Kancheepuram figures in Puranic and other kinds of Sanskrit Literature in a shortened form as `Kanchi'. This famous city of Bharat, is situated about 74 kilometers south-west of the metropolitan city of Chennai, about 95 kilometers from Tirupati and about 35 kilometers north-west of Chengleput. Kancheepuram is a Railway Station on the newly converted broadguage line connection Chengleput Junction with Arakonam. Kancheepuram, with its broad streets, with its number of tanks and temples, the city has been rightly termed as a `celebrated city', according to a widely popular Sanskrit saying `Nagareshu Kanchi'.

The Sanskrit word `Kanchi' when used as a proper noun means the name of the city of Kanchi. When used as a common noun, the word signifies a girdle - i.e. a belt-like metal made (silver or gold) ornament worn by women around the abdomen, just above the hips.

Seven sacred cities of Bharat are celebrated as Mokshapuris, i.e. by living ore dyeing in which man gets deliverance (moksha) from the cycle of births and deaths. Kanchi is one of the seven Mokshapuris and Kanchi alone is situated south of the Vindhya Mountains.

Five important sacred places of Siva worship in South India are collectively called `Panchabhuta Kshetras'. These five are specified as Prithvi (Earth), Akash (Sky), Apa (Water), Vayu (Air), Tejas (Fire). Kanchi is Prithvi Kshetra, Tiruvanaikoil (near Tiruchirapalli), is Apa-kshetra, Tiruvannamalai is Tejas-kshetra and Chidambaram is Akasa-kshetra.

Kancheepuram has been a centre of penance from time immemorial for celestials and sages. Kanchi is associated with Devi Kamakshi's long penance towards Lord Siva.

Kanchi is associated with great Religious Preceptors.

Kanchi City has flourished as a centre of literary eminence with institution for advanced study of Vedas and Shastras, which have been known as `Ghatikas'.

Perhaps nowhere else in India, can such a large number of temples be seen as in Kanchi. The most ancient and important ones are Sri Kamakshi Devi, Sri Ekambaranatha, Sri Varadaraja, Sri Vaikuntha Perumal, Sri Subrahmanya etc.

Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Sankaracharya Math is one of the oldest Advaita maths of Bharat with a historical background of about 25 centuries. Founded are presided over by Adi Sankara and later by a long successive line of ascetical and learned pontiffs, this Sankara institution is a centre of spiritual solace to devotees and disciples all over the country. >