri Vidya and Lalita traditions.
By road from Chennai: 75 km (1.5 hours). By rail: Kanchipuram Station (local trains from Chennai Egmore). By bus: frequent TNSTC buses.
Year-round. Navratri and the Brahmotsavam (February–March) are the major festivals at Kanchi Kamakshi.
The Kanchipuram temple circuit (Kamakshi + Varadaraja Perumal + Ekambaranatha) can be done in a full day from Chennai. Start at Kamakshi at 6am.
The Bone of Goddess Sati fell at Kanchi, consecrating this land as a Shakti Peetha. The Shakti here is Devgarbha and the guardian Bhairav is Ruru.
One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
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