KanakangiHindu Male Sanskrit name meaning

According to the legend, Mahabharata, there was a beautiful Apsara (celestial nymph) named Kanakangi. She was the daughter of sage Bharadvaja and was identified as a form of Goddess Lakshmi. Kanakangi was known for her extreme beauty and was married to Sage Agastya. One day, King Sahasrarjuna of Haihayas was visiting Agastya's hermitage in disguise. Kanakangi, attracted by the king, forgot herself and offered him poisonous Sanjeevani herb in place of the actual herb. The king, who was actually a sage, knew that this was a test, and he gracefully accepted the poison. Agastya, on learning about this, cursed Kanakangi to become a stone statue. Since then, the statue of Kanakangi is believed to be present at Agastya's hermitage and is worshipped by devotees.

Ancient India, 2nd Century BC - 1st Century AD

Another reference to Kanakangi comes from the ancient Indian literature, Silappadikaram. In this Tamil epic, there is a reference to a woman named Kanakangi, who was a devotee of Lord Murugan. She was known for her extreme beauty and was also referred to as Malaimel (the one who has a beautiful waist). Kanakangi had a dream in which Lord Murugan appeared before her and asked her to build a temple for him. She built a temple at Tirumoolaippaar, a hill now known as Thirumoortheeswarar Temple, and worshipped Lord Murugan there. Her story is a testament to the deep devotion and faith of ancient Tamil people towards their deities.

Ancient India, 2nd Century AD