Nallampatti Kunjayi and Kannadachi amman temple.

May 6, 2015, 9:44 pm

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P.R.Ramachander

Nallampatti is a village which is 5 km from the Dindugal town of Tamil Nadu . There is a peculiar temple there with two village Goddesses . The story of these goddesses goes like this.

Kunjayi Amman: There was a landlord in Chinnakaran Patti who was greatly troubled by evil spirits sent by his enemies. He learnt magic from a famous magician and Attracted Karuppachami who was an expert in driving away such evil spirits and after praying that God , he sent him to attack his enemies and they were all destroyed. Then that Land Lord kept Karuppachami in a mud pot , kept ist in a box made of palm leaf and floated it in a river, When that box was floating suddenly a great flood came in that river. A girl who was taking bath with her elder brother was swept away by the flood . And that girl went on shouting Anna(elder brother) and asked him to help her .Karuppachami who was in the pot heard her appeal and saved her . Then the girl addressed Karupachami as Anna (elder brother) with great affection. Karuppachami accepted her as her younger sister. She was called Kunjayi Amman . A practice of building Temple of Kunjayi Amman along with or without Karuppachami exists in these parts

Kannadachi Amman belonged to a village called Thayanoor. This village was once surrounded by flood water. The people of the village who were scared of the raising water started vacating it. On their way, they saw a crying girl child. They did not bother but went ahead. However a man called Pandaram took the girl along with him to a safe place . After a few days due to serious illness and when Pandaram was about to die he entrusted the girl to his sons and requested them to look after her. AS per the practice of the caste Pandaram was cremated. That night the girl child left the house without any one noticing her. Her brothers searched for her and at last found her head lying on the ashes of their father in the cremation ground. When everybody was standing perplexed the girl’s head spoke and told if her eldest brother lights up a stick , she would vanish. She also told them if she is worshipped along with Kunjayi Amman and Karuppachami , she would protect the villager. Since the girl closed the eyes of her brothers and vanished , she was named as Kannadachi Amman.

IN the temple at Nalampatti the gate of the temple faces west. As soon as you enter the temple, on the left side you would see Madhurai Veeran and Karuppanachami majestically sitting on a horse, After that there are small temples of Madhurai Veeran , Bommi , Vellayammal , Seven virgins and Nagamman. On the outer corridor of the temple you would find Malayala Karupannachami , Paramasivan , Parvathi and Durga, There is also a huge Navagraha Ganesa on whose body the nine planets are carved.. It is believed that that Worshipping that Ganesa would remove all problems due to planets..If a coconut garland is offered to him, it is believed that marriage would be settled soon..Next to is the Sannidhi of Lord Srinivasa Outside the sanctum sanctorum a huge lion’s statue is there and near the gate , there are two Lady guards. In side on the same platform Kunjayi Amman and Kannadachi Amman are seen sitting.

Kunjayi Amman holds a hand drum(udukkai) in one hand and the other hand she keeps on her thigh. Kannadachi Amman is seen holding a sugarcane.

On 17, 18, and 19 ogf Aadi month(July-august) there is a festival for Karupannachami . Both Goddesses would be decorated with a Karagam at that time. On 17^th , Karupannachami is worshipped by taking Milk pot and there is a procession on the main streets of the town. One priest who holds a whip goes in front of the procession. People who believe they are being troubled by evil; spirits , go and appeal to him. He hits them with his whip and it is believed that the evil spirits go away. On New moon and fill moon days special worship to the Goddess is conducted . The temple tree is a banyan tree. The temple is open from 6 AM to 9 Pm and is about 5 km from the Dindugal main bus stand.

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Keerangudi kudavarasi Amman

July 18, 2015, 1:55 am

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Keerangudi kudavarasi Amman

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P.R.Ramachander

Keerangudi is a small Village/hamlet in Kollidam Taluk in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu State, India. It comes under Sathiyakudi Panchayath. It is located 72 KM towards North from District head quarters Nagapattinam. 235 KM from State capital Chennai .ON the way from this village KOnnangattu padugai is the Kudavarasi temple . Her devotees believe that Kudavarasi Amman is Renuka Devi , wife of saint Jamadagni and mother of God Parasurama . When Renuka devi was slain by her son under the orders of her father and later given back her life, Renuka it seems sat on the banks of Kollidam rived and did great penance addressing Goddess Durga,The Goddess appeared before her and asked her to stay there itself proving the greatness of virtous woman. REnuka devi stayed there for several eons as Kudavarasi. Amman. Slowly her temple got destroyed and covered with mud. Over her idol it seems there was an ant hill. They were not knowing that a cow l was letting out all her milk on the ant hill. When they returned their master got very angry and beat them black and blue. Next day the master was surprised to see that all the vessels in his house was full of milk,. The master went to the boys and begged for their pardon. Then one of those looking at them, got the goddess in him and told, “I am goddess Kudavarasi who has come here.Your cow gave milk only to me and quenched my thirst. Go to the ant hill and see.” They found the idol of Kudavarasi at the ant hill and consecrated that idol there it self and started worshipping her. Since flods in the river was common , they later shifted the temple nearer to the village. Many people tried to build a temple for her but failed. But later one Ramrutha Sivacharyar who collected money for that travelling to several villages succeeded in erecting a small temple.The full moon day (Pournami) of Masi and Chithrai month is celebrated with great fan fare in this temple..In the month of asi Goddess Kudavarasi would go round all nearby villages and each village would worship her in a grand manner. In each village the Goddess would visit each individual home and they would offer her a part of the harvested produce from their fields. They believe that by doing so wealth will flow in to their homes.

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Nannilam Madathi Amman temple

July 18, 2015, 1:57 am

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Nannilam Madathi Amman temple

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P.R.Ramachander

Madathi was the youngest sister of seven brothers. After the early expiry of her parents, her brothers looked after her well. Though a rich man called Vadavedu Mirasudar was in love with her , her brothers gave her in marriage to a person in the near by village .The rich Mirasdar started visiting the village where Madathi was living often and her husband became jealous,Once when Madathi went to attend a festival in a near by village , her son wanted to ride in the giant wheel. When Madathi and her son got in to it, the Mirasdar who was there also got in to the same coach as her.When her brothers came to know about it, they felt that Madathi has insulted their family and chopped off her head., The head of Madathi which fell on the earth cursed her brothers that, their children also would become orphans like her son. Slowly one by one all her brothers died and the entire village which found fault with her was completely destroyed. Her Village Cherankulam built a temple for her at the spot where she was killed.The temple which was a hut for the past two hundred years has now been built as a strong temple. She has become the Clan Goddess for many people in the village .One peculiarity of this temple is that sacrificing animals never take place there as she had ordered her people like that..Daily the priest anoints her with one big pot of water and Closes down the temple .Her devotees are trying their best to start normal worship for her. Since the house of her priest is in the same village, devotees can go any day and worship the Goddess

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Kongalamman temple , Erode

July 18, 2015, 2:03 am

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Kongalamman temple , Erode

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P.R.Ramachander

KOngu Nadu was an integral part of Tamil Nadu , which spread over the present day Erode and Coimbatore districts .The Tamil speaking people of Kongu Nadu seem to have a great culture of their own. Kongalamman is the guardian deity of Kongu Nadu and her temple is situated in the Erode town of Tamil Nadu .The wall writings on the temple indicate that it is a very ancient one .Most probably the temple was located in the Adhi Kongalamman temple in Anangur , which is a village near Erode town. It seems about 150 years back some thieves were trying to steal the idol of Kongalamman from Erode temple . When they reached Anangur , they heard a voice from the sky telling them that if she is stolen from there , they would face great danger. The thieves left the Goddess there itself and ran away,Next day the people of Anangur found the statue of Amman and built a temple for her there.The people of Erode then got made another idol and consecrated there in the Erode temple .So before the Chariot festival of the Erode temple , the Goddess Adhi Kongalamman at Anangur would be worshipped. People believe that Kongalamman would guide them in the day today administration of the village. It seems when a discussion was going on , in side the temple whether to have Kalingarayan Canal , The Goddess told them to build it. Kongalamman has eight hands and is believed to fulfill all the needs of her devotees..Even today , when water is being collected for the temples in Erode town, a part of it is first given to Kongalamman and the rest is taken to their respective temples. There is a Prathyangira Devi temple in side this temple with five temple trees. People with Sarpa Dosha come to this temple and by worshipping the Goddess get rid of their Dosha., The temple also has mahishasura Mardini, Madurai Veeran, Karupaanna Chami, the sapthe mathrikas , The Saptha Kanni and Pechi Amman temple inside it.The chariot festival of the temple is on the Month of Thai on the Poosam day.There is special worship of the temple during all Fridays in the moth of Aadi. The temple is open from 6 Am to 8 PM.

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Musiri Azhagu nachiyamman temple

July 18, 2015, 2:06 am

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Musiri Azhagu nachiyamman temple

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P.R.Ramachander

This is a temple that is situated in the banks of Cauvery in the Musiri town of Trichy district.. It is believed that about one thousand years ago when the river Cauvery was in flood, two people who were taking bath in the river notice a Palmyra leaf box floating in the river. Thinking that it may be a treasure or a child, they swam in the river and with lot of difficulty saved the box and brought it to the shore. To their surprise they found idol of a Goddess . The village people consecrated the Goddess on the shores of the river and erected a thatched leaf shed over her. Over time that hut was replaced by a pretty temple and the Goddess who was called as Azhagu Nachiamman became very famous and goddess of several thousand clans of the village. Just outside the sanctum there is a statue of a white horse and its rider, The people believe that the souls of their ancestors lay buried under the feet of that horse. If any one of their family dies , they bring a handful of the mud with boneir bones and bury it under the feet of the horse, In the sanctum there are seven virgins Kaumari, Maheswari , Varahi, Azhagi Nachiyar, Indrani , Vaishnavi and Brahmi .ON all the days of Margazhy month, Navarathri , on all Fridays of Aadi month special worship to the goddess takes place, Devotees believe that by worshipping her ladies get married quickly .The temple is open from 6Am to 8,30 Am and 1 pm to 6.30 PM .

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Veeramakali temple of Perambur

July 18, 2015, 2:08 am

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Veeramakali temple of Perambur

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P.R.Ramachander

Perambur is a village in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu which has the very famous Veeramakali temple .There is a very interesting legend about this temple. It seems several thousands of years ago, this village was terrorized by a spirit called CHemmuni , which used to like to eat Human flesh. When it started attacking mindlessly, the village people made an agreement with the spirit that daily one of the villagers would go to him as food. A roster was drawn up in the village for this. One day a widowed lady with only one son had to send him as food to Chemmuni. She got agitated and requested Veeramahamuni , a folk god who lived in Veerappoor mountain to save her son. Veeramamuni took a very mega form and with his feet stamped on the head of CHemmuni and pressed him. CHemmuni was buried in the earth. Though Chemmuni requested d for pardon, Veeramamuni destroyed him completely and then summoned his sister Kali and requested her to merge with the Kali of Perambur which was worshipped by the cultivators there. She became Veeramakali and was made as the Guardian Goddess of the village of Perambur.

People of the village believe that She prevents all evil spirits from entering the village. They also believe that sick people , if they are brought to the temple get cured..If anything is stolen from the village they pray that they would give one fourth of the cost of the lost article and the Goddess recovers it for them. This village is 22 km from the town of Trichy.

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Chelliamman temple of Thottapalayam, Vellore

July 18, 2015, 2:12 am

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Chelliamman temple of Thottapalayam, Vellore

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P.R.RAmachander

This Temple is situated adjacent to the new city bus stand of the Vellore visited by thousands of devotees daily. She is considered to be another form of CHamundeswari , one of the Saptha Mathrukas(Seven mothers viz Brahmi, Vaishnaviu, Maheswari, Kaumari, Chamundi, Varahi , Narasimhi ). Inside the sanctum the idols of all the Saptha Mathrukas are also seated but Goddess Chelli Amman who is Chamundi is prominently shown. There is a very interesting story of this temple.

It seems Bommi and Dhimmi were two brothers hailing from Karnataka deserted their original home due to the ill treatment of their step brothers and reached the Banks of Palaru in Vellore. At that time this part of Tamil Nadu was ruled by Chozhas and they permitted the brothers to stay in Vellore. Seeing the Saptha Matha idols they started worshipping the idol of CHamundi who was their Kula Deivam (clan god.) Once when dacoits attacked that village and these brothers drove them out due to the power given to them by Chamundi. The other villagers who only then realized the power of the Goddess started worshipping Chamundi but in Tamil called her Chelli Amman.

Her devotees have great belief in the powers of the Goddess and any good thing in their homes is only initiated after getting the permission of the Goddess . They offer statues of horses and tie cradles on the banyan tree of the temple .The very large number of these statues and cradles go to prove the popularity of the Goddess .The temple is open from 6 Am to 8 PM. It is about 4-5 km from V the Katpadi Railway station.

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Muppandal esakki amman temple

July 20, 2015, 7:56 am

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Muppandal esakki amman temple

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P.R.Ramachander

This temple is also called as Muppandal avvayaramman temple .Muppandal is a small village which is 25 km North of Naagarkoil town of Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.People believe that the Goddess was originally called “Iyakki” meaning she makes things work and this over time became Esakki,. The temple has a statue of the great ancient poetess of Tamil Nadu and hence it is called also as avvayara amman temple . There are two stories about this temple, one about its recent origin and another about its ancient origin. Another interesting fact about the temple is that the Goddess remains under a cactus plant here.

Story of the recent origin of the temple

In a place called Panakudi of Tirunelveli district a lady devotee was greatly suffering due to unbearable stomach acheThough she consulted many doctors nobody was able to cure it..Then she thought of her clan Goddess and shouted crying “Amma(mother)”.That night in her dream her clan God Esakki Amman came , sat neat her and massaged her stomach and asked her, “ I am now below a cactus plant. Can you not build a thatched shed for me?” and then vanished.The pain of the lady vanished and she ran to the temple of her Clan Goddess and she saw The mother Goddess in the form of a already made stone below a cactus plant .The villagers immediately built a thatched shed for the Goddess there itself.. several people whose prayers were answered slowly improved the temple by matcking it in to a built temple..This temple is in a valley whose three sides are covered by mountains of the western ghats ands one side is a plane.Possibly this lead thre place to be named as Muppandal( Three temporary sheds),There is also a story that The chera, Chozha and Pandya kings of ancient Tamil Nadu , met at this temple to solve their problems.When they came for meeting they erected three different temporary sheds and lived there. This again could have lead to the name Muppandal(Three temporary sheds).”

Ancient story of the origin of the temple.

There was an ancient temple of Lord Shiva in a nearby village called Pazhavur, He developed relation with a Prostitute of the village. She being a great devotee of Lord Shiva , protected her virtue by being faithful to only the priest. When the priest lost all his wealth, the other prostitutes were trying to get her separated from the priest..The priest who was interested in getting back all his wealth murdered the Lady Prostitute m, near a cactus bush,.The ladies elder brother who saw her dead also died there itself and the priest who tried to escape was bitten by a snake and he also died. That girl and her briother to take revenge were born as a Yaksha boy and girl called Neelan and Neeli and lived in Chozha kingdom. When the people found out that they were not human beings, they ran away from their residence and reached a Cactus bush. The brother turned in to a neem tree and the girl lived under that neem tree., The priest was born as a merchant and when he came once near the cactus bush, , she created a baby , followed him and told people that he had cheated her and when he came back with her , she killed him near the cactus bush..When with great anger she was going away from the great poetess Avvayar who was an old lady, told her that since her mission is over, she can stay near the cactus bush itself. When Lord Shiva , the friend of Yakshas took pity on Neeli and requested Goddess Parvathi to help her , the Goddess gave her the great power called Veera Shakthi.From that time Neeli , then known as Easkki started the protecting Goddess of the villages nearby. In that Cactus shrub even today there is a neem tree and a Temple of a Goddess.People call that place as Adhi Moola sthanam(The ancient sanctum) ,There the goddess statue made of baked clay is still there.Even today people who want to be blessed with children keep cradles at The mantapam at the Aadhi moola Sthanam.

IN the other temple built as per the words of Avvayar , the Goddess Esakki has a very peaceful look.On her right side there is the Goddess Kalyani called Piranathi Amman., The temple is guarded near the gate by the two brothers of Esakki Amman called Sudalai Madan and Pattavarayan , There are separate statues of Durga, Vaishnavi and Avvayar in the outside corridor of the temple,.Outside the temple there is a 33 feet tall Statue of Esakki Amman in the I open ground.

In the temple a protective sacred thread is tied so that evil spirits and black magic does not give any trouble to the devotees of the temple. They offer White Pongal and Payasam to the Goddess and distribute it to people as Prasada.There is a huge crowds of devotees at the temple on full moon days. People believe that if they worship on that day, the unmarried girls would get married soon. After the worship on those days, the priests tie an yellow thread on the hands of the girls..It is also a practice of the farmers to offer a part of their harvested to the temple. The Goddess is also offered a sweet made of jiggery and Gingelly ,

All the vehicles passing in front of the temple stop their for a minute and drivers pray for their safety.The last Tuesday of the Adi month is celebrated in a grand way in the temple.On the second Tuesday, the Amman is anointed with turmeric water..There is also a ritual of walking on fire by the males who do penance for 41 days at the temple on that day, . There is another prayer when the devotees offer scented flowers and cover up the Amman statue. But all festivals and worship start only at the Adhi Moola Sthanam

The temple is open daily from 6.30 Am till 8 PM. Tuesdays , Fridays and Sundays are considered as special days to worship the Goddess.

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Kottakudi –kurangani KOmbu thooki Ayyanar

October 19, 2015, 11:28 pm

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Kottakudi –kurangani KOmbu thooki Ayyanar

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

(Based on article in Shakthi Vikatan October issue .)

This temple is situated in a village called Kurangani , which is 44 km from THeni, in the road going to Bodinayakkanoor and is the shore of Kottakudi river. There is an interesting story behind this temple. In a village called Kottakudi near Madurai, A young pretty girl went to the pond to bring water,She was seen there by the King of Poojjayaru who fell in love with her. He send word to her relatives that the girl should be entrusted to him.Since the king was already married and had a child, her relatives were not willing to do this and so that the entire village moved from there towards theni. But without informing them a young man went to trhe king’s place and killed his child and joined back the villagers. Since he was expecting an attack from the king he went on telling them to walk quickly. The villagers became suspicious and got the truth out of that lad. But by that time the king’s army had already surrounded them. Then the lad , whose name was Karuthalaimudayar , asked them to hide for safety behind a big rock, fought with the king’s army and killed all of them.When the villagers e requested Karuthalaimudayar, he refused them saying, “I have enjoyed sacrificing of human beings and so I cannot live with you.” .Later the villagers went to the spot and established a centre stoine in that place in memory of that great hero. They also brought a hand full of mud and established a temple for their family God Called “Karkudai ayyanar.” And they also named the place as KOttakudi, which was the name their original village. They started calling this Ayyanar as “Kombu thooki Ayyanar (Ayyanar of lifted horn)”, possibly because daily in the noon worship at that temple , there is practice of blowing horns to summon the devotees. They also consecrated idols of Vanapechi , Nagammal and Changili Karuppan below a fig (athi) tree in the temple.

Barren couples believe that by tying a cradle on the fig tree, they would be blessed with babies. They also believe that if they take the lime fruit given in the temple after worship to their home, and add camphor and salt to its juice and spray that juice in their house, no evil spirit can do anything to them, Also they believe that by offering a dish made from rice , jiggery and shredded coconut to the God , All the civil and criminal cases troubling them would be settled.

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Semapudur village with several temples of village Gods

November 28, 2015, 2:26 am

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Semapudur village with several temples of village Gods

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P.R.Ramachander

Semapudur is a small village which is very near Keezha Iral village which is on the Madurai Thoothukudi road(108 km from Madurai) . The village has only about 150 houses but has seventy different temples dedicated to various village Gods of Tamil Nadu. Since no logical reason or village stories are found for the reason of having so many village Gods in a small village , experts believe that once upon a time it was prominent town where large number of villagers from different villages settled along with their family Gods .For some unknown reason , the town started growing smaller and the villagers migrated to other places including towns. The face that these people have not forgotten either the village or their family Gods is proved by the fact that during Maha Sivarathri festival and Panguni uthram festival most of them reach back to this village to worship their family Gods. These days are celebrated with great grandeur and pomp by all the guests of the village They also come to the village for the ear boring ceremony and first head shaving of their children . The invitation to the family God is invariably sent to their respective family Gods.

This village also contains some common village God temples like that of Ayyanar (at the entrance of the village) , Munnodi Karuppan , Maruthu Pandiar , Sudalai Madan , Pala vesa kkaran , Malayamman , Kaliyamman etc. The research scholars in several universities should study this village in a more thorough manner and find out more about the collection of village Gods.

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Panamkudi Mariamman temple

March 19, 2016, 8:10 am

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Panamkudi Mariamman temple

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P.R.Ramachander

This is a 300 year old temple situated in annilam Taluq and is the village Goddess for the four villages of Panamgudi , Mangulam , Keezha panamgudi and Mela vassal. After a big tinned shed , there is big hall followed by a small hall . On both sides of the temple the guardian gods Kathavarayan and Mahamayi made of wood stand. On the right side of Kathavarayan is Aariya mala and on the left is Karuppaxhagi. There are also separate temples for Thottikatti chinnan and pechayi . The Mariyamman of the temple has a fierce look with round eyes and protruding teeth. Devotees believe that she has taken this form to prevent black magic from entering there

In the month of Aadi(July –august) there is a festival in this temple. The goddess crosses the river on a tueday and stays in the other shore for two days, Next day she goes in to the villages of Melavasal, AAndipanthal , Mangulam and Keezha panangudi . Similar procession of the goddess takes place during the pongal festival also. On Shivarathri day there is a practice of fire pot accompanying the Goddess to her four villages. There is a huge crowd in this temple on Tuesdays and Fridays.

This village is 40 km away from Nannilam in Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu and is on the banks of Mudikondan river. The temple is open from 9 Am to 12 noon and 5 Pm to 8 Pm.

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Nachikurichi Madhavai Amman temple

March 19, 2016, 8:12 am

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Nachikurichi Madhavai Amman temple

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P.R.Ramachander

Nachikurichi is a small village near the city of Trichinopoly in Tamil Nadu.In this village there is a temple of village Gods and Goddesses . In front of the temple on both sides are temples of Lord Muruga with Valli and devanai and Lord Ganesa with Sidhi and Budhi, As soon as enter the temple are huge trees of neem and peepul. These are considered as temple trees. Below the trees is a big hall with God sambhavan. Devotees believe that by sitting and meditating peace descends in to out mind quickly.. In the outer corridor of the temples , there are temples for Madhurai veeran and nagappar. Those who have dosha in their horoscope due to rahu and Kethu , bring Nagar statues and keep them before Nagappar and worship them .People who have snake bite are brought to this temple and if they worship Nagappar , the effect of poison is considerably reduced.. There is also a believe that no one is bitten by a snake in this village.If some one sees a snake in the house , they bring a mud pot and keep it near the snake. It seems the snake of its own enters the pot. Then the snake is brought to Nagappar temple and left there, this Nagappa swamy is the clan God for many families surrounding the temple . In the corridor there are temples for Periyanna swami, Panayadi Karuppaswamy. This Karuppaswamy temple is below two huge Palmyrah palms in the temple,People believe that by praying to Nagappa swami and Periyanna swamy the effect of black magic done by others can be removed..In the middle of the temple is the temple of Saptha Mathas.Vaishnavi who is in the middle of the saptha Mathas is called Madhavai amman.On full moon days special pooja and Abhishekam are offered to Madhavai Amman.In the month of Masi there is a 15 day festival in this temple. People regardless of caste or religion participate in this festival.

This village is 5 km from Trichy central bus stand and the temple is open from 6 Am to 12 noon and 4PM to 8 Pm.

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Inampuliyur Sabari vara Mariamman temple

March 19, 2016, 8:14 am

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Inampuliyur Sabari vara Mariamman temple

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

Inamnpuliyur village is near Puliyur near Trichy town of Tamil Nadu. It seems several hundred years back, the cow herds and goat hers of the village noticed that a particular place of the forests was avoided for grazing both by the goats as wll as cows..One day they all joined together and when they searched , they found a statue of Mariyamman lying there. When they informed the villagers about it, they decided to build a temple for that Nariyamman in the spot she was found. Slowly the villages realized the power of the Goddess and a fairly big temple was built in that place. The Goddess is in the sitting pose and is facing the east..She has a very peaceful face and the devotees who go worried there returnrd with great peace in their mind.. On the left of the Mariamman Sannidhi is the temple for Karuppannaswami .Daily only a ghee lamp is showed to the Goddess ,But on the first day of Tamil as well as English montha , Fridays of Aadi month, full moon and new moon days, special pooja and Abhisheka are offered to the Goddess,Sivarathri is celebrated in a grand scale. After the worship on day Chundal made of THattai Payaru is distributed. In the month of Chithirai (april –may) , there is a festival in the temple for three days. On the second day Pongal is offered to the Goddess and Mavilakku (A lamp on rice powder mixture) is observed, In the evening of the second day devoteescarry milk pots, walk over burning fire and so on when the Goddess comes out to see her people. On the third day, she is given bath in turmeric water. Devotees believe that they would get children if they attend the third day celebration,.

The temple trees are Banyan and Peepul tree , both of which are several centuaries old. People desiring children hand baby cradles on the Peepul tree . Next to the temple is a structure called Amma Mandapam . Here the people getting b pox diseases are brought and are given the sacred water from the temple . It seems they get cured very fast..

The temple is open between 6 am to 8 Am and 5 PM to 8 PM. From Chathiram bus stand of Trichy town buses go to Puliyur and from there this temple is about one km away.

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Velipettai angalamman temple , Dharmapuri

March 19, 2016, 8:16 am

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Velipettai angalamman temple , Dharmapuri

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

The temple of Angalamman is situated in Dharmapuri town of Tamil Nadu.Though the main deity of the temple is angalamman who sits below the umbella held by the serpent holding a small drum , rope , sword and skull with fire as her crow. Before entering her temple is Nandi and on her left side in Nagar(*serpent). On her right side is Durga in a separate sub temple.In front of her is her primeval form which was being worshipped in early times. Outside the sanctum is Ganesa , Madhurai veeran , Bommiyamman and vellayamman. Pavazha mali tree and white Arali tree are the temple trees .On full moon(POurnami) ,on new moon(Amavasya) , Fridays and Tuesdays special worship is done to Angalamman .Chithra pournami , Adi pathinetteu , Navarathri and Maha Sivarathri are celebrated at the temple. The main festival is around the Maha Shivarathri day. After the flag is hoisted for the festival , for one week , the the goddess goes in a procession around the village around 7 Pm. On the last day of those 7 days , the marriage of the mother is celebrated..On that day the Goddess goes out in a glass chariot at night.That day newly harvested from several fields on the way are offered to her. Two days later early morning at 1 Am , five dolls of different colours made of Maida is taken to the cremation ground and they are smashed there,This is called Pancha Mukha Vettu festival.It is believed that the Goddess protects the villagers because of this. On that day at 10Am , the goddess travelling on a Bootha(ghost) goes to the cremation ground. Three days later a festival called Pillai Pavu is celebrated. It is believed that ladies without children would get children by participating in this festival.

The temple is about 1 km from the Dharmapuri town Bus stand.It is daily open from 6 Am to 12 noon and later between 4.30 Pm to 8 Pm,

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Alamaathi Pidari Echathammam temple

July 25, 2016, 8:13 am

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Alamaathi Pidari Echathammam temple

Compiled by

P.R,Ramachander

.There is an interesting story behind this temple:-

When Goddess Parvathy was fighting with an ASura called Mahishasura, wherever a drop of blood fell from that ASura’s body a new Rakthabheeja was created. To Stop this Goddess Parvathy created the Ferocious form of Kali who drank all the blood that fell from the Body of Mahishasura. Due to consumption of blood, she became extremely ferocious and Goddess Parvathi made her wear a garland of limes which cooled her down. She then covered herself by an ant hill in that village which was called Erumavetti palayam(The village of cutting of elephant) .

Later when Rishabhasura the grand son of Ravana lusted for Goddess Parvathi and started troubling her, she again woke up that Kali who cut off the head of Rishabhasura and drank all his blood. DEvas who saw her ferociousness Offered her several lime garlands and saluted her. She then became Elumichai B Nayagi( Lime Goddess) and again started living in an ant hill. The ant hill became very huge and the villages who knew about her offered g her Bali on wednedays and also decorated her with lime garlands

AS Time went by the attention of the villagers came down and they started neglecting her. At that time she caused torrential rain on the village which troubled them greatly. Then their village was visited by sage Markandeya who advised them to start worshipping the Goddess again. So in the month of Masi (February-march) on a Wednesday when it was also Amavasya(new moon) , the villages started worshipping her. Then they heard the Goddess assuring them that she would protect that village as well as the seven villages surrounding it.Sage Markandeya also started living in that village.

Once there was huge storm and torrential rain in the village again and those seven villages were about to be drowned by a flood and the lake which was the life line of the village was about to break.. People got scared and approached sage Markandeya who prayed the Goddess to solve their problem.Then Elumichai Nayagi rose from the ant hill and went and sat at the bank of the lake which was about to break. The banks became strong and rains stopped. All the villagers requested the Goddess to stay there itself and she agreed. She from that time was known as “Pidario Echathamman”.. Here echa indicates yAgna and Athuthal means curing. Since she rose up like a flower in the village that village became known as “Alar Mathu” which lated became Alamathi

Pidari sits in a small temple facing the north. There are separate sub temples for Ganesa, seven maids(SAptha kanniyar), Karumari and Durga of anthill in that temple.Tuesdays, Wednesdays , Fridays and Sundays are important in the temple and huge crowds of devotees visit their goddess .

Maha Shivarathri and new year are celebrated in this temple ,. The festival month of the temple is Aadi(July-august). SEvarl festivals take place durig the month. Ear boring , marriages, worship of new Vehicles etc of these seven villages take place only at this temple.

A special worship practiced in the temple is anointing her , offering her pongal on Wednesdays for five weeks.Every time they offer five limes to the Goddess. The priest returns two of them. They then pierce one lime on the spear of the goddess, and cut the other in to two.The juice of the fruit is poured on the Bali Peda of the Goddess and they light two ghee lamps on the lime skins and offer it to the Goddess, On the fifth Wednesday, they make the Goddess wear a lime garland and offer her sweet pongal.Devotees believe by doing this all their problems would get solved. The temple is open every day from 7 Am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 7 PM.

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Karumandapam Ilamkattu Mariyamman

July 25, 2016, 8:14 am

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Karumandapam Ilamkattu Mariyamman

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

It seems there was a Mariyamman in a village called Ilamkadu without any place to stay..Shhe appealed to her elder sister “Samayapuram Mariyamman” .She advised her.”Many people going on a pilgrimage to Pazhani would pass through your village. yOu join them.When you reach the town of Uchi pillayar koil, Kali and Karuppachami would prevent you from going further..You stay there.” As her her advice Ilamkattu Mariyamma came and was stopped near in a place called “Karumandapam” in Trichy..Intially she was staying in a hut constructed by the people. Now it is a permanent temple

The temple faces the east. As soon as we enter, you can see Karupannachami sitting on a horse on your left side.Om the western side you would find Pillayar, Nagar and on the north the idol of Vishnu Durga. The Mariyamman has a peaceful look iN the month of Vaikasi there is a ten day festival in this temple.Apart from several celebrations, walking on fire is also observed.

Aadsi pooram is celebrated in a grand scale in this temple. That day the Goddess is decorated with One Lakh bangles. These would be later distributed among ladies

On Fridays The goddess is offered Rose flower garlands and devotees pray for early marriage and child birth. As soon as their desires are fulfilled , they offer a Sari to the Goddess.People going on Pilgrimage to Pazhani by this way , take rest at this temple.

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Kodungayoor Nagathamman

July 25, 2016, 8:16 am

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Kodungayoor Nagathamman

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

Once KOdungayoor was a prosperous farming village.Near a big pond there several snakes were living.Near that place there was a banyan tree. The villages consecrated three Nagars under a thatched roof below that banyan tree and they were worshipped as the Gods of the village. The village slowly became a part of a city ,Then about 50 years back the villagers erected a permanent structure and along with the three Nagars , they also consecrated an Amman. She was called as Nagathamman..The temple was called “Sri Devi Nagathamman temple” . There is a very big pond before the temple.There is a separate temple for Lord Subrahmanya along with Valli and Devayanai in the temple complex

In the sanctum sanctorum the Goddess appears befre an umbrella of serpent holding in her right hand a sword and a hand drum and Soola , pot of Kumkum in her left hand . On the platform where Amman is consecrated there ois a head of Amman also.

Those who light a ghee lamp and worship her are blessed with children, long life , health ,removal of problems due to loan, removal of problem of stoppage of education etc.People pray her for removal of Naga dosha in their horoscope . ON the right side of the sanctum below the Banyan tree the nagas who were consecrated originally are also there. The specialty of Nags is that each of them are seen holding a Shiva linga. There are also temples of Ganesa and Gajalakshmi behind it.

Rahu kala pooja are performed on all Fridays and Tuesdays,Special poojas are done on full moon days and sankada hara chathurthi days, Vaikasi visakham, Naga chathruthi and Adi pooram are also celebrated.There is a special worship of lamps on the first Friday of tHai month.On Chithra pournami day there is a festival of pots of milk.

From Kannadasan Nagar bus stop , Madras-118, the temple is 2 km away.It is in the 7^th street of Ever ready colony. ON normal days temple is open between 7.30 am to 10.30 am and 5.30 pm to 8 pm.On special days and Fridays it is open from 7.30 aM to 12 noon and 3 Pm to 8 Pm.

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Akasa Mariyamman of Thirunarayur

July 25, 2016, 8:17 am

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Akasa Mariyamman of Thirunarayur

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

Once upon a time the people of Thirunarayur were bangle sellers. They used to carry glass bangles on their head go from home to home I villages and villages and sell their bangles.Once these people went to Samayapuram..That time Panguni festival was being celebrated in Samayapuram. Then old bangle seller saw a dream.One young and very pretty came in his dream and asked him for bangles. At that time the old man had very less bangles . He put each bangle he had in the ladies hands and all of them broke. Then the old man told the lady “all the bangles I had have broken and so if you come to my village , I would make you wear pretty pretty bangles. Then she said, “Would you give me bangles only if I come to your village? No, there is no need for that,I would make your village people wear bangles.”

And she disappeared. The old man woke up suddenly and he saw that all the bangles had broken and were lying by his side and he saw that all other villagers had pox all over the bodies, At that time the priest of Samayapuram temple came there and told them, “The goddess wanted to compensate you for the broken bangles.” And he gave them the cash for it.” Then the old man realized that the young lady who came in his dream was Samayapuram Mariyamman herself.,Then he applied the ashes got from Samayapuram temple on their bodies and all the pox marks disappeared.,Then the goddess appeared to them on the sky. They called her akasa Mari and saluted her and requested her to visit their village.. She asked them , “Which is your village?” and they replied “They said it is narayur famous for its Jasmine flowers.” And she said, “ I would come every year to your village for the sake of jasmine flowers and your bangles.”

It is believed SAmayapuram Mariyamman comes there through the sky every year (may-june) and stays there for twelve days during the spring. She has a temple there in the north east side of the path where chariot runs. Lakhs of pilgrims come there on all those days a, pray to her and make her offerings. There is no statue or idol for this goddess. During the festival days using a potm, silk cloth, Durbha grass and decorations the form of a very pretty Mariamman is made. She is made to wear all sort of gold and jewel ornaments. She daily travels on a palanquin made of flowers on the shoulders of her devotees. All the Nadaswara artists assemble there and a special Raga called “Mangala Mallari “ is chanted. It is a custom in the village, during these 14 days, no other individual family celebration would take place.Devotees bring Kavadis to the templke.Non stop feast is given in the temple during the festival days.On the thirteenth day , Amman would depart to Samayapuram. On other days a lighted lamp is kept in the Akasa Mari temple and is worshipped. The temple is kept open from 6 Am to 10 Am and 5 pm to 8 PM .People pray here for marriage and child birth.. The temple is 10 km from Kumbhakonam on the Kumbhakonam- Nagapattinam road near to the Nachiar kovil town.

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Thoppampatti Soolathamman

July 25, 2016, 8:18 am

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Thoppampatti Soolathamman

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

THoppampatti is on the road between Coimbatore and Mettupalayam..You can take autos or buses to reach this village from Coimbatore Junction. There is an interesting story about how the temple of Goddess here.

It seems one cultivator purchased a small piece of land from his friend, after taking loan..In that land, in a corner there was a neem tree.Below that tree , there was a statue of A goddess, which was mostly buried in side.The purchaser was requested by the seller to worship that Goddess..He also did it without fail. Then he started planting coconut trees and inter crops in the land that he purchased.. Slowly that area became a part of the town, and houses camp up all aroung that piece of land.People living there started worshipping that Goddess.But since the Goddess was in a deep pit , they found it difficult to worship her,. Then the cultivator constructed a compound wall around his property. Then The goddess was just outside the wall in a pit and only about 9” of her visible.tHen the worship to the Goddess was stopped and evil things started appearing in all surrounding areas..A priest cum astrologer was consulted and he told that the stopping of worship of the Goddess was the reason for all their troubles. When they approached the cultivator , he agred them to remove the Goddess from there and consecrate in another place. When they dug out the Goddess they found, she was more than five feet tall and was holding a trident and on the top of the statue, Sun and moon were sculpted. Experts who examined the statue told that it was at least 600 years old. People started calling Soolathamman and shifted her to a temporary shed. They all felt they were becoming very fortunate..They built a permanent stone temple for her. They also consecrated Mariamman, Vishnu sakthi and Shiva Shakthi in side the temple.Neem tree was adopted as the temple tree. First day of Chithirai month and on all Fridays of Adi months are celebrated in the temple, The temple is kept open from 7 am to 10.30 am and 6 pm to 8 pm. On Tuesdays Fridays , in the evening temple is open from 7 PM to 8 Pm.

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Vandambalai Mahasakthi Mariyamman temple

July 25, 2016, 8:19 am

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Vandambalai Mahasakthi Mariyamman temple

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

This temple is situated in the banks of river Cauvery 6 km away from Thiruvarur in the Thiruvarur-Mayiladuthurai road. It is a very huge temple facing the east. You first see the forms of Ashta Lakshmis as soon you enter the temoke.On the left site Karuppayi Amman who holds Subrahmanya on his lap has a small temple.Ladies without children come here to worship the Goddess They take the rice an turmeric powder home. They add the rice to the rice copoked daily and apply the turmeric on themselves after bath..It seems within 48 days , they will be in a family way. They all come back and offer pOngal to this Goddess.Next you would come across Pechayi Amman.U It is believed she removes all attacks of black magic on all villagers. Then there is a temple of Kalludayaan who is the family god of many people of this area..Then towards right you would see Karupanna sami riding on An elephant..Ift is a custom to salute him and then only enter the main temple.Then you enter the temple of Maha sakthi mariyamman.She is supposed to cure all pox diseases. Amman has a yen day festival in the Chithirai month.Daily the Amman comes out amd visits the villagers When you come out of the temple on your lrft you would see Kathavarayan, Aryamb, Bommi and Thottikati Chinnan . The temple is open from 9 Am to 8 Pm.

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