Conjeevaram or Kanchipuram is in the Chingleput district. It is 46 miles south-west of Madras on the Chingleput-Arkonam line. It was an important city of the Chola Kingdom. It was the capital of Tonda-mandalam in the fourteenth century. It was originally the capital of the Pallavas who ruled over South India between 4th and 8th centuries A.D. It consists of two divisions—Saiva or Big Conjeevaram (Siva-Kanchi) and Vishnu or Little Conjeevaram (Vishnu-Kanchi).
The Vijaynagar kings conquered the Town. After the fall of the Vijaynagar family in 1644, it was subject to the Muhammedan kings of Golconda. In 1751 Clive took the town from the French.
Conjeevaram is one of the seven sacred cities of India, the others being Ayodhya, Muttra, Hardwar, Benares, Dwaraka, and Avantika (Ujjain). A pilgrimage to Conjeevaram confers happiness in heaven.
Kamakshi Amman temple, dedicated to the Goddess Kamakshi, the consort of Lord Siva is the most important one. A Yantra is placed in front of the idol. There is an image of Sri Sankaracharya in this temple.
Sri Ekambaranatha temple is another important shrine of Lord Siva. It has great Gopuras, large Mandapas, the 1000 pillared hall and fine tanks. The largest Gopura has ten stories, its height being 188 feet.
Kachchapeswaram temple, Kailasanathar temple are other Saiva temples. There is a temple for Chitragupta also. This is the only place where there is a temple for the lieutenant of Lord Yama, recorder of Jiva’s deeds.
The most important Vishnu temple is that of Varadaraja. The sanctum is built on a hillock. Vaikuntaperumal temple is another Vaishnava temple.
