Kanchipuram - One of the seven sacred cities of India

Kanchipuram, the city of 1000 temples, is one of the ancient cities of India. In the olden days, it was called Kachi or Kachiampathi. Kalidasa, the great Sanskrit poet, has mentioned: "Nagareshu Kanchi" meaning "Kanchi - the best city". Kanchipuram has a lot of important features to talk about. I try to cover as much as possible in this small article.

  1) Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities of India. India's other six holy cities are Varanasi, a.k.a. Kasi, Haridwar, Ayodhya, Mathura, Dwarka, and Ujjain. 

2) Kanchipuram is called a city of 1000 temples. It is believed that there were around 1000 temples in ancient Kanchi. Now, there are about 250 temples in and around the city. 

3) Kanchipuram is famous for its silk sarees too (Kanchi Pattu). The other city in India famous for silk materials is Varanasi.

4) Kanchipuram had its golden times during the rule of Pallava kings. It remained as their capital city. Most of the current temples of the city were initially built during this period.

5) The great Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Hsuan Tsang) visited Kanchipuram in the 7th century CE.
  6) The history of Kanchipuram can be traced back to many centuries before the advent of the Christian era. The ancient Tamil works of literature such as Pattupattu and Manimekalai have references to Kanchipuram. Patanjali's Mahabhashya also refers to this city.

7) There is a belief that Bodhidharma of 6th century CE, from Kanchipuram, went to China to spread Buddhism. He also trained the local people in the art of Varmakkalai (a kind of martial art that is present in Kerala state nowadays). The art underwent many changes and came to be known as Kung fu. It is also believed that it underwent further changes and became well known martial arts such as Karate and Judo in Japan. 

8) Adi Shankara, the great reformer of Hinduism, established four mathas (monasteries) in the four corners of India, and he also established the fifth matha in Kanchipuram. However, there are controversies on this, and there are people who claim that no matha was established in Kanchipuram by Adi Shankara.

  9) Today's Kanchipuram city has a lot of Shiva and Vishnu temples (Saivism and Vaishnavism). However, there were four Kanchis - Shiva Kanchi, Vishnu Kanchi, Buddha Kanchi, and Jaina Kanchi in the olden days.

10) There are five forms of abodes of Lord Shiva. They are Chidambaram (Sky), Sri Kalahasti (air), Tiruvanaikaval (water), and Tiruvannamalai (fire). The remaining one is at Ekambaranatha temple located in Kanchipuram (representing earth). 

11) Out of 108 Divya desams (the 108 most famous temples of Lord Vishnu), 15 diva desam temples are located in and around Kanchipuram. 

12) Kamakshi Amman temple in Kanchipuram is one of the 51 Shakthi Peethams (51 famous temples of Mother Goddess). 

13) Kamakshi Amman temple in Kanchipuram is one of the three most important temples of Mother Goddess (Kanchi Kamakshi, Madurai Meenakshi, and Kasi Visalakshi). 

14) The translation of Skanda Purana (the biggest among 18 Hindu Puranas) into the Tamil language, which became more popular than the original, was written in Kumara Kottam temple in this city.

There is a lot more to write about this historic city. However, it is humanly impossible to cover everything. So, I stop here. When you get a chance, visit this holy city of India, which is located at a distance of around 75 kms from Chennai in South India. 

Happy travelling. 

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