Kanchipuram

The Golden City of Kanchipuram is situated on the banks of Vegavathi river in Tamil Nadus Kanchipuram district. It is revered as one of the seven sacred places of India. An ancient pilgrim centre, venerated by both Saivites and Vaishnavites, Kanchipuram was a glorious seat of learning, philosophy, art and architecture and was hailed as Khatika Sthaana (university centre) equal to Benares. In Puranic period, the place was known as Satyavrata Kshetra and during Saivite saints time, it was called Kachchi and Kanchipuri. During the Pallava period, the entire region was known as Thondai Mandalam or Thundeera Naadu. The Cholas renamed it as Jayamkonda Cholapuram.

Sage Patanjali had mentioned about Kanchi in his famous work Maha Bhashya (second century BC). The Sangam period Tamil epic Manimekalai speaks volumes about the glorious days of Kanchi. Buddhism and Jainism flourished here during the first century AD till the advent of Saivite saints.

Over the centuries, Kanchipuram has remained a great religious centre. It is one of the Pancha Bhutha Sthalas (Lingas representing the Five Elements) dedicated to Prithvi or Earth. The sacred shrine of Devi Kamakshi is prime among the 51 Shakti Peetas situated all over India. Many Saivite and Vaishnavite saints have sung in praise of the innumerable shrines of Lord Shiva and Vishnu and Devi Kamakshi. Adi Shankara established the Kamakoti Peeta in Kanchipuram.

Tamil saints like Poigai Alwar, Vedanta Desikar, Ramanujar, Aalavandaar, Tirukachi Nambi, Appar, Sundarar, Manickavasagar, Gnanasambandar and Pattinathu Adigal were closely associated with this pilgrim centre. Chanakya, the author of Arthashastra, was born in Kanchi.

The celebrated poet Kalidasa acclaimed this sacred place as Nagareshu Kanchi. The poem reads: Pushpeshu Jaaji Purusheshu Vishnu Nadeeshu Ganga Nagareshu Kanchi. This City of Thousand Temples is mainly divided into Shiva Kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi, predominated by Eshwara and Vishnu temples respectively.