Mangadu Kamakshi Amman Temple

Chennai Mangadu Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple

The Kamakshi Amman Temple of Mangadu is a Hindu temple in Mangadu, a suburb of Chennai, India. The term Mangadu means "Mango Forests or Mango Grooves" and as the term implies this must have been a thickly wooded Mango groove in times of yore.

Mangadu is known for the temple of 'Tapas Kamakshi" or the Kamakshi ( The Goddess) performing penance. This is the place where the goddess performed her penance to marry and re-unite with Lord Shiva. All 32 types of Dharmic rituals were performed here by the goddess.

The mythology is that when Lord Shiva and Parvati where in Mount Kailash the Goddess playfully closed the eyes of the Lord Shiva and as a result the whole universe fell into eternal darkness. So the Lord ordained her to perform Tapasya.

The Goddess came down to this place and performed penance amidst "Panchagni" resting her left leg on the sacred fire and folding her right leg. She holds a "Japamala" or rosary in her hand as she meditated on Lord Shiva who asked her to come to Kanchipuram for marriage.

Chennai Mangadu - Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple சென்னை மாங்காடு காமாட்சி அம்மன் திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Amman Temple
Name
Goddess Name	Sri  Kamakshi Amman
Location	Mangaadu Near Kundrathur
Significance	Tapas Kamakshi, Sri Ardhameru Chakram installed in this temple,
Ancient	1000 Years Old
Travel Base	Chennai

After the goddess left the place, the heat of the fire that she had created caused great discomfort and became unbearable for all living beings there. The Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have visited Mangadu and installed a Sri Ardhameru Chakram at this place. This was done to calm down the heat of the fire created by the Goddess and at the same time make it into a place that is soothing for all living beings.

We can even today see the Ardha Meru Maha Yantra (Chakra) in the sanctum sanctorium of the temple and poojas are performed regularly to this Chakra. This Chakra is considered to be a Tantric form of the Goddess herself and hence Mangadu also finds a unique place amongst worshippers of the Tantric sect as well.

The Ardhameru Sri Chakram is the chief divinity in this temple. Only Kumkuma archana is performed and no abhishekam is done for Sri Chakram, as it is made up of herbs.

The temple sports the Chola style of Architecture and construction. The Raja Gopuram was a recent addition to the Temple. People come here to pray for Marriage, child birth etc.

It is said that people visiting Sri Kamakshi Amman temple should also have dharshan at Sri Velleeswarar temple and Sri Vaikunda Perumaal temple in Maangaadu, as all these three temples are interconnected with the history of Sri Kamakshi Amman.

How To Reach : The Maangaadu Kamakshi Amman temple is very close to the Mangadu bus stop, While going towards Poonamallee from Porur, Mangadu can be reached by taking the left turn at Kumananchavadi (before Poonamallee) and going around 3-4 km towards Kundrathur. Frequent Bus services available from Poonamallee, Porur, Tambaram, and Pallavaram.

Address: Mangadu Kamakshi Amman Temple, 21, Permual Koil Street, Srinivasa Nagar, Mangadu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600122, India.