அருள்மிகு மாங்காடு காமாட்சி அம்மன் கோயில், மாங்காடுArulmigu Mangadu Kamakshi Amman Temple, Mangadu

Sthala Mahātmyam

The Kamakshi Amman Temple at Mangadu, on the western outskirts of Chennai, marks the spot where, by tradition, Goddess Kamakshi performed her severe Panchagni penance; she is worshipped here as Adi Kamakshi and Tapas (Tavak) Kamakshi. The legend tells that on Mount Kailasa Parvati playfully closed Shiva's eyes, plunging the universe into darkness; to atone, Shiva bade her descend and do tapas. At Mangadu the Goddess stood amid five fires (panchagni), resting on one leg with a japamala, meditating on Shiva, who then directed her to Kanchipuram to wed him as Ekambareswarar. The presiding deity is thus depicted in the rare standing penance posture. After she departed, the heat of her penitential fires grew unbearable, and Adi Shankaracharya is said to have installed a Sri Ardha-Meru Chakra here to cool and calm the place. The shrine is especially sought by devotees praying for marriage and childbirth, and the offering of ghee lamps (nei deepam) is a noted practice.