Mangadu Kamakshi Amman Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Chennai International Airport is about 14 km from Mangadu.

• By train

  Chennai Central railway station is about 18 km from Mangadu.

• By road

  The CMBT bus terminal is about 13 km from Mangadu.

Rules to know

• Normally only kumkuma archana is performed on the Sri Chakram, not abhishekam, because it is made of herbs.

Why devotees come here

Mangadu Kamakshi Amman Temple stands in Mangadu, a suburb of Chennai, and is dedicated to Parvathi. Its chief divinity is the Ardhameru Sri Chakram, installed by Adi Shankaracharya. The main gateway faces south and has seven tiers.

Mangadu Kamakshi Amman Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Parvathi, in Mangadu, a town to the west of Chennai. Devotees come here to pray for marriage, childbirth, promotions, a new house and other needs. Legend says Parvathi did penance here so that she could marry Shiva and be reunited with him. Tradition adds that she stood on one leg amid five fires, and that Shiva cursed her to come down to earth after she playfully closed his eyes.

The chief divinity is the Ardhameru Sri Chakram, which Sage Adi Shankaracharya installed here during his pilgrim tours. A Tapas Kamakshi shrine was also installed here at the behest of Kanchi Paramacharya.

The temple follows the Chola style of architecture. Its Raja Gopuram, the main entrance, faces south and has seven tiers with great sculptures on it.

Festivals

• Every year on Vijaya Dashami dayVijaya Dashami

  The Ardhameru Sri Chakram gets an abhishekam on this day every year.

Tips for your visit

• The Vaikunta Perumal Shrine, a shrine to Vishnu, is about 500 metres away, and it is visited after this temple.
• Look for the Tapas Kamakshi shrine, which was installed at the behest of Kanchi Paramacharya.

Questions people ask