INTRODUCTION
Sri Chakra also known as Sri Yantra, is a form of Yantra which would be kept in some of the temples of Ma Shakti Devi. It gives great powers to the human body, and those who worship the Sri Chakra would get good memory power, good health, and they would be freed from their sins.
Sri Chakra is also called as Mahameru, and this famous Yantra is mentioned in our holy Hindu texts like Vedas and Puranas. It is also believed that worshipping the Sri Chakra is similar to worshipping Ma Shakti Devi itself.
In the following temples, the Sri Chakra was installed.
⦁ Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram
⦁ Kamakshi Amman Temple, Mangadu
⦁ Moogambika Temple, Kollur
⦁ Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal
Among the above mentioned temples, Mangadu Kamakshi Amman Temple is a famous ancient temple dedicated to Ma Shakti Devi, at Mangadu, which is situated near Poonamallee, Chennai. As per ancient legend, due to a curse, it is believed that Ma Shakti Devi had once performed penance at the present place of the temple by standing in the fire, by keeping one of her legs in the fire. Since this place was then surrounded by full of mango trees, hence, this beautiful divine place, had got the name Mangadu. The Sri Chakra that is kept and worshiped by the devotees in the temple is considered to be a sacred one, and it was installed by the Advaita Saint, Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
After finishing her penance for some time, Ma Shakti Devi had got relieved from her curse, and hence she went to the holy abode of Lord Shiva, the Mount Kailash. But while leaving from Mangadu, the holy mother, Ma Shakti Devi, had forgotten to switch off the fire, and hence, lot of heat was generated at that place. Later Sri Adi Shankaracharya had installed the Ardha Meru Sri Chakra in order to off the fire. Worship in the temple is mainly offered to the Ardha Meru Sri Chakra, and no Abhishekam(Holy Bath) is performed to the Sri Chakra. Only kumkuma archana is performed to Sri Chakra, since the holy Chakra is made out of medicinal herbs. Since Ma Shakti Devi had performed penance at Mangadu, the temple was henceforth came to be known as Mangadu Kamakshi Amman Temple, and Ma Shakti Devi, also known to be called as Sri Mangadu Kamakshi Amman. Before few years, I have visited this famous temple of Ma Shakti Devi for several times, and Ma Kamakshi Amman had fulfilled my reasonable needs and wishes.
“OM SRI MANGADU KAMAKSHI THAYE NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR
