It has reason and there is a story. According to legend, Sri Sankaracharya was an ardent
worshipper of Mother Kamakshl addressing her as Kamakoti Ambika and the Mother too was
pleased with his devotion. It appears that this Ambika was assuming the form of Kali at nights
and was moving about in that area causing unpleasant disturbances by her dreadful
forms.
People were in great terror and spent sleepless
nights. When they sought his help, he implored the Mother to stop her nocturnal rounds for people's
safety. Moved by his humanism, she agreed not to stir out at nights. Not satisfied with the
agreement, he extracted a promise from her not to go out of the temple without his
permission. She smilingly assured him of her implementation and she did. Accordingly, whenever the
procession of the Mother is taken out, the Utsava murthi halts before the image of Sankaracharya to
taking permission in accordance with promise given. How strange! The immortal
halting for the permission from a mortal!! Aren't the ways of Gods' inscrutable?
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