Kaliamman of Devi Pattanam
By
P.R.Ramachander
There are two small mountains called Chathura giri and Podigai Malai in western Ghats .It is believed large number of sages and Sidhas in these mountains.,One of the mountain here was called Thiruvilangam Malai and there it seems once the sages and Sidhas were worshipping Goddess Adhi Parasakthi and she came before them having a pot on her head and standing on one leg and later she stayed in that place as a lamp pillar.
In that place there were two Jamins called chethur and Sivagiri. Once a severe famine came there and people were suffering.It seems the goddess appeared in the dream of those Jamindars and asked them to build a small dam and leave water to both jamins. The north side rivulet was named as deviyaru and the southern river was named as Shanmukha Nadi .The water problem was solved but when due to huge rain a flood came there , the Goddess who was being worshipped in the form of lamp pillar floated and reached a forest area called Thattangulam. The people guessed that the pillar was divine and started worshipping it. Some cow herds and goat herds who used to graze their animals there used to take rest near that pillar. They started a play of worshipping that pillar. They used sand as food offering called pongal, bricks as coconuts and wooden fallen sticks as incense, They also used to whistle or hum to play music to the goddess . the goddess was pleased with their play and appeared before them. Then the play music they were playing become a great music and echoed everywhere. The entire place was filled with food offering to goddess . All the villagers rushed to that place, That night Goddess appeared in the dream of Jamindars and ordered them to build a temple for her there near the banyan tree bush in Thattangulam. The goddess also told them an eagle will fly and show them the correct place. As per her direction a temple was built at that place.She is called as Thanga malai kaliyamman, Thamarai kulam kaliyammam, Thattangulam Kaliyamman etc Later on this place where The goddess came and sat was named as Devi pattanam.In the month of june-july(aani) a big festival is celebrated in this temple. All round the temple you can see plenty and prosperity .The first girl of the family in these parts are usually named as Kaliyammal.
Apart from the very pretty smiling idol of the goddess there are sub temples for Karuppachami and Chinna Kaliyamman.Banyan tree is the temple tree(sthala vruksha) . It is believed that if we worship the goddess we can get rid of problems due to loan as well as that due to planets, This goddess also blesses devotees for getting good family life and children. Every full moon day is a minor festival day in this temple.
The temple is 6 km from Sivagiri which is in the road connecting Tenkasi and Madurai towns .You can go by bus to this place from Rajapalayam town, The temple is open from 5 am to 7 pm.