Akhilandeshwari

  Vimale Nirmale (blemishless) Shyamale (dark-hued) as Dikshitar sings in the famous kriti "akhilandeshwari rakshamam" praising this very form of the Mother.Akhilandeshwari was said to have had some “Ugram” in her form at Thiruvanaikka. Her vibrance, raw energy was too intense for any human to withstand. When Adi Shankaracharya visited the temple, the people of the town implored him to help them receive Her energy at the appropriate intensity. Adi Shankara installed an image of Ganesha, son of the Divine Mother just opposite Her shrine. This reduced the ugram to an extent. Then he installed the Sri Chakram as her Tatankas (earrings) , which turned the deity into the benign form that She is, even today. The pontiffs of the Kanchi Kamakoti peetham uphold the tradition of replacing the earrings when they wear out. This is the holy ceremony of Tatanka Pratishta.She holds lotuses in both her hands and a parrot is perched on her right atop flowers.