SRI KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE – HISTORY
Tucked away amidst the vast stretches of sugercane fields with the river Amaravathy washing your feet, is the four centuries old sri kamakshi amman temple,at Panchanmadevi village,in karur district. Embellished with nature’s bounty in a serene atmosphere,the temple beckons the devout panchamadevi village derives its name from the existence of temple for five goddesses _kaliamman,Mariamman,Kamakshi Amman,Ankalamman and Sellandi Amman-in the vicinity.it is said that during the Moghul invasion of Kanchipuram, a group of priests, braving all odds, ventured to safeguard the sanctity of the detity there.
While one group moved east to establish the Bangaru Kamakshi Amman temple at Thanjavur,another arrived at Panchamadevi.Finding the atmosphere enchanting,the group erected a temple for Sri Kamakshi Amman on the shores of the Amaravathy.The lush fields and the parrots around seem to adorn goddess Kamakshi,and thus add to the hallowed glory of the temple.
A favourite of the Kanchi Paramacharya,the temple’s “Kudipaattukarars” include brahmins, dalits,agamudayars,goundars and sozhiya vellalars, reflecting an egalitarian spirit in devotion. The main deity, Kamakshi Amman,is seen depicted as in penance(tapasu kolam) in the temple. parivara deities such as kathavarayan, Masi periasamy,Lada Thannasi and Madurai veeran are also enshrined in the temple complex. While the sthala vriksham is the mango tree,an iluppai tree belived to be over 400 years old is also revered. as time moved ahead, the complex fell into ruins and almost all of the shrines had to be pulled down and renovated completely,”Extensive renovation is under way at a cost of over Rs.35 lakhs.
We hope to complete all work in time for the mahakumbabishekam slated for january 2003,”says Mr.S.Chidambaram, coordinator, sri kamakshi amman temple renonation committee, Karur.