Kamakshi is a postmanteau (composite word) consisting of KÄ, MÄ and Aksi: KÄ is Sarasvati; MÄ is Lakshmi; Aksi is her two eyes; thus Kamakshi has Sarasvati and Lakshmi as her two eyes.
Dimensions: 4.75 inches (H) x 3 inches (W) x 2.3 inches (L) (11 x 7 x 5 cms approx)
Weight: 774 grams
Kamakshi is a postmanteau (composite word) consisting of KÄ MÄ and Aksi: KÄ is Sarasvati; MÄ is Lakshmi Aksi is her two eyes; thus Kamakshi has Sarasvati and Lakshmi as her two eyes. Sarasvati is the goddess of speech, learning, eloquence, and wisdom. Lakshmi is the goddess of auspicious sign, good fortune, prosperity, success and happiness. Saras = lake or large mass of water, pond, tank. Vati is the one abounding in or connected with water. Lakshana, Lakshmi, Laksmana are cognate words indicating auspicious sign or mark. Some say that Sarasvati and Lakshmi are products of the eyes of Kamakshi.
Kamakshi = KAma +Aksi = love + eyes = Eyes full of love.
The Goddess Kamakshi is in a sitting posture in the temple. This posture is called the Padmasana posture. The Padmasana posture is said to resemble a lotus. In the Yogic practice this resembles the form of meditation. The Goddess holds a Sugarcane bow on her left upper arm and Lotus, Parrot in her right upper arm. The Goddess also has divine chakras called Pasa and Angusa in her arms.
The Goddess also has a Chandraperai (a shape of moon like structure) in her forehead. The Goddess Kamakshi is situated in the middle of temple premises. History reveals that Goddess Kamakshi was praying under a mango tree with a Shiva lingam made of sand to marry the great Lord Shiva. After a long duration of dedicated and devoted meditation to Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva appeared before her and married the Goddess Kamakshi, a divine form of Parvati.
Design: Made in heavy shining brass.
Brass is well known for its grasping capacity. It grasps the divine spirit upto 30%, when compared to other metals. The spiritual vibrations are attracted towards these shining idols easily.
Dimensions:4.75 inches (H) x 3 inches (W) x 2.3 inches (L)
Weight: 774 grams
Importance of Idol worship: Idols are not the idle fancies of sculptors, but shining channels through which the heart of the devotee is attracted to and flows towards God. Though the image is worshipped, the devotee feels the presence of the Lord in it and pours out his devotion unto it. Regular worship, Puja and other modes of demonstrating our inner feeling of recognition of Divinity in the idol unveils the Divinity latent in it. This is truly a wonder and a miracle. The picture comes to life. The idol speaks. It will answer your questions and solve your problems. The God in you has the power to awaken the latent Divinity in the idol. The lives of Mirabai, Sant Tukaram, Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Shri Yogananda are a few instances to prove the point. They proved beyond doubt that idol worship has its own brighter side and through simple faith and intense devotion one can realize God through it.
Idols are the "finite representation of the Infinite". As per Vishnu Samhita (ch 29, v 55-7), persuasively endorses the use of imagery (idols) and puts it:
"Without a form how can God be mediated upon? If (He is) without any form, where will the mind fix itself? When there is nothing for the mind to attach itself to, it will slip away from meditation or will glide into a state of slumber. Therefore the wise will meditate on some form, remembering, however, that the form is a superimposition and not a reality."
