Shakti Temple
108 Shakti Peetha Temple
The 108 Shakthi Peet Temple, also known as Sri Swarna Kamakshi Amman Temple, is located in the Mangalapuri Kshetram at Kannanthangal village, Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu. The temple’s defining idea is to bring the worship of 108 forms of the Divine Mother into one campus. The temple’s own account describes this as a mission to gather the 108 Shakti Peetams in a single sacred place, envisioned by Guruji Sri La Sri Kamakshi Swamigal. This is the identity of this particular temple complex and should be distinguished from the many separate ancient pilgrimage sites called Shakti Peethas across South Asia. A temple history page reports that the complex was consecrated in February 2019, making it a comparatively recent centre of worship built around a distinctive devotional vision.
The presiding deity is Sri Swarna Kamakshi Amman, worshipped in the main sanctum in a seated, east-facing form. The campus is especially notable for its 108 individually constructed shrines to Amman arranged around the principal shrine. Devotees can therefore offer prayers to the central Swarna Kamakshi and then visit the surrounding shrines, each representing the temple’s focus on the many forms of the Goddess. The complex also includes an east-facing shrine for Sri Swarna Vinayagar, with a Naga Devatha image and an image of Maha Periyava nearby, as well as a shrine dedicated to Sri Guruji. Sri Swarna Kaala Bhairavar has a separate shrine, and Navaneetha Krishna is worshipped at the goshala.
The temple precinct combines spaces for worship, gathering and service. Sri Shankara Hall is used for functions, while Sri Guruji Mani Mandapam honours the spiritual teacher associated with the temple’s founding vision. A large image of Kanchi Maha Periyava is installed in the Maha Mandapam. Local temple accounts connect the site with a tradition that Maha Periyava once rested and meditated beneath a mango tree here while travelling toward Thakkolam. The temple’s own retelling presents this episode as part of the sacred history of Mangalapuri. The complex also maintains a dedicated kitchen for offerings, an annadhana hall for feeding visitors, a goshala for the care of cattle and a pushkarini with an image of Maha Periyava at its centre. A temple chariot is kept for festival processions.
Daily worship includes Gho Pooja, darshan, abhishekam to Swarna Ganapathi and Swarna Kamakshi, Lalitha Sahasranama recitation and homam, alankaram, archana and deeparadhana. Anna prasadam is served as part of the daily schedule. Special observances include Sankatahara Chaturthi worship for Ganapathi and Pournami Pooja, which includes 108 Shankabhishekam to the Goddess and Lalitha Sahasranama archana. The temple also observes festivals such as Vasantha Navaratri, Sharada Navaratri, Aadi Pooram, Vinayaka Chaturthi and Chithirai Varusha Pirappu. On such occasions, special abhishekams, recitations and ceremonial worship draw devotees to the campus.
Kannanthangal is about two kilometres from Maduramangalam and around ten kilometres from Sunguvarchatram. Visitors come for worship, to move through the 108 Amman shrines, and to participate in the temple’s daily and festival observances. The combination of a central Swarna Kamakshi sanctum, individually housed Goddess shrines, active ritual schedule, feeding service and goshala gives this modern temple complex a character distinct from a conventional single-sanctum shrine.
The presiding deity is Sri Swarna Kamakshi Amman, worshipped in the main sanctum in a seated, east-facing form. The campus is especially notable for its 108 individually constructed shrines to Amman arranged around the principal shrine. Devotees can therefore offer prayers to the central Swarna Kamakshi and then visit the surrounding shrines, each representing the temple’s focus on the many forms of the Goddess. The complex also includes an east-facing shrine for Sri Swarna Vinayagar, with a Naga Devatha image and an image of Maha Periyava nearby, as well as a shrine dedicated to Sri Guruji. Sri Swarna Kaala Bhairavar has a separate shrine, and Navaneetha Krishna is worshipped at the goshala.
The temple precinct combines spaces for worship, gathering and service. Sri Shankara Hall is used for functions, while Sri Guruji Mani Mandapam honours the spiritual teacher associated with the temple’s founding vision. A large image of Kanchi Maha Periyava is installed in the Maha Mandapam. Local temple accounts connect the site with a tradition that Maha Periyava once rested and meditated beneath a mango tree here while travelling toward Thakkolam. The temple’s own retelling presents this episode as part of the sacred history of Mangalapuri. The complex also maintains a dedicated kitchen for offerings, an annadhana hall for feeding visitors, a goshala for the care of cattle and a pushkarini with an image of Maha Periyava at its centre. A temple chariot is kept for festival processions.
Daily worship includes Gho Pooja, darshan, abhishekam to Swarna Ganapathi and Swarna Kamakshi, Lalitha Sahasranama recitation and homam, alankaram, archana and deeparadhana. Anna prasadam is served as part of the daily schedule. Special observances include Sankatahara Chaturthi worship for Ganapathi and Pournami Pooja, which includes 108 Shankabhishekam to the Goddess and Lalitha Sahasranama archana. The temple also observes festivals such as Vasantha Navaratri, Sharada Navaratri, Aadi Pooram, Vinayaka Chaturthi and Chithirai Varusha Pirappu. On such occasions, special abhishekams, recitations and ceremonial worship draw devotees to the campus.
Kannanthangal is about two kilometres from Maduramangalam and around ten kilometres from Sunguvarchatram. Visitors come for worship, to move through the 108 Amman shrines, and to participate in the temple’s daily and festival observances. The combination of a central Swarna Kamakshi sanctum, individually housed Goddess shrines, active ritual schedule, feeding service and goshala gives this modern temple complex a character distinct from a conventional single-sanctum shrine.