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It is
this august place that set limits to the presiding deity -- Kamakshi
Ambika by none but a mortal -- Sri Sankaracharya; it is this place
that was visited by Bhagwan Buddha and has the honour of listening
to his amogha Dharma; it is this city that enjoyed the status of
capital city of Tondaimandalam for centuries; it was here during the
Sangam period, literatures thrilled the scholars with royal
banquets; it is here Dharmapala Bodhisatva was born and Buddhist
logician Dinnaga lived; it is to this city the imperial monarchs
vied with one another to empty their treasures to building temples
for both Siva and Vishnu; it is this holy city that was visited by
foreign travellers, like Hieum Tsang, who recorded its eminence and
paid rich tributes; it is this city that gave asylum to several
religions, like Jainism, Buddhism, Vaishnavism, Saivism that
flourished with unenviable amity; it was here the reputed Poet
Bharavi, the Sanskrit luminary lived and authored the renowned
Kiratarjuniyam, and also the wellruled by the illustrious monarchs
from every celebrated dynasty, like Pallavas, Cholas, Rastrakutas,
Vijayanagara Nayaka, Pandyas, Kakatiyas, Marathas together with
Muslim and Britishers; it is to this town's chief temple Robert
Clive presented a necklace, when convinced with its divine power;
it is this city despite divided geographically into two parts called
Vishnu Kanchi and Siva Kanchi, is enjoying religious tolerance of
supreme adorable type. Its very name has a ring of imperial
majesty and spiritual aroma.
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