Poy cholla meyyar Bhadra kali of Moolangudi

Poy cholla meyyar Bhadra kali of Moolangudi

By

P.R.Ramachander


Moolangudi village is in the Pudukottai district near Ponnamaravathi. There were a brother sister who were children in this village., they were very close. One day when they were guarding paddy which was put to drying, one villager it seems remarked that they were like husband and wife. This hurt both of them. They left that place wandered here and there and at last hid themselves in a pot of Bhajra. By the time the villagers located them, they had breathed their last. When they were cremated together, their body turned in to ash but nothing happened to their cloths. So they gain put it in the pyre. Still nothing happened. Then they heard a voice from heaven saying that both of them are Gods and would look after the village.
The brother was called Poy Cholla Meyyar(Meyyar who does not tell a lie) and the sister as Seelai Kari Bhadra Kali. But immediately after wards the village started facing lot of problems. Thinking that it is due to Bhadra Kali, the removed the statue from the temple and threw is facing the earth in the forest. Things subsided but once a goatherd found the Kali and turned it to see the sky. The entire village caught fire ,. They then approached Poy Cholla meyyar and prayed to him to pacify his sister. He asked them to bring the statue and consecrate it facing him. The problems of the village disappeared. In this village there was a temple where Ponnan and Brahmar Karuppar were consecrated. They do not have a roof over them. These two gods belonged to a village 25 km from Moolangudi. Once a girl of Moolangudi got married to a boy of that village. When Moolangudi people went to that village after the marriage, they slept in the temple of Ponnan. That night Ponnan came in their dream and asked them to take Him along with them. Then they told him that taking a God from the boy’s place would lead to trouble. But when they assured that they would make Moolangudi prosperous they agreed. They got the symbolic stick from that temple came back and consecrated them in their village. The girl who went in marriage from Moolangudi was sent back. But Karuppar and Ponnan kept their promise and Moolangudi became a very prosperous village.
Ponnan and Karuppar have become the assistant to Poy Cholla meyyar. By the side of Meyyar, two of their horses(statues) are always kept in readiness so that they can start to do any job at any time. People believe that daily night they go to their native village riding on these horses.
Very near Moolangudi there is a Mountain called Vemmalai. There were two Sidha sages on this mountain. After their death they built a temple for them. They were called Mooligai Malayan and Shiva Lingam. They consider that Mooligai Malayaan is Lord Muruga, These villagers used to go on an annual pilgrimage to Pazhani. Once in their absence all their wealth was stolen. After this Mooligai Malayan came in their dreams and told them, that they need not go to Pazhani but come to his temple. Now this custom is followed. Apart from these Gods there are also Karutha Kaliyan and Chinna Karuppu temples in this village.
There is ten day festival for Meyyar in the month of Vaikasi (May-June). During Maha Shivarathri also there is a festival. Once in every five years there is a festival called Avery Padaippu , when animals are sacrificed to Ponnan.

Samana malai Ayyanar Karuppannachami of Nagamalai

Samana malai Ayyanar Karuppannachami of Nagamalai

By

P.R.Ramachander

The Jain religion was once flourishing in Tamil Nadu near Madurai of Tamil Nadu. There is a mountain there called Samana Malai with several artifacts and inscriptions of that religion. Nagamalai is a village in the foothills of this mountain. There was a famous Ayyanar temple there. There was a temple of Karuppannachami at the mountain top. It seems when Madhurai town was under the occupation of British. , One British General used to go near the meenakshi temple and insult the Goddess. Karuppannachami could not bear this. So he knocked the horse of the general. This started happening daily. One astrologer told him that it was done by Karuppanna Chami of Samanar Malai. He advised him to bring down Karppanna Chami from the mountain and consecrate him near the Ayyanar temple in nagamalai. This was done and the problem disappeared. The general gave land donations to the people who helped him do that. Since this village as well as the neighboring villages of Keezh kuil kudi were in a barren area, there was always famine there. So people of this village went to other villages for jobs. Of them two people went to Karumathur and worked as priests of Moonu Sami temple. After the famine when they were about to return , The Gods Virumappa Chami and Kasi Mayan of Karumathur asked them to take one fist of mud from their temples to their villages. They took the mud and consecrated temples for these Gods near Karuppanna Chami of their village. They also consecrated Kazhuvanathan, Karuppayi Ammn , Irulappan , Changili Karuppannachami etc as security Gods.
Before bringing down Karuppannachami from the mountain, Brahmins used to worship in the Ayyanar temple. But afterwards this was entrusted to the Velars. These people had to come through thick forest to reach this temple from their village Vilacheri. It seems , both while coming in the early morning and going back late at night. ,Karuppaannachami used to accompany them as bears for their protection. These Velars gratefully named their children as “Samanar Malai Karadi (The bear of the jain mountain.”
Every year there is a pavadai festival in the Ayyanar temple , in the month of Margazhi conducted by the Brahmin priests even now. On that day they build a tower made of Pongal with 150 measures of rice.. This is later equally divided among all the houses of the village.
In the month of Purattasi there is a 15 day festival during Purattasi pongal. A muthalammman idol is made of mud , worshipped and later mixed in the local tank. Three horses are also kept every year on behalf of the village. Several goats are also sacrificed.
People of this area do not start any important job without getting permission from this temple.

Velappar of Mavuthu

Velappar of Mavuthu

By

P.R.Ramachander

Mavuthu is a village near Theppampatti which is 19 km from Aandipatti of Theni district of Tamil Nadu. Here Velappar temple is situated on a mountain.
This is a tribal village. A tribe called Paliyars used to occupy this village. Once when they were searching for tubers for eating they located a handsome Muruga idol. They consecrated him there itself and started worshipping him as their Kula deivam (Family deity). There is a mango tree near the temple. From below the mango tree water flows as a spring from time immemorial. This spring has never dried. This is called Mavuthu by the villagers.
They believe that all serious ailments of the skin would be cured on taking bath in this spring. This spring water is only used at the temple and given to devotees. Near by there is a karuppanachami temple. The temple can be reached on climbing 167 steps. The Paliyars are priests I this temple.

Mariyamman of Punnainallur

Mariyamman of Punnainallur

By

P.R.Ramachander

Punnainallur is a small village near the city of Thanjavur. When Chozhas were ruling Thanjavur, a Mariamman temple existed here. But for reasons unknown this temple disappeared.
In the year 1680, Thanjavur was ruled by a Maratha king called Venkoji. He was a great devotee of Samayapuram Mariyamman. Once he reached Samayapuram only at night. So he slept outside the temple. That night Mariamman came in his dream and told that there was no necessity for him to come to Samayapuram as she herself is in Punnainallur, buried in an ant hill. Venkoji rushed to Punnainallur and stated searching for Mariamman. He located the any hill. And started digging for it. He located the statue and built a temple for Mariamman and started worshipping her. After him, this temple again fell in to disuse.
In 1738 another Maratha king Thulaja was ruling Tanjore. His daughter was affected by small pox and lost her eye sight. The king wept in sorrow. That night Mariamman again came in his dream in the form of a small girl and told him about his location. She assured him that she will solve his problem. He located the anthill with the help of a goatherd and started digging there. First he got a palm leaf. It instructed him to build the body of Mariamman with the mud of the ant hill and fix over it the head that is buried there. A great scholar called Sadashiva Brahmendrar helped him. He consecrated the idol as per instruction. As son as his blind daughter was brought o the temple she regained her eye sight. From then on the kings of Tanjore endowed special attention on maintenance of this temple. It is now a huge well maintained temple, blessing all her devotees.

Veppilai Kari of Mangudi

Veppilai Kari of Mangudi

By

P.R.Ramachander

Mangudi is a small village near Thiruvarur of Thanjavur district. Once al the villagers saw a dream in which, the Goddess announced that she is coming to the village. They were all confused as they did not know when and how she will be coming. Again they got a dream in which they were told that the Goddess would be coming by the river. The entire village assembled near the river to welcome her, for several days nothing happened. When they were tired of waiting, one day there was a torrential rain and there was flood in the river. People were singing praises of the Goddess and were waiting the river bank. Then they saw a light floating in the river. Then a small floating platform on which the statue of Kalikambal, a lamp and neem leaves came near them. They made a temporary tent and consecrated the Goddess there. Each family looked after the worship of the Goddess in turns. The village became prosperous and they made the temple in to a tiled building and later in to a permanent temple. Since along with her neem leaves also came, she was called Veppilai Kari.

Nadiyamman of Pattu Kottai

Nadiyamman of Pattu Kottai

By

P.R.Ramachander

Pattaukottai is in Tanjore district. This place was once upon a time covered with forest .At that time Thanjavur was ruled by Maratha kings One day one of them came for hunting in to this forest. He was surprised to see a very pretty woman in the middle of the forest who was laughing at him loudly. The king followed her. But as soon as he neared her she disappeared in a bush. The king cleared the bush and asked his people to dig the place. There he saw a statue of the Goddess. He consecrated that statue by the priests of the Shiva temple at Pattu Kottai (At that time called Veerama nagar) He entrusted the worship with one priest called Nataraja Pandaram and the job of building the temple to Chinnan Chettiyar. She was called as Nadiyammal as she was satisfying the wishes of people who come to see her.
A slightly different story is also prevalent. It seems the king came for hunting. A rabbit which he was chasing ran and disappeared in the bush. He cleared the bush and started digging that place. When they dug, they saw blood oozing out of the place. Then they did the job with caution and recovered the statue of the Goddess, which they consecrated there.
It seems Chinna Chettiar who was entrusted the job of building the temple, got made a statue of Gold for worshipping in the temple as Uthsava idol.
There is a 12 day festival for the Goddess in the month of Panguni. (march-april) starting on the second Tuesday of the month. In the first Tuesday of the same month, the village celebrates the festival of Ayyanar who is consecrated in a different part of the village. This goes on till the Nadiyamman festival starts. Nadiyamman goes on a chariot to the Srinivasa temple of the village and returns along with gifts from her brother.

Kadha Maravar Kali of Keezhkathi

Kadha Maravar Kali of Keezhkathi

By
P.R.Ramachander

Kezhkathi is a very small village six km from Aranthangi of Pudukottai district. Once upon a time two brothers called China Maravar and Periya Maravar lived in this village. After the offering of meat during the festival to Karuppar, they used to share the meat equally. But during one festival, Chinna Maravar took more share saying that Periya Maravar had only a small family. When it happened in the next ear, the wife of Periya Maravar taunted him saying, “I won’t serve you food. Let the village and temple give you food.” Dejected Periya Maravar left the village and reached a far off forest. When he slept there, he was woken up by a small girl, who told him, “Don’t bother, I will help you”. Immediately he vanished. Periya Maravar thought that it was a dream and slept further. When he woke up, he found statue of Kali by his side. He took that statute and reached back his village. His wife received him properly and started treating him well. Periya Maravar consecrated the statue in the village. Suddenly the village started facing lot of problems. The villagers suspected that it was due to the newly installed temple. A magician advised them to install a Adaikkalam Katha Ayyanar temple near by. They did it and afterwards, Kali looked after them well. Since she was brought by periya Maravar, the kali was called Kadha Maravar kali or Katham periyal.
From the beginning her statue was made of mud. Every year the village will make two new idols. People as prayer would offer more. All old statues are removed and kept in the back side. The new ones are installed during the festival in the month of Adi (July-August) or Avani (August-September). Some how for a very long time festival has not taken place in the village.
The main offering to the Kali is offering of a sari. These Saris received are not sold or given to any body. They are bundled up and put in the hall behind the temple. Sin e the temple does no have a roof, these Saris get spoiled.
Another practice in the village is that Women do not do circling round the temple. Another prayer is to keep some money in the lap of Kali and take it back. This money is kept in the house safely. People believe this will protect their wealth. After one year that money is given to the temple and new money taken.
By the side of Kai , there is a Karuppu and near by is the Adaikkalam Katha Ayyanar. Temple. By his side many more sub gods like Chinna Karuppu, Periya Karuppu and12 different Ayyanars. By their side there is another statue of Kadha Maravar Kali.
On Tuesdays and Fridays , there is tremendous rush at the temple. On Fridays of Adi month, special buses run to this temple.

Sudalai Madan of Seevalapperi

Sudalai Madan of Seevalapperi

By

P.R.Ramachander

Seevalapperi is a village which 1s 12 km from Palayamkottai of Tirunelveli district. The temple of Sudalai Madan is located there.
When Lord Subrahmanya left Kailasa and settled down in Pazhani, Goddess Parvathi wanted another child. Lord Shiva asked her to her near the Emerald pillar lighting an ever shining lamp. She started doing it. When the luster of the lamp reduced Lord Shiva pushed the wick little. Then three sparks of the light fell in the lap of Goddess Parvathi. They became a mass of flesh. Then she prayed Lord Brahma who made the piece of flesh in to a child. This child was called Chudalai. It grew up. But the child was voraciously hungry and started going at night to burial grounds and eat the corpses. One day Goddess Parvathi noticed the smell of the corpse from the baby. When she told this to Lord Shiva, he became very angry and asked her to send out the boy from Kailasa. She sent the boy along 21 measures (kottai) of cooked rice, a preparation using drum stick and sent the baby along with Vana Pechi.
The child reached Seevalaperi on the banks of Thamra parni. It liked the place. But he was very hungry. So one day the God approached Masanam a goat herd and asked him to give goat milk after milking a particular goat. Masanam told that, that particular goat was barren. When Sudalai Madan insisted, he milked and to his surprise got lots of milk, which Sudalai Madan drank. , He then drew a wheel on the toungue of Masanam. He also promised him that he would come and solve all the problems when called by Masanam.
Masanam went to Shiva giri and learned Religion as well as yoga and returned after several years. In the place where he saw Sudalai Madan, there was a Shiva Linga. People called Masanam as Vala Guru Sannasi and entrusted the worship of God to him. He and his clan started worshipping Sudalai Madan. Though he initially worshipped the Shiva lingam, later they made a statue of Sudalai Madan with four hands. Besides him they also consecrated Vana Pechi and Bramara Shakthi. Just outside the temple there is a Pudhia chami ( Sudalai Madan after giving shape by Lord Brahma) . Behind him is a stone without shape called Munda Sami. About half a km from this temple, there is a temple of Vala Guru Sannasi in the form of a linga. This is the place where he was buried after death. The Abhisheka to Sudalai Madan is done twice with water from the river Thamra Parni. When offerings are made to Sudalai Madan, a part is taken to Vala Guru Sannasi temple and offered to him.
Another strange custom in this temple is that the Prasada in this temple is the mud from the burial ground of the village which is 2 km from the temple.
People believe that this prasada is a cure for all and fulfiller of all wishes.
On Thai poosam day pongal is made and offered to Vala Guru Sannasi and later distributed.
On the last day of Panguni (march-april) there is a big festival in the Sudalai Madan temple. The dress for the God is brought from the Vala Guru Sannasi temple. It is believed that Vala Guru Sannasi worships the God that day. Next day the Gods wear the silver dresses and the Chamiyadi of Sudalai Madan goes in to a trance. He runs to the cremation ground of Brahmins searches for corpses and not getting it he runs back to the temple. There a black sheep is sacrificed. He drinks its blood. He also drinks the blood of other goats which are offered to the temple.
Then 21measuresof rice is cooked along with eggs , chicken etc and offered to the Gods. Then the Gods are worshiped. Sudalai Madan is also offered Cigars, alcohol etc.
People pray for their welfare and disperse.

Koodamudayar of Kalayar kurichi

Koodamudayar of Kalayar kurichi

By

P.R.Ramachander

Kalayarkurichi is a village which is 20 km from Sivakasi of Virudhunagar district. The Arjuna River and Sarawathi River merge in to one near this village. These start from the Chaturagiri Mountain. There was a group of people who were rearing cattle on the Chaturagiri Mountain. Lord Shiva wanted to play with them. So he took the form of a calf and drank the milk of all cows. The people were wonderstruck. So they decided to watch as to what is happening. They saw this strange calf and started chasing it. Lord Shiva hid in a pot of cooked rice. He then asked Varuna to create huge rains and flood. This pot floated in the flood and reached the Arjuna river of Kalayar kurichi. There it broke. Lord Shiva hid himself inside the mud there. During those times there was a village called Kovil patti very near to this spot. Yadava people who look after cows were more in that village. Once one man was leading his cows by the spot where Shiva was buried. Lord Shiva knocked his leg and he fell down. When next day also the same thing happened, that man told his friend Muthukaruppan Chettiar about it. Both of them dug at the place. First milk came flowing and then blood. So they immediately closed the place with a basket. After some time when they tried to open it, they found that a Shiva lingam has grown inside the Basket. God entered Chettiar’s body and he told the villagers that that he is Koodalingam and should be worshipped. They went and told about this to the villagers of Kovil Patti. They did not believe Chettiar and his friend. Enraged by this Lord Shiva turned all the cows and calves of the village in to stone. The villagers rushed to the spot and asked pardon from the God. Then God again made the cows and calves normal. The people then built a temple for Lord Shiva and called him as Koodamudayan. Muthu karuppan Chettiyar and his descendents became the priests of this temple.
After some years another group of people of Kovilpatti started troubling the people who built the temple. They drove them out of the village and chased them. The Lord Shiva then made a path in the flooded river and these people reached the other shore. These people then built a temple for Koodamudayan at the spot where they reached the other shore of the river. Lord Shiva faces the east seeing the river. They also have an installed an Ayyanar along with Pushkala and poorna facing north. This Ayyanar is called Koodamudaya Ayyanar. Apart from this there are Verrabhadran, Chinnakaruppu, Periyakaruppu, Pechi, Rakachi, Ottai Karuppachami, Ladan, Sannasi, Kali, Durgai, Vettai aruppuchami and Agni Karuppuchami idols inside the temple.
Just at the entrance is the idol of Chethur Muthayya. He is the guardian God of this temple. There is an interesting story about him. This Muthayya was a Youngman living in Chethur a near by village. He fell in love with the queen of Chethur and kidnapped her. The king caught him, took him to Chaturagiri mountain and beheaded him. The ghost of Mutthayya used to daily take the queen at night and bring her back in the morning. The king announced a reward of 300 gold coins to the one who imprisons the ghost. Muthu karuppan Chettiyar who was the priest of Koodamudayar temple promised the ghost the last worship of the temple every day. Muthaya agreed and then became a part of the temple. The king gave 300 gold coins to the Chettiar and sent some six soldiers to kill Chettiyar and bring back the money. Chettiar who knew magic made five of them to keep on uprooting the grass and made one of them go and inform the king. The king came and begged the pardon of Chettiyar. From that time, the first worship in Koodamudayar temple on Shiva Rathri is in the name of Chethur king.
People believe that by praying this God all their requests would be fulfilled. The festival is three days during Shiva Rathri. Animal sacrifices are done to the Karuppus. There is also festival for two days during Adi Amavasya. Similarly there is a festival in Vaikasi Visakham, once in every three years, People of the village who has migrated to different parts of Tamil Nadu, come in bullock carts and stay near the temple for a week. It seems about 500 carts come every year.

Malai Karuppu Chami of Kattupalayam

Malai Karuppu Chami of Kattupalayam

By

P.R.Ramachander

Kattupalayam is a small village neighboring the forests of Andhiyoor of Erode District. Once upon a time lived a rich man in the village called Vellaya Gounder. Vellaya Gounder was very devoted and used to go daily in side the forest to do Yogic practices. One day while walking in the forests, He was suddenly arrested by a power. Some how he came back. But this kept on recurring. He thought that some powerful God was present at that spot. He told about this to other villagers. He took some mud from that spot and made a statue of Karuppu and started worshipping it. He started being at that spot without food and sleep. He used to clear the doubts of villagers when they went to the forest. Later he died at hat spot. People buried him and built his mud statue, called it as “Thavasiyappan” and started worshipping that God also. When this was going on, some villagers told that Muni was present in another spot at the forest. They also built a statue for Muniyappan.
The local villagers believed that Thavasiappan and other Gods are doing meditation. So no bell or other sound is made any where near the temple. In Thavasiyappan’s temple, there is a stone called Annaparai. The priests of the temple go to the forests nearby, bring some herbs, grind it on Annaparai and extract its juice. This juice is distributed as medicine on all Tuesdays and Fridays. People believe that this medicine can cure all diseases especially the diseases of women. There is a huge rush in the temple on these days.
People also bring copper and tin plates and give it to the priest of Thavasiappan Temple. The priest puts it behind the idol and returns back a piece to hem after five weeks. People wear this plate as a Talisman.
People affected by spirits are also brought to this temple. After they live here for some time they are also cured.
Though the three temples are not at the same place people of the village believe that they are the same God. On the Tuesday of third week of Chithirai month (April-May). Pongal is offered to Thavasiyappan. And a big worship is done throughout night. Next day animals are sacrificed to Malai Karuppu Chami, which is followed by a great feast during these worships Bells are rung and drums are played.

Vendimuthu Karuppu of v. Kallapatti

Vendimuthu Karuppu of v. Kallapatti

By

P.R.Ramachander

V.kallapatti is a small village near Usilampatti of Madhurai district. There is a big artificial lake there… There was a person called Vendimuthu who was in Chettinad worshipping Malayala Karuppu. After his death, his children did not bother about it. So Karuppu started troubling them. Then with the help of magician they tied Karuppu in chains. One day he broke those chains and reached V. Kallapatti. At that time the bank of lake breached and villagers repaired it with lot of effort. Karuppu breached the bank gain. When this continued for two days, the villagers kept vigil at night. And they caught Karuppu. Karuppu told them he was a god and of they sacrificed Goats and made him happy, he would look after the lake. They immediately did it and continue to do it. After that till today the banks of the lake have not breeched. Since Vendimuthu was worshipping this Karuppu, he is known as Vendimuthu Karuppu. The villager built a temple for him. Behind the temple there is a big banyan tree. Before beginning any new venture or before deciding any thing important in the family the villagers come to this temple and ask Karuppu’s permission. Permission is signaled by the sound of a lizard.
In the month of Masi there is a three day Kalari festival in this temple.

Theepayntha Nachiyar of Bhoothangudi

Theepayntha Nachiyar of Bhoothangudi

By

P.R.Ramachander

Bhoothangudi is a small village near Vadalur of Cudalore district. This is mainly populated by a caste known as Chethiyar. They were soldiers of Chozha kingdom. Usually during peace, they cultivate the land and hunt animals in the forest. Once when several Chethiyars went hunting, they saw a girl weeping in the forest. One of the Chethiyars brought her back. Attracted by her the entire village considered her as their daughter. When she was about eleven, her foster father died and was cremated. This girl also wanted to be cremated in a separate pyre along with him. Though people refused, they agreed as she was insisting on it. That girl coconut tied Thali Lime fruit and betel leaf which are holy things in her cloth while jumping on the fire. She also told the villagers that she would take care of the villagers. After her live cremation, the people were surprised to find that all the holy things she carried to the pyre were fresh and not burnt. So they understood that she was a goddess . Chethiyars consider her as their clan Goddess and she continuously protects them. There is a rare tree called Yer Azhinji near her temple. People wanting babies will tie a cradle on the tree, put a baby toy in it and rock the cradle. Once they get the child they offer the child’s first hair to the Goddess. People consider as incarnation of Goddess Sita. In her temple God Chakra(Holy wheel of Vishnu), Lord Ayyappan, Nava Grahas surrounding the slippers of Lord Rama are also there.
The poovaraga Swamy of Sri Mushnam comes and stays at this temple during Masi Magam while going to the beach for sea bath. During Nava Rathri and all Fridays in the month of Adi there are special worships in this temple.
Since this temple is by the side of the high way all drivers do not forget to salute this goddess while traveling.. New vehicles are also brought here for special worship.

Idamalai Mahalinga Maya Karuppu of Vatthalakundu

Idamalai Mahalinga Maya Karuppu of Vatthalakundu

By

P.R.Ramachander

Vathalakundu is a small town in Dindukkal district. This temple is situated there. But this Maya Karuppu originally came from a tribal village called Ettur kotta kudi of Theni district. Though the people worshipped this god there, they did not do it properly. So Maya Karuppu started troubling them. So they made a basket with cane and put Maya Karuppu and his 21 assistant Gods including Chinna Karuppu, Munnodi Karuppu, Kazhu udayan, Kanavay Karuppu, Alathikkari etc and floated the basket in the river. When it reached Kattakaman Patti, it was seen by a Brahmin, who took it home. That night, he heard jingling sound of anklets and Maya Karuppu told him that they were Gods who drink blood of Animals and so he should be restored to the mountain. Next day the Brahmin took Karuppu and placed him in a mountain near the river. He gave all the assistant Gods to along with the cane box to the Back ward caste people of old Vattalakundu. Since the Maya Karuppu chose the mountain, he was called Idamalai Mahalinga Maya Karuppu. On the mountain there is only a wall which is worshipped as Maya Karuppu. However they have drawn a picture of the Karuppu. The assistant Gods
Also have small walls by his side. Only Chinna Karuppar has a statue.
The Kalari festival being held in the month of July-august is the most important festival for Idamalai Karuppu. In the first Friday of Adi month, all the villagers assemble before Idamalai Karuppu temple and ask his permission to conduct the festival. If the lizard from left side of the temple makes sound then, that year no festival is held. But if the lizard on the right side makes sound, immediate preparations for a great festival are started. Next Friday the entire village and all the houses in it are cleaned up and offer Pongal to the God in a new pot. That evening 21 Chamiyadis representing all the Gods who came floating in the box, go to the river where this box was found. Before them all the prayer needs like bells pots etc are taken out from the village house where they are kept and carried on head. After the bells pots etc are washed the concerned God enters the 21 Chamiyadis. People fall at their feet and ask questions. All questions are answered. After keeping the bell and other things in the temple that days festival comes to an end. On the next Friday around 5 in the evening , all the statues are taken out , anointed with oil and then worshipped. After the worship, the statues are again kept in the box and then the box locked. That night again the 21 chamiyadis are called. Only the Chamiyadi of Chinna karuppu stands on a five feet long sickle held by four or five people . Then all of them start towards ida malai. As soon as they reach ida malai, pongal is prepared in three pots. ,Later they call Maya Karuppu and ask him different questions. At some Maya Karuppu tells the people that he is hungry. The sacrifice of goats starts then. The blood of all these goats is drunk by the Chamiyadi of Maya Karuppu. At the dawn when this procedure is over Maya Karuppu tells them that he will take care of their interests. Afterwards there would be a great feast using the meat of the goats sacrificed.
One prayer at this temple is to pat rupees twenty one and ask Maya Karuppu to take revenge on a particular person. People also pray for children and curing of diseases.

Vettudayar Kali of Ariyakurichi

Vettudayar Kali of Ariyakurichi

By

P.R.Ramachander


Ariyakurichi is 15 km from Shiva Ganga town. One story about the origin of the temple is as follows. This area was completely occupied by forests once upon a time. Two brothers called Karuppa Velar and Kari Velar went o this forest for digging of tubers. Once they got a statue of Ayyanar from the place that they cut. They started calling the God as Vettudaya Ayyanar. They built a stage there, consecrated the statue and started worshipping it. Once Kari Velar went to Kerala for learning magic. When he returned, he saw some writing in the mud before Ayyanar. He understood that they are the chants meant for Kali. Using his magical powers, he immediately made a Kali statue and consecrated near Ayyanar. She was called the Vettudaya Kali.
Another story about the origin is as follows. A king of Shiva Gangai called Muthu Vaduga nathar was killed by the British during a war. His queen was Velu Nachiyar. After completing the death rites to her husband, she escaped to her to one of their minister called Thandava Rayan. She was being followed by the Britishers. When the army neared Ariyakurichi, the army saw a Shepard girl called Udayal. When they enquired about the whereabouts of the queen, she told them that she will not tell them. They immediately beheaded her. It seems later the queen consecrated her as the Vettudayar Kali. It seems she gave several of her costly ornaments to the temple. Her statue is fearsome and stands with eight hands. If unjust acts of individuals are brought to her notice, she punishes them severely. There is a cage behind the temple, where people cut coin and put in it with a prayer to get them justice. There are lovers appealing them to unite them. She fulfills all their requests. Her judgment comes within 8 days. If the people against whom allegations are made, have anything to say, they should come to the temple within these eight days and ask for her pardon and right the wrongs made by them.
On the north side of her temple is the temple of Sonai Karuppannachami, who is her guard as well as assistant. He carries out her orders faithfully.
Though the Kali temple is more famous, the first worship in this village is only to Vettudaya Ayyanar. Within the temple there are small temples for Karuppar, Solattu Kali and Bhairavar. The temples are open from 6 Am till evening 6 PM. From the Thiruvadirai of Panguni month, a ten day festival is observed in this temple. There is phenomenal rush in these temples on all Fridays and Tuesdays.

Thuravu Mel Azhagar of Chaluppai

Thuravu Mel Azhagar of Chaluppai

By

P.R.Ramachander

Meenchuruti is a village in Perambalur district which is 37 km from Kumbakonam. Six km from here is Chaluppai village. Thuravu in the local dialect indicates well and Thuravu Mel Azhagar would mean, “Pretty man on the top of the well.” One thousand years back, there was a Brahmin locality in this place. There was a well attached to this locality. The Brahmin women used to collect water from this well. Once a sage came to this village and started doing meditation sitting on the top of the well. Without knowing this two ladies drew water from the well. Some water fell on the sage. He cursed them to become formless and he himself became formless.
The villagers of Chaluppai started worshipping this sage as Thuravu Mel Azhagar.. They closed the well and on it established the sanctum for this God .Since he does not have a form, they have a kept stone to represent him and this stone is worshipped. Since all the symbols of Lord Shiva are there in this temple, Azhagar is worshipped as Lord Shiva. Her also they have consecrated a Nandi (bull) statue slightly away from the temple. Since Azhagar is powerful, even Nandi is not kept directly in front of him. Both sides of the Azhagar temples have Lord Ganesa’s temple. One Ganesa is in the form in which he gave protection to a Rakshasa woman.
Over time the Brahmin locality got destroyed. So the Statues of Lord Vishnu’s temple in the locality has been shifted to Azhagar’s temple.
Since the meditation of Azhagar was disturbed by women, young women do not come to this temple. Children and old women visit it however. Sixty feet from Azhagar’s temple there is a small structure. Unmarried girl’s can come only up to this point. Near this hall there is a temple of Veera Bhadra Swamy. He offers protection to Azhagar. Lot of tridents are planted in the soil near this temple. People write their wants and complaints and give it to the priest of this temple. The priest hangs these papers on the tridents. VeeraBhadra Swami appears in the dream of people against whim the complaint is lodged in the form of a horse or elephant. Next day these people come terrified to the temple and rectify the injustices done by them.
Next to this God there is a Madhurai Veeran Statue and also that of Vada Bhadra Selva Maakali. She has eight hands and people believe that she cures all diseases of women. Near to her there is a Veerali tree and people believe that pathinettanpadi Karuppan is on this tree. Animals are sacrificed to Madhurai veeran and Pathinettam padi karuppu.
For Azhagar there are no big festivals. On Thai poosam day , they light a lamp take it in a grand procession and they do worship and Abhisheka for Azhagar before lighting the lamp keep it in the four pillared hall.
No houses are built near the temple . This is so because people do not want to disturb the meditation of Azhagar.

Adaikkalam Kathar of Gopala samudram

Adaikkalam Kathar of Gopala samudram

By

P.R.Ramachander

Uppoor Gopala Samudram is about 4 km from Muthu pettai of Thiruvarur district. There is big Muneeswaran statue in the village. He is the guardian God to Adaikkalam Kathar. Adaikkalam means surrender and also protection. This God is supposed to have protected a ship once upon a time. Once upon a time Gopala Samudhram was a sea shore village. Ships regularly used to pass near this village, when they are going from Colombo to Nagapattinam and back. Once a ship laden with goods was passing from Nagapattinam to Colombo. When it neared this village, the sea became tumultuous and the ship was in great danger. The ship owner prayed God and suddenly the ship stuck to some thing and stopped. The ship owner sent one sailor to investigate. To his surprise he found that the ship stopped because of a brick. He brought back the brick. Though surpised, the owner of the ship did not believe that the ship was stopped by a brick. He threw the brick back to see and told, “If this place has divine power, when I come back let there not be sea here.” To their surprise when the came back there was a small island there and the brick was on the top of the island. He immediately built a temple for the brick and called it “Adaikkalam kathar as it had given support to his ship. From that time the merchant started earning large money, as his business improved. He attributed it to Adaikkalam kathar so he built a better temple. He wanted to build statue of an elephant near the temple. The body was built first. But as soon they completed the head, the head fell down. They tried once more. Then also it fell down. Then the Chamiyadi told them that Adaikkalam kathar rides on a horse and not on an elephant. Not wanting to build the statue again, they made a horse face to the elephant body. This remains there up to date. There is no statue of Adaikkalam kathar in his temple. The original brick recovered from the sea is consecrated there. There is also a very majestic statue of Muneeswaran near the temple. He is supposed to be guardian to Adaikkalam kathar. People first worship Muneeswaran and then Adaikkalam kathar.
In the month of Vaikasi (April-may), there is a horse festival in this village. From Alangadu village which is about 2 km from this village horses (mud-painted) are brought in a procession with musical accompaniment. Adaikkalam Kathar is a vegetarian God. So there is no animal sacrifice for him. But they are sacrificed to Muneeswaran.
There is a curved road running from Muthupettai to Thiruthurai poondi in front of the temple. It seems no accidents take place there in spite of dangerous curves.

Thavasi Aandi of Melaurappanur

Thavasi Aandi of Melaurappanur

By

P.R.Ramachander


This village is near Thirumangalam of Madhurai district. Thavasi Aandi which was once upon a time worshipped by a higher caster is now being worshipped by the Dalits of the village, there is no temple but a decorated platform on which there is a stone, and People believe that Thavasi Aandi is a very powerful God. Nothing is known as to how he came o this village and why the temple priest as well as Chamiyadi is Dalit. People believe that every year they are able to harvest a good crop because of Thavasi Aandi. So once the harvest is over a certain portion of the harvested produce is marked to belong to Thavasi Aandi. The person who gives the grain as well as its quantity is clearly recorded.
On the third Friday of Karthigai (November-December), the festival for Thavasi Aandi is celebrated. All the grain marked o him by different people are sold and banana fruits are brought for that amount. Normally more than 50 thousand Banana fruits are brought. On the day of the festival both the priest and Chamiyadi do not take any food and observe strict penance. Two she buffalos are tied since morning without milking. The priest throws some sacred ash at its udder and it seems its calf will not go any where near it.
The ornaments of Thavasi Aandi kept in a house in a box are ceremonially brought to the temple. The box is taken to every house and worship is offered there. Til the boundary of the village women accompany the box. Since ladies are not supposed to visit this temple, they go back to their homes. After midnight the buffaloes are milked and mixing few fruits Abhisheka is performed to the God.
Later all the male villagers assemble before the temple and pray, “Rain and water should come. We should be able to get a good harvest. Please protect us. Please give a good sign.” After some time they hear the clear sound of a lizard from the near by banyan tree. Till they get this sign, they keep on waiting. If the sign is delayed people believe, it as a result of wrong dong by the village. All of them pray and fall at the feet of the Chamiyadi. Under no circumstance the people of the village return to the village without hearing the sign it seems in one year they got the sign only after two days.
Similarly individual people ask for this sign before taking important decisions in the family.
The Banana is then divided among the families living in the village according to the contribution they have made.

Pachai malyaan of Kappathampatti

Pachai malyaan of Kappathampatti

By

P.R.Ramachander

Kappathampatti is a small village near Jalagandapuram of the Salem district. The village has arid land. Once upon a time a great water shortage came to this village. Some villagers thought that then can to Pachai malai (literally Green Mountain which is 80 km from the village). Four people belonging to one clan went there and reached the top of the mountain. There in a thatched hut, water was kept for the god in three new mud pots, since they were thirsty they drank al the water. Immediately they lost their eye sight. The tribals who had gone back to their village came after three days. Their priest gave sacred ash of their God to the villagers who had lost their sight. They immediately regained their sight. The villagers realizing the power of their God begged them to give their God to them. The tribal priest gave them a stone from in side their temple. The villagers of Kappathampatti brought the stone and consecrated it in their village. They called that Go as Pachai malayaan. After the coming of the new God village became rich. They got regular rains. Even today only a few stones are shown as Pachai Malayaan. Round him there are other Gods viz seven maids, Sannsi , Veerakaaran, Naadar , Vedar , Chinnannan(holding a bow and arrow) , periyannan holding a spear. Chinnannan and Periyannan are represented by two statues riding on horses. Except for them all others are represented by stones only. Initially this temple was in the open ground. Later the villagers constructed a stage and shifted the gods there. It seems they forgot to shift two gods from the ground. These Gods appeared in their dreams. But by that time they were not able identify the stones representing them. So they put all the stones round there on to the stage.
Pachai Malayaan is a vegetarian God. So in the month of Vaikasi(may-June), a festival called Pachai Malayaan thava thiru Vizha is celebrated in the village for him and other Gods. The festival is only for a day . Around May first all members of the village assemble at the temple and ask the God , permission to celebrate the festival. If the sound of Lizard comes from a Banyan tree to the north of the temple , then the festival would be celebrated.. If the sound comes from the Azhinjil tree to the south of the temple, they assume that God does not want the festival.
The arms and bells of Pachai malayaan are kept in a temple house in the village. Once the festival date is fixed the first thing to be done is to get new pots made. The potters observe lot of penance and a disciplined life for making these pots. Pongal is prepared in at least 1000 pots on the festival day. The rice has to be pounded only in the temple house. So the ladies of the village come t the temple house, pound the rice , tie it in a bag over whichthey write their names. Around 3 Am on the festival day, his arms and bells are transported to the temple. Over the temple they make a shed with green palm leaves. First in a big pot Pongal is prepared to the seven maids Later it is prepared for Pachai Malayaan. The people go and bring the Chamiyadi of Pachai malayaan from about 300 meters distance along with music. He goes in to a trance and predicts the future. Every year he answers questions of only very few people.
Later Goats are sacrificed to Chinannan and Periyannan. And their grand father Pattappan. They then start for pig hunt. The pigs are which are offered by the devotes are let lose and are killed
Later they keep three pots full of water in the temple. Thus ends their festival.

Changili karuppar of Kizha vayal

Changili karuppar of Kizha vayal

By

P.R.Ramachander

Kizha vayal is a village in near Singanam puri of Shiva Ganga district. There is a prosperous village called Natha Kalai pattinam near Kizha vayal. Once upon a time, people were very prosperous there. Knowing this some magicians started to trouble them. There is an Oli Vidai ayyanar temple in this village, People went and appealed to Ayyanar. But the magicians started troubling him also. So ayyanar went his sister Meenakshi in Madhurai. She said she has a big army of 121 persons. She asked him to take whomsoever he likes. By examining them he liked Changili Karuppan. And took him with him. As soon as Changili Karuppan reached the village he took a very gigantic form and by a stare made all magicians in to stone. When Karuppan asked for compensation, Ayyanar told him that the first worship in these villages would be for Changili Karuppan. He is now the God for ten villages around Kizha vayal. Initially he was I n a paai tree there but later people wanted to build a temple for him. Then the Chamiyadi of Karuppar told them. “I want the sun light to fall on my face and the rain water to fall on my back”. The temple was built fulfilling this condition. Except for the weapons of the God and the bells that have been offered by devotees, there is nothing else in the temple. The large number of bells is proof enough that Changili Karuppan is a powerful God.
It seems a few years back a thief came to steal the bells from the temple. Changili Karuppan in the form of a boy went and told about this to an elder in the village. The villagers immediately caught the thief. Since then there is no theft in the temple.
It seems water was a problem in this temple. Digging of bore well was costly as even at thousand feet depth water was not available. Changili Karuppan appeared in the dream of his devotee and pointed out the place water is available. They got plenty of water there even at 150 feet.
Around once in ten years a festival is celebrated to Changili Karuppan, if he agrees. The elders assemble near his temple and ask his opinion. If he is willing a lizard will make sound from his knife planted there. Three months before the festival the men of the village observe severe [penances. They do not go out of the village at night; do not take food in outsider’s house and so on. About 1000 goats are sacrificed during the festival. Women do not go any where near the temple at any time.

Mappilai Veeran of Thagatoor

Mappilai Veeran of Thagatoor

By

P.R.Ramachander

Thagatoor is a small village near Vedaranyam of Nagai district. . Mapilai veeran translated meant the Son in law hero. There is no statue for this god. There is only a stone which is worshipped. There is a story about it.
There was swamiji living in this village. He used to Worship a Kali Statue. He called her as Thirumeniamman. When he neared his death, he attained Samadhi opposite the statue of Thirumeniamman. There was none interested in her worship and large number of thieves started troubling the village. In Athiyangadu (neighboring village), there was big shiva temple. People thought that these thieves will steal all the ornaments of the God. So they bundled the ornaments and buried at the place where the Swamiji’s Samadhi was there. They also planted a neem tree over it. They called the neem tree endearingly as Mappilai Veeran. They had built a roof with dried pal leaves. One day this caught fire from the temple lamp. The tree was burnt but its remnants are still there near the temple. They decided to build a stone temple. When they dug there their equipment broke a stone and lot of blood came from there. They built a stone mandap without further digging. They installed a stone in the corner of the mandap. They inscribed the letter “om” on the stone .This stone is being worshipped as Mappilai Veeran till this day. They believe that Mappilai Veeran is guarding the statues and ornaments of the Shiva temple buried there.
In the month of Panguni (march-April) there is an 18 day festival in this temple. There is a Bhairava temple in Athiyangadu. The Chamiyadi from there comes to Mappilai Veeran temple and does Pooja and Abhishekam to Mappilai Veeran. Then he answers questions in his trance to all devotees.
People believe, if any of their body part is affected by making a toy of that part and offering it to Mappilai Veeran, their problem would be cured. The huge collection of toys in front of the temple proves how effective Mappilai Veeran is.

Madappuram Bhadrakali

Madappuram Bhadrakali

By

P.R.Ramachander

Madappuram is a small village near Thiruppuvanam of Shivagangai district. It seems once when there was huge deluge; Madhurai Meenakshi Amman asked her consort Lord Shiva to show her the boundary of Madhurai He became a huge serpent and lay down in the water in a circular form. The place where the mouth of the snake touched its tail is the present Madappuram. Later it seems once; Lord Shiva and Meenakshi came here for hunting. By the time they reached Madappuram, Meenakshy was terribly tired. So Lord Shiva asked her to take rest there and Asked Ayyanar to guard over her. Later it seems Shiva blessed that if any one takes bath in Vaigai River near this village, he would get more punyam than taking bath in Ganges itself. From that time Mother Meenakshi is staying in this village in the form of Bhadrakali. The Ayyanar who is with her is called Adaikkalam Ayyanar (Ayyanar who gives protection) . Main worship is of course to Bhadrakali. She stands there thirteen feet high guarded on both sides by two Boothas. A very gigantic horse stands raising its legs over the Bhadrakali. It seems one devotee prayer to her that he wanted to be with her always. Then Bhadrakali made him in to a horse and gave him a place behind her. She holds a trident and has a crown of fire. She likes lime fruit. The devotees offer her a lime fruit garland. If the garland has to put on her, it has to be made of 100 lime fruits. If it is to be put over the horse also 1000 fruits are required.
This Bhadrakali is considered as court by the people here. Outside her temple there is a small mound. Both the prosecutor and defender come here and after a lighting a lamp take an oath that what they are telling is truth and go back. It seems within 30 days , the one who takes false oath will be severely punished. Some times, they would not be even able to cross the village limits. The punished people should come gain to the temple compensate the other party and give fine to her.
Poor people fighting against injustice done by rich people come here with wet cloths and go near a Pattyakkal installed here. There would be a knife and hammer there. They have to state their complaint and cut a coin and put it there. Bhadrakali gives severe punishment to the person against whom the complaint is lodged.
It seems once upon a time judges used to come here along with both parties and ask them to take an oath in front of Bhadrakali. There is a neem tree behind Bhadrakali. People praying for marriage and children come here and pray . It seems their prayer is answered immediately. On Tuesdays and Fridays, there is a huge crowd at this temple. There are no festivals for Bhadrakali.

Angala Parameshwari of Yenadhi chenkottai

Angala Parameshwari of Yenadhi chenkottai

By

P.R.Ramachander

Yenadhi chenkottai is a village which is 12 km from Manamadhurai of Shiva gangai district. . Angala Parameshwari presides over this village with 21 assistant gods and 61 other Gods.

It seems once upon a time a hunter from Benares undertook a pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. He brought with him the idol of Angala Parameshwari which he was worshipping. On the day he reached the forest near Yenadhi chengottai, he took out the Goddess, kept her below a tree and offered her fruits. The Goddess some how loved the spot and told the hunter that she wants to stay there and asked him to proceed on his pilgrimage. He obeyed her. But somehow he never came back. Over years the idol of Angala Parameshwari was covered with lot of soil and there was only a mound seen over her idol.
A lady belonging to Yadava caste, from a village nearby called Maravanendal used to supply milk to Yenadhi chenkottai village. One day she slipped and fell near this mound along with her milk. This started happening daily. At this time one Brahmin belonging to Benares, who had a dumb daughter came on pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. He was assured that some thing strange will happen and his daughter will regain speech. When they were relaxing near the mound, the Yadava lady fell with her milk. The Brahmin’s daughter cried, “Oh she fell with the milk.” Then he told the villagers that there is some Godly presence there. They dug the earth and found out the idol of Angala Parameshwari. The Brahmin got the idol placed below a Vanni tree in Yenadhi chenkottai. He then went and met the king Bhaskara Sethupathi of Ramanatha puram. The king did not have children. His queen was suffering from intense stomach pain also. The king said that if Goddess helps him by curing his wife and blessing them with a child, he would definitely build a temple for the Goddess. Goddess did that but the king forgot his promise. One day while the king was passing near Yenadhi chenkottai, his horse fell down. The king asked help from the watch man of the Angala Parameshwari idol. The watch man simply took some ash from near the idol and put it on the horse. The horse was immediately cured. The king then remembered his promise and built a big temple for the Goddess. He also built small temples for 21 assistant gods like Patala Rakku, Muthu Rakkachi, Bhadra Kali, Chandana Karuppu, Muthu irulayi and the 61 soldiers of the Goddess. About 12 years back, this temple was renovated by the villagers. They built three sanctums by consecrating Angala Parameshwari, Chandana Karuppu and Muthu irulayi and consecrated their helpers around them.
The worship for Angala Parameshwari is vegetarian. But animals are sacrificed and offered to other Gods.
The annual festrival of this temple starts two days before Sivarathri and continues for eight days. On Sivarathri day Angala Parameshwari goes to Pari Vettai (moving around) and goes to the place where she was originally recovered and then comes back. She is offered the nine different grains that day. Next day she is offered Pongal. Other Gods are offered Animal sacrifice.
To the Bhadra Kali who is an assistant Goddess to Chandana Karuppu, a pregnant goat is sacrificed once in three years.
Angala Parameshwari has large number of devotees. Some of them are settled abroad. When Vaigai River is in flood, it seems water surrounds the temple also. Then people tie turmeric in a yellow thread and put it on the neck of the Goddess. Some time later this thread is put in a pot and left in the river. It seems as soon as this is done the flood water recedes very fast.

Vaikunda moorthi of Sundara pandiyam

Vaikunda moorthi of Sundara pandiyam

By

P.R.Ramachander

Sundara pandiyam is a village which is about 15 km from Madhurai in Madhurai-Srivilliputhur road. About 300 years back, this area was ruled by a king called Mara varman Pandiyan. An old man and woman were walking in the forest near the village one day. Suddenly in front of them an ant hill grew up. They tried to find out what is in side the ant hill. The knife with old man touched a stone and it started to bleed. They went back to the village and brought other people. In side the ant hill was the statue of Vaikunda Murthi with his wives. The king came to the village to see the God. When he was there, the God entered one villager and he requested the king to build a temple for him. The king and the people built a temple there. During this time, in the mountain above the village there was a temple of Periya Karuppachami. There was an earth quake on the mountain and the idol of Periya Karuppachami was pushed before the temple of Vaikunda murthi. Vaikunda Murthi permitted him to have temple near him. From that time onwards Periya Karuppachami helps Vaikunda Murthi in all his affairs. In the village of Manapparai, it seems there was a God called Mamundi Karuppar, who used to Sundara Pandiyam very often. During one of his visits, Vaikunda Murthi summoned him through Periya Karuppachami. Vaikunda Murthi wanted Mamundi Karuppu also to stay with him. But it seems Mamundi Karuppu agreed provide his orders were obeyed by Periya Karuppuchami. This was agreed to.
During the early times it seems a Kerala King who was a magician tied up all rains and water to this kingdom. Mamundi Karuppu went there and caused serious stomach ache to the Kerala queen. No doctors were able to cure it. Mamundi Karuppu approached the king for curing the disease. When he did, he asked the Kerala king to untie the rain and water to Sundara pandiyam. There was heavy rain in Sundara Pandiam and all their problems were solved.
There is another story of an English man insulting the temple. Periya Karuppannachami threw the English man’s horse in the sky. The English man understood the power of the God and left his horse to the temple. In remembrance of this just out side the temple there is a statue of a 15 foot high horse on which Vaikunda Murthi is seen to be riding.
Apart from the two Gods mentioned there are several gods in the temple. Some of them are Pechiyamman, Rakkachi Amman, Lada Sanyasi, Seven maids, Poo Maalai Raja, Madathi, Mada Chami, Irulappa chami, Veera bhadran, Meenakshi, Uthrakali, Bhadrakali and Mariyamman. There are also small statues for the old man and woman who located the temple.
Out side the temple below a neem tree there is a statue of Sundara Mahalingam. It seems prayers to Pechiyamman and Rakachi Amman are offered to beget children. People also believe that devils and spirits run away if they come to Vaikunda Murthi temple.
On Sivarathri in the month of Masi there is a three day festival in the temple. A goat is sacrificed before Periya Karuppannachami and its blood is collected in a new vessel. This is mixed with rice offered to Perya Karuppannachami. After it is offered the Chamiyadis take this rice and offer it the evil spirits living in the Tamarind tree near the temple by making the rice balls and throwing it up the tree. It seems none of the rice balls fall back
Apart from this there is also a festival, on the Tamil New Year’s Day.

Kadaipillai Ayyanar of Melur

Kadaipillai Ayyanar of Melur

By

P.R.Ramachander

Melur is a small village near Sri Rangam. People say that this temple is a very old. It seems once upon a time, a bird called Kadai Kuruvi (?) used to take bath in river Cauvery and sit on mound near by. Some villagers who noticed this went near the mound to investigate. To their surprise, they found a box near the mound. In side the box was an Ayyanar Statue in the yogic pose. They consecrated the statue in their village. Since the God was found out by Kadai Kuruvi, they named the Ayyanar as Kadaipillai Ayyanar.
This was the time when Kallanai (Grand Anicut) was yet to be built. Kari kal Chozha who was the king at that time was passing through this village for finding out a proper place to build a dam. He was followed by many people riding in horses and elephants. It seems when they were crossing the temple of Ayyanar, all the elephants and horses lied down on the floor and refused to move. Ayyanar entered one of the soldiers. He told the king, “I like your horses and elephants. If you give some of them to me, I would solve the problem”. The king agreed and all his horses and elephants began to walk. After going back to his capital, the king arranged to build a gigantic elephant statue in front of the temple and three very big horse statues behind the temple. These statues are still there.
Another strange thing also happened at this time. A man called Chivandhiyandi konar from Sri Rangam used to bring his cattle to graze near the temple. One day Ayyanar met him in a human form and asked him to daily offer milk anointment to him. Konar refused. In one hit Ayyanar killed Konar. That day he appeared in the dream of the wife of Konar and told her, “Your husband disobeyed my orders. So I have decided to keep him with me. I want you and your descendents to be priests at my temple.” They obeyed and till today the priests of the temple are from Konar caste (Yadavs of Tamil Nadu).
Ayyanar sits in side the sanctum in yogic pose. Below him there is a Ganesa statue. On both sides of the sanctum there are guards. Outside the gigantic elephant stand and behind the temple are the three horses. By the side of Ayyanar are Manavala Mamuni, Ekambara Nadhar, Kamakshi Amman, Katha Parimanachami, Chivandhiyandi Konar, Madhurai Veeran and Periyannachami. Opposite Ayyanar statue there is Karuppanna Chami. His eyes are made a peculiar stone. Wherever we stand, it appears as if he is staring at us. In this temple the worship is to Ayyanar and not Ganesa as is the custom in other temples. The statue of Chivandhiyandi Konar also gets worshipped.
There is a three day Sivarathri festival in the month of Masi (February-March) Vegetarian worship is offered to Ayyanar .However Goat , cock and pig are sacrificed to please Karuppanna chami. For Karuppanna chami, the festival does not take place every year. After every festival, The God is asked when he wants the next festival. The chamiyadi replies on behalf of Karuppanna chami.
In the sanctum besides the Uthsava statues of Ayyanar his queens Poornambikai and Pushkalambikai stand.
People routinely pray Ayyanar for early marriage and children. It seems he fulfills their wishes. It seems that once there was a big flood in river Cauvery. While neighboring villages raised their banks, Melur people only prayed their God. To the surprise of every one, while all other villages were damaged, water did not enter Melur village. People had an immediate thanks giving festival.

Aranmanai Chandana Karuppu.

Aranmanai Chandana Karuppu.

By

P.R.Ramachander

This temple is at Natham of Dindukkal district. Once upon a time this area was ruled by a king called Lingama Nayakkar. He was a good king and used to go other kingdoms to see what improvements he can bring to his kingdom. Once he went to Thirumayam which was ruled by Azhagan Nambi Raja. He was a very proud king and there was a rule in his kingdom, that no one except him should wear a head gear and travel in a chariot. So Lingama Nayakkar was asked to remove his turban and get down from his chariot. He refused to do. So he was taken before Nambi Raja. During the argument Lingama Nayakkar claimed that he was a better king. Then Nambi Raja said that he would arrange for a test. If Lingama Nayakkar wins, he would give his daughter Muthu Thiruvai Nachiar to him in marriage. He also gave some time to Lingama Nayakkar for preparation.
Lingama Nayakkar returned to his town and consulted his astrologer Kerala Mannadi Parambu Nayar. Before that he arranged for a test to the astrologer.
He kept a bitch about to deliver in a room, tied a thread on its front leg and gave the other end of the thread to Nayar. He told him that a woman was about to deliver. He wanted to know as to how many children would be born and their sex. Nayar predicted that four pups would be born, two of them male. He also told that two of the pups would be white and two black. This happened exactly as foretold.
Then Lingama Nayakkar asked him, how to win in the test to be arranged by Nambi Raja. He told, “In Kottarakkara a boy belonging to a Namboodiri family is living as a washer man. His name is Manthra Balan. Only he can help you.” Lingama Nayakkar managed to bring Manthra Balan.
When Nayakkar told about his problem Manthra Balan asked him, “What will you give me?” Then Nayakkar promised that he would be made god of the 64 villages under his rule. Manthra Balan showed a spot and asked Nayakkar to dig. He got a magical pot and a magical wand from there
On the day of test Nambi Rajan gave a spoiled oil expeller, , a banana plant which can never yield , A cock which does not crow, and a girl who will not marry, which were all turned in to stone and asked him to set them right. With the help of water taken in the magical pot, the magical wand and Mathra Balan he did this. Nambi Rajan gave his daughter in marriage to him, as promised and gave several villages as dowry,
Manthra Balan was treated like God and lived in the palace. After his death, a temple was built for him just outside the palace. This God was called by people as Aranmanai Chandana Karuppu.
The idol of Chandana Karuppu is made of mud and painted every three years. Mud is brought from all villages over which he rules and a new statue installed in Thai month (January-February). This is the only festival in the temple. But before any festival in any of the temples in the 64 village he rules, special worship is offered to Chandana Karuppu.
On the day on which the new statue is installed, they kill a cock and cook it, this is mixed with Pongal. The Chamiyadi takes this in a plate. He buries the plate along with Pongal in a particular spot and comes out. After some times when he goes the plate along with the Pongal would have come up above the soil. He walks some distance from there makes it in to balls and throws them in the sky. It is believed that these balls do not again fall down on earth.
Chandana Karuppu fulfills all the prayers of his devotees. In return they give him sickles or chain of beads.

Periya Kandi Amman of Veerapur

Periya Kandi Amman of Veerapur

By

P.R.Ramachander

Veerapur is 14 km from Manapparai of Trichy district. There is a strange intricate tale about the Goddess Periya Kandi Amman who has a temple here.
It seems once upon a time a five headed serpent did intense Thapas so that, the Goddess Parvathi would be born to him, The Goddess was born but she was born s a eunuch, She did intense prayers to Lord Shiva, to get rid of this problem and asked her to do intense penance on a needle tip. He told her that after some time, two brothers will fight and die here and their sister Arukkani would cure the problem of Periya Kandi Amman. He also sent six maids (Kannimar) to help her. When she started the penance it disturbed a sage called Veeramha muni. The sage understood that Periya Kandi Amman was Goddess Parvathi herself. So he came to the place where she was doing penance and became her guard.
That are called Ponni Vala Nadu during those times. Two brothers called Ponnar and Shankar ruled over the place. Another king called Thalayur kali became very jealous of these brothers. He knew the only way to win them is to make them fight with each other. He sent his Goldsmith with a gold plated measure to the palace of Ponnar in the evening. The gold smith said that measure was to be used to measure pearls to the chozha king. Since it was evening he requested the king to carefully keep the measure. He agreed and kept in his pooja room. De to the heat of the lamp all the gold melted and only a wooden measure was found the next day. When the king said that it was the measure given by gold smith, he asked to take bath in Vellangulam and take an oath before Ganesa there. He agreed. He entrusted the security of the place to Shankar. He requested sons of his aunt to guard the gate and asked his commander Sambuga to guard the town from outside.
As soon as he left the place Thalayaur Kali attacked with a huge army. Sambuga with twelve men killed all of them. Then Thalayur Kali retreated and came with much bigger force. This time the three sons of the king killed them all. Thalayur Kali went back and came with another huge army. Shankar drove them but was killed by Maya Kannan (Lord Krishna) who had come in the form of an enemy soldier. He told Shankar that, the life span allotted to him and brother was over and he was calling them back
Mean while Ponnar get in to the pond to take bath. The Gold smith tried to kill him by throwing a big stone. Ponnar got out of the pond and killed the Gold smith, He returned back to see his dead brother. Then Maya Kannan appeared before him and told the purpose of his birth and also informed him that his time was over. So Ponnar took his own sword and cut off his own head, His sister then came to the battle field crying, Kandi Amman heard this and sent her six maids to console her. The maids made her as one of them and then became seven maids. She then went to see Kandi Amman. As soon as Kandi Amman met her she became a full female. Then Kandi Amman went to the battle field with this lady and gave new life to Ponnar and Shankar. Then they told, that their time in the earth was over and they wanted to go back to heave. They also told their sister that Periya Kandi Amman and her maids will look after her.
When Periya Kandi Amman was doing penance, she met a man called Veera Sangan Poosari whose job was extracting honey from wild honey combs. He said to her “we do not keep up cleanliness and how can I offer you any thing.” She it seems promised him that coming from him, she will accept any thing. Afterwards, that Poosari made a temple with green palm leaves and consecrated her on the hill top. Since it became difficult for him to walk that much distance, he brought Periya Kandi Amman and her maids to the plains and consecrated them in Veerapur. Since Kandi Amman is a strict vegetarian her temple is separate, half a km from there is another temple in which Ponnar, Shankar, Their sister (Thangal) and the six maids of Amman facing north. In another temple Karuppannachami is consecrated, with his temple facing east. There are also temple without roof or walls to Mahamuni and Veeram aha muni, who are both guardian Gods.
In the month of Masi there is a ten day festival To Periya Kandi Amman. The people of the clan of Ponnar and Shankar have taken one fist of mud from their temple and have established their temple in many places.
Since Periya Kandi Amman fulfills all the prayers of her devotees, there is huge rush in her temple on all days.

Aindu oor Nalla Thangal

Aindu oor Nalla Thangal

By

P.R.Ramachander

This temple is situated in the Kodikkulam village (27 kms from Madhurai in Madhurai-Usilampatti road) which is the mother village of Vadukapatti, Udankattupatti, Piraviyanpaati and Akhilandapuram. Aindu oor Nalla Thangal (Good Thangal of five villages) is the presiding deity here.
It seems once upon a time there was severe faming in these villages. Many people went out in search of jobs. One of them was Padivu thevan. He went to Vathiraypuu where Nalla Thangal committed suicide after throwing all her children in the well. There was a small temple for her in that village. But it was not being looked after in a proper manner. He joined as a cowherd with a rich man in that village. Once when was in the forest looking after the cows, one small girl crept in to his basket and slept there When he returned home , Padivu thevan was perplexed and put the child outside on his way back. Next day two cows in his herd vanished. When he told to his employer he got wild and beat him with a stick. Without food and with pain, Padivu thevan slept in the courtyard, and then he again saw the child. The child came and sat on his lap and told him, “Brother, I am Nalla Thangal. I do not like to stay in this village Please take me to your village.” Padivu thevan did not believe this. Then the child again told, “I have hidden your cow in the waters of the pond” and then brought both cows alive. Understanding her power, Padivu thevan put her in his basket and traveled to his village Kodikkulam. As son as they reached the border, the child told, “Brother, you place me here itself. I would then go to my brother Raman in the village and ask him for a place to me.” Then the child went to the Vishnu Temple in the village. Lord Vishnu appeared before her and showed her a place and asked her to sit there. Padivu thevan consecrated here in the place shown by God Vishnu. That time Pirava thevan he younger brother of Padivu thevan quarreled with him and told, “I do not believe she is a Goddess and I do not want her to be here.” Padivu thevan consulted the Goddess /. She told him to bring him seven unburnt pots , put in it the unhusked paddy from the fields and hear with lighted Banana stems. The Banana stem burnt like dried wood and the paddy he put in the pot became milk mixed rice. Pirava thevan feel at the feel of Nalla Thangal and both of them together built a temple for her. They also consecrated Ayyan, Mayan, Arasamagan, Aruthakulalan, Aandi, Agni veeran and Karuppan in the same temple. The family members of Padivu Thevan are till this day priests at this temple. The family members of Pirava Thevan are the assistant priests. The only festival celebrated in Shiva Rathri. The ornaments of Nalla Thangal are kept in a box in the priest’s home. On the evening of Shiva Rathri these are brought to the temple with musical accompaniments. Along with them 21 gods and their Chamiyadis also come. The Chamiyadi of Mayan wears a slipper of nails and answers questions of people. The Veerabhadran Chamiyadi shows light to this Chamiyadi. Behind them comes the Chamiyadi of Nalla Thangal. Next day Pongal is offered to gods and goat sacrificed to Karuppan.
Nalla Thangal drives evil spirits from affected people. People requiring babies appeal to Mayandi Chami.

Oor Kattu Chudalai Madan of Uppanimuthur

Oor Kattu Chudalai Madan of Uppanimuthur

By

P.R.Ramachander

This God is in the Uppanimuthur village which is 9 km from Cheranmahadevi. This village once upon a time was a part of OOrkattu Jamin.
This Chudalai Madan came to this village from Kerala. It seems during those days there were very powerful magicians in Kerala who could even a tie up a God. Chudalai Madan was protecting the people of Kerala during that time. So the magicians try to tie him up. The people, who were benefited by Chudalai Madan, put him in a Palm leaf box and floated in the river. This box reached via Thamrabarni River, the OOrkattu Jamin. Some people saw it in Uppanimuthur. They opened the box and saw a seven feet statue, with Moustache and hair made up in the Kerala Style. The God then spoke to them and requested them to consecrate him near the river and promised to take care of them. Since the place belonged to oor Kattu Jamin, they consecrated the statue below a banyan tree and started calling him , Oor Kattu Chudalai Madan. That God besides taking care of the people of the Jamin also took care of the people of Kerala. So the magicians started searching for him. One of them located Chudalai Madan and started methods to destroy him. He put tainted cloths at the gate of the temple so that Chudalai can be immobilized. But Chudalai Madan took the form of a lizard and escaped through the window. The magician located him and cut him with a sword. The Lizard lost its tail. By this time the villagers caught the magician tied him to a tree and burnt him alive. When they examined the statue of Chudalai a part of his hand was cut. When they were thinking of replacing the disfigured statue, Chudalai Madan told them not to do it and they obeyed . But one man from a rich family got a new statue made and threw the old statue in the river. This infuriated the God and he started causing bodily harm to the villagers. Some people also became mad. The villagers went to the temple begged for the pardon of Chudalai Madan and a gain consecrated the old statue. All the people of the family which threw his statue in the river were later destroyed. Apart from Chudalai , his temple contains Pechiyamman, MUnda madan and Munda Madathi.
In one of the months of Chithirai, Vaikasi, Avani, there is a festival of Kodai Vettu to Chudalai Madan. The Maruladis accompanied by drums and pipe music go to the river , where Chudalai Madan was found as they believe he is still alive there. They offer Pongal and sacrifice a goat. Then they return to the temple. There is lot of joyous celebration at that time., Then the Maruladis go to the cremation ground(Chudalai means cremation ground) and bring a few human bones. They again offer Pongal in front of the temple. Then a peculiar ritual takes place. Black goats are tied and mounted on posts like a spread eagle. Then the Maruladis split open their chests and fill it with Banana fruits. Then they eat those fruits mixed in the blood of the goats. This goes on till all the blood of the goat is exhausted. This is called “Uruvam Chappiduthal(Eating of the form)” Next day there is worship and anointing of the God. That night the festival ends with a common feast.
Chudalai Madan’s temple is far away from the village. Inside the village there is a temple of Uchimahakali Amman. During the festival at his temple a Mud statue of Chudalai Madan is made and consecrated every year. .Once the festival is over, the statue is floated in the river.

Por panai kottai Muneeswarar

Por panai kottai Muneeswarar


By

P.R.Ramachander

Translated in to English, the name of the God means “The sage God of fort of the golden palm”. This great temple is situated in Por panai kottai village near Pudukottai town, There is an interesting story about its origin. It seems once Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi were flying above Tamil Nadu. Their trusted assistant Pushpa Danthan was following them, holding an umbrella over them. When they were flying over Pudukottai, some very pretty girls were taking bath in a tank there. Pushpa Danthan forgot him self and stood in the sky staring at the girls. When Lord Shiva noticed his absence he cursed Pushpa Danthan to become a golden palm. This place was then a forest and some hunters were occupying that area. This golden palm yielded one golden fruit every day. The hunters did not know its value. So they took it to Kattudayan Chettiyar of Kalasamangalam, which was just five km from that spot. The chettiyar asked them to bring the fruit to him and gave them lot of money to look after their day to day needs. During that time Sundarapuri Chozhan, who was the king of that area was affected by leprosy. Lord Shiva asked him to go and find the golden palm and take bath in the pond nearby. The king did and was cured of his disease. Then he heard about the fruit and Kattudayan Chettiyar. He approached the Chettiyar, who gave the king the 99 golden fruits that he collected till then. But when the king returned to the place where the golden palm was there, it had vanished. The king decided to stay there till he sees the God and built a fort there and started living there. Four km away from the fort was a village called Idayapatti. They used to supply milk to the fort from this village. Suddenly a mound appeared in between the village and the fort. People bringing the milk regularly fell down at this place. So the people dug the mound. Their instrument touched a stone object and blood started splashing from that. People recovered it and saw that it was a Shiva Linga. The king rushed to that spot and built a temple for the God by selling few of the Golden fruits. He buried the rest of the fruits below the temple. On the northern gate they consecrated Por panai Kali and at the southern gate placed an Ayyanar to guard the temple. For the east gate, he consecrated the God of the hunters, the Por Panai Muneeswarar. He also made him as the security guard of the entire fort. The fort though slightly damaged still exists. The place where the hunters used to stay is the Por Panai kottai village. On the east of the village is the temple of Muneeswarar.

Vinayagar, Pathinattampadi Karuppar , Por panai Kali and Muthal Ravuthar surround this temple. Ravuthar belongs to Islam. It seems he was from Mecca. He had come here to visit his friend Pila viduthi Kallar who was related by marriage to the king. Once Kallar was carrying a box of ghee made sweets , to the king. When Ravuthar asked , jestingly he told that there was only hair in the box. Ravuthar turned the sweets in to hair. The king summoned Ravuthar, who refused to go. Then the king prayed Por panai kottai Muneeswarar and Thadi Konda Ayyanar. They killed Ravuthar but made him as their assistant god.
During the period of one Divan of Pudukottai called Seshayya Shastri, a big statue of Por panai kottai Muneeswarar was got made in Thiru gokarna malai. . He also constructed the modern town of Pudukottai. It seems that the statue took round of all the 16 wide streets of Pudukottai before being consecrated. Though the God appeared from a Palm tree, Palai tree is worshipped s temple tree . People without children are asked to eat the leaves of the tree kept at the feet of Muneeswarar. It seems they are blessed with children soon. Girls praying for marriage put bangles for Por panai Kali. Sunday, Monday and Friday are busy days at the temple. On 16th day of Adi month , there is a milk pot festival for Karuppar. On hat day some animals are sacrificed.

Samana Malai Ayyanar and Karuppana chami of Keezh kuil kudi

Samana Malai Ayyanar and Karuppana chami of Keezh kuil kudi

By

P.R.Ramachander

Keezkuil kudi is a village is 10 km from Madhurai in Madhurai –Theni road. This village is in the bottom of Samana Malai. Samana Malai was once upon a time a great centre for Jainism in Tamil Nadu. There are several caves and drawings left by people belonging to this religion here. Vadivel kkarai was a neighboring village.
Once upon a time only Ayyanar temple was there below the hill and Karuppanar temple was in the top of the hill, During those times white men used to camp in Madhurai. They used to ride on horses in front of Meenakshi temple. They jeered at the Goddess and behaved like ruffians. Karuppana Chami, who was seeing all this from the top of hill, could not tolerate this behaviour. So one day, while the white men were crossing the temple gate the horses slipped and white man was injured. When this began to happen regularly, the white people asked an astrologer. He told them to shift the Karuppana chami from the hill top to the plane. The Velars (potters) did the job for the while men and consecrated the Karuppana chami near the Ayyanar temple facing north.
Keezhkuil kudi and Vadivel kkarai were in the banks of river Vaigai. Due to consecutive failure of rains, both these villages suffered great famine. Some of the villagers went to different villages in search of livelihood. Some of them went as priests to the Munu Chami Koil in Karumathur. Later there was rain and the economy improved. At that time those who went to Karumathur wanted to come back. But Virumappachami and Kasi Mayan whom they were worshipping prevented them from leaving Karumatrhur. So they brought a fist of soil from Moonu chami temple in Karumathur and consecrated Virumappachami and Kasi Mayan near Karuppannachami. Also they consecrated as their assistants Kazhuvanathan, Karppayi ammal, Irulappan, Sangili Karuppann chami , Chonai Chami and VeeraBhadra Chami . Before Karuppar was brought down from the hill top , Brahmins were priests in Ayyanar temple but later Velars were appointed as priests. They used to come from Vilachari which is 5 km from these temples. Since the path was full of wild animals as well as thieves, it seems the bears from the forest used to escort these priests to and from the temple. They believed that Karuppar was coming in the form of bear to help them. They even named their children as “Samana malai Karadi (bear of jain mountain).
In the month of Margazhy , the Brahmins who were original priests of the temple offer “Pavadai poojai” to the Ayyanar. The expenses will be collected by contribution from every family living in Keezh kuil kudi. They buy 160 padi (a local measure) of rice , make Chakkarai pongal (sweet pongal) and this is stacked like a temple tower in the hall opposite Ayyanar temple. All the villagers are summoned by a drum and then the Ayyanaradi gets down in the fire pit where this pongal was made and answers their questions. Later the pongal is divided equally among the villagers.
Similarly on all thirty days of the month of Purattasi pongal is offered to the gods.. The two villages each celebrate for 15 days each. O the first day they make a statue of Muthalamman with mud taken from the village , the women of the village worship her by lighting the flour lamp. Then Muthalamman is taken in procession and mixed with waters of the local ponds. Next day it is the horse taking festival. Several horses including the three horses on behalf of the village are got made in Vilacheri village. And they are brought in a procession from there. Then every house offers pongal and sacrifice a goat to the Karuppar.
The villagers protect a lotus tank in the village with care. It seems once a contactor who did fishing in the tank spoiled it. Later when the fish(they had three lines on them) caught from the tank were cooked, the food was full of blood. Then villagers approached Ayyanar and this was set right. They offered a lamp pillar to the God. Women and unclean people are prevented from entering the pond.
Whenever any villager wants to take an important decision , he picks a flower packet from the temple. If they get red flower, then they abandon the plan. If the get green flowers., they post phone the plan and later implement it. If they get white flower, they implement their plan immediately,

Chemmuneeswarar of Poosariyoor

Chemmuneeswarar of Poosariyoor

By

P.R.Ramachander

Poosariyoor is 12 km from Velli Thirupoor of Erode district. This story happened during Tippu Sultan’s rule.
There is a village called Thittakudi near Chidambaram. A Brahmin priest was doing Pooja to Pachiyamman and Mannatha Sami of this village. He had a pretty daughter. Once when he was sick, this daughter offered worship instead of him. The sultan saw her there and wanted to marry her. Fearing for this the Brahmin along with his daughter and two stones from the temple of the gods he was worshipping ran away from the village. He traveled through lot of villages. Every where he halted, he never used to forget to worship to his Gods. At last they reached Poosariyoor. Here both Gods told the priest that they wanted to stay there and would protect him. That are was a forest area. So Pachiyaman asked her brother Lord Vishnu to give some body to protect her. Lord Vishnu created a God called Veeran and gave her as a body guard. Pachiyamman gave Veeran boon of deathlessness and a sword. Once she sent him to eastern direction so that he will tell about her greatness to devotees. He started doing Thapas below a Thapas tree and people started worshiping him. Pachiyamman was enraged and appealed to Vishnu. He advised her to meditate on Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva came and created two lasses using two fists of earth of the river bank. From the first lass he created Vamuni, Muthumuni, Veda muni and two more munis. From the second girl seven munis were created six munis among whom were Chemmuni, Poo muni, Lada muni and Kodi muni. Chemmuni went and asked Lord Vishnu, why he was created. He told him that he has to subdue Veeran and bring him back and protect Pachiyamman.
There was a big war between the 12 munis and Veeran. At last Veeran changed himself in to a fish and jumped in to the sea. Vaamuni drank all the waters of the sea. Then Chemmuni caught Veeran. He told him to come back and be gods of the village along with them. Pachiyamman was happy with Chemmuni and told him that though she was the prime Goddess of the village, she is giving it to Chemmuni. There is a very huge statue of Chemmuneeswarar in the village. In a small shed Pachiyamman has her temple. Apart from her Mannathachami, Vendamalai Anuman, Ranganathar, Mkkattukanni, Idakumara Kanjamalai Sidheswarar also have temples in side this shed. All the twelve Munis stand side by side. Chemmuni and Vaamuni have huge statues.
Chemmuneeswarar is supposed to have great powers to drive away Ghosts and evil spirits. These people are brought and given a bunch of burning Agar bathis. Then the priest asks them who they are. They reply. Then if they agree to go way, they are taken in front of Vaamuni to confirm whether the spirit has really gone. Three iron chains are thrown in the ground. If the affected person picks the chain thought by the relative who brought him, it is concluded that the evil spirit has gone. If not they are again brought next week. People also come and complain about injustice done to them. They sacrifice a goat after that; the body is left there itself. It seems as when the meat dries Vaamuni would give lot of bodily suffering to the culprit.
In the third week of Chithirai month (April-May) there is a festival at this temple complex .Pachiyamman, Manaadacami and Chemmuneeswarar are taken round in decorated chariots which are carried and kept before the temple. Then the ornaments are brought from Kundangal Maduvu which is half a km from the temple. While the procession comes hundreds of goats are sacrificed. Their meat is not to be taken outside the village and given to the temple workers as a gift. Later there is worship to Pachiyamman and other idols. With this the festival comes to an end.

Kannaki Durgai of Nallu thevan patti

Kannaki Durgai of Nallu thevan patti

By

P.R.Ramachander

The story of Kannagi whose husband was unjustly hanged by the king of Madurai is very famous. After this Kannagi burnt Madhurai and started walking towards Chera Nadu. It seems a sage called Tholandi Pathan who was doing penance in a mountain near Nallu thevan patti stopped her and made her the goddess Kannagi Durgai. They agreed. They were asked to. This village is 2 km distant from Usilam patti of Madurai district. A girl of Aariyapatti village which is 10 km from this village came and settled down in this village after marriage. Once, her daughter was sleeping in a cradle. Instead of asking the village Goddess Kannaki Durgai to guard the child she asked Kalyani Karuppu, the goddess of her village to guard the child. Her father –in –law became enraged and hummed. He was a man of God. So the child died in the cradle itself. The child’s mother went and asked explanation from Kalayani Karuppu. Her relations also appealed to that God. The enraged Kalyani Karuppu came in to Nallu Thevan patti and started killing people of the village. The local villagers engaged a magician. He wanted to imprison Kalyani Karuppu in a pot. When he was trying to do that Kalyani Karuppu went and appealed to Poongodi Ayyanar. He told him, “after imprisoning you in the pot the magician will ask whether you are Kalyani Karuppu .You tell him that you are not Kalyani but Yeliyani. For making you tell the truth he will search for his cane. At that time, you escape from the pot.” Kalyani Karuppu did accordingly and started destroying Nallu thevan patti. Then the villagers of this village appealed to Tholandi Pathan. He then showed them Kannagi Durgai and asked them to take her. Then the Kannaki Durgai which was a statue asked them, “offer me pongal in 1000 pots, sacrifice 100 buffalos and seven women who are pregnant. Then I will get down from this mountain. They agreed to the condition and took her to their village. As soon as they got in to the plain, the goddess asked the villagers to keep her there. She started her fight from there it self. She started killing the people of Ariyapatti indiscriminately. Then the villagers decided to have a treaty. They decided that these villagers would not inter marry. They should not talk to each other and should not go to even death of relation in each others village. After this Kalyani Karuppu and Kannaki Durgai cooled a bit.
Even to this day part of the treaty is being offered by these villagers. There is no inter marriage between these villagers. At that time the people of Nallu Thevan Patti compelled the husband of the lady who was the cause of all these problems, back to her village. The husband refused. From then on, this family lives there but is boycotted socially by other villagers. Nowadays slight improvement is there in mutual relations.
Also they were not able to offer seven pregnant women as sacrifice to Kannaki Durgai. She is still waiting in their border and protecting them.
For removing black magic, and to get children people pray to Kannaki Durgai. On Tuesdays and Fridays, there is huge rush in this temple. On the 15th of Purattasi, there is a festival in this temple. People do not go and stand in front of the goddess as they are afraid she will demand for the sacrifice promised by their ancestors.

Pattalamman, Chandana Karuppu and Dombarai amman

Pattalamman, Chandana Karuppu and Dombarai amman

By

P.R.Ramachander

Kullapuram is a small village which is 12 km fro m Aandi patti of Theni district. It is on the banks of Koottaru. The people of this village were completely dependent on waters of this river. Two brothers called Ammiyappan and Kuzhaviyappan, both of whom were barbers came to settle down in this village. They both knew magic and brought with them their Gods Pattalamman and Chandana Karuppu. They consecrated these Gods in both sides of the village. Ammiyappan had a pretty daughter. Once Ammiyappan and Kuzhaviyappan had gone to a nearby village At that time one black magician came and stopped the flow of the river much above the village by his magic. He challenged the villagers to get the water released. The villagers went to Ammiyappan’s house for help. Ammiyappan’s daughter agreed to help. With great faith in Pattalamman and Chandana Karuppu ,he sent her magical spells. The water in the river was released. She also killed the black magician. When the brother’s returned they were shocked by the action of their daughter. According to them she did not have power to do such magic and if some thing had gone wrong, the entire village would be affected. They decided to sacrifice her. They decided to offer Padayal worship to Chandana Karuppu. During these times food would e stored in a deep mud pit called Dombarai. They asked their daughter to get some food item. When she was inside, they covered the Dombarai. After killing of their daughter both of them found that their magic was not effective. They realized that their daughter was Pattalamman herself. Ammiyappan committed suicide by jumping in to the river. Afterwards, the people of the village started worshipping the daughter of Ammiyappan at the spot where she was killed. They started calling her Dombarai Amman.
The day before Chithra Pournami, the festival starts in the village. First they sacrifice a white cock at the point of the river where Ammiyappn committed suicide. Then they offer Padayal to Chandana Karuppar. This contains Drum stick and eggs. Near the temple is a very deep well constructed by Ammiyappan by his magical powers by summoning two Bhoothas. They first offer the Padayal to them. Then along with materials for worship of Chandana Karuppu kept in a box they go the river. These are washed and they return to the Chandana Karuppu Temple by mid night. Then they sacrifice goats to Karuppu.
Next day (Chithra Pournami) the worship for Pattalamman is started. For this every year they decorate the Pattalamman statue kept in Chandana Karuppu temple Then they start worshipping Dombarai Amman. The unmarried girls of the families worshipping Dombarai Amman offer Kozhakattai (rice ball) and Kamma Urundai to this Goddess. These are given to the girls for eating. One of them goes in to a trance and she will carry materials for worship of Pattalamman to he river. She gets them washed in the river and brings back. After this , worship of Pattalammn is performed. The worship and sacrifice of goats takes place.
People affected by evil spirits come to these temples and are cured.

Thiruvettazhaigaya Ayyanar of Peyadi kottai

Thiruvettazhaigaya Ayyanar of Peyadi kottai

By

P.R.Ramachander

Peyadi kottai is 27 km from Avudayar Koil and is in the border of Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts. The Pambaru which is dry passes through this village. There are lots of bushes with Indian date palm, People send their cattle to graze here. One day a dalit youth belonging to Kulathoor had brought his cattle to graze here. He was trying to cut a fruit of date. By mistake his knife fell on a rock and it started bleeding. He was fear struck and swooned. In his dream he saw an Ayyanar who told him , “ I am thiruvetazhagiya Ayyanar. I have been brought out by you. I want you to be my priest. Daily offer me pongal.” The Dalit youth was very poor. So he requested the cattle owners’ wife for a little rice. Then he would milk some cow and make Pongal and offer it to the God. The land lord wanted to find out what he was doing with the rice and followed him one day. Being a devout man, he was thrilled by the sight that he saw. When he asked the labourer , he told everything to his master. The master then undertook to give rice, milk and firewood so that the labourer can offer Pongal without any problem. After this the villagers started visiting the temple. When their cattle got sick, if the labourer brought some mud from the temple and applied to the cattle, they got cured. Some higher caste people did not like to get sacred ash from the Dalit labourer. So they appointed a higher caste priest. The ayyanar started appearing as a snake before the high caste priest.
Then the villagers appointed a Brahmin to worship the God. The Brahmin with his daughter used to go daily with his small daughter and offer worship. One day while coming he locked his daughter inside the temple. When he went back and tried to open the temple, he heard a voice, “Your daughter is safe with me. Come tomorrow morning.” Unconvinced the Brahmin went on hitting the temple door with his head. Angered by this Thiruvettazhagiya Ayyanar, cut his daughter in to small pieces and threw them out of the temple. The Brahmin cursed the God, “ You are a debased one. Only a man of the lowest caste will now look after you. No one else will do it.”
From then onwards till now only people of Dalit caste come as priests to the temple. Opposite his temple there is a pond. On its shore there is small temple housing Karuppar, Kali Pechiyamman and Sonai. It seems these four Gods came to take sea bath and were going towards the sea. Thiruvettazhagiya Ayyanar made them stay there. There is a big pillar in the temple complex. This is Periyannachami and near him Kammalachi Amman resides in a small room. Kammalachi Amman had seven brothers. She fell in love with Periyannachami .Since they thought that her brothers would not agree to the marriage, they decided to elope to nearest town. They were caught near Thuvettazhagiya Ayyanar temple and were beheaded. Ayyanar made them as Gods and asked them to be with him. Since Ayyanar thought Kammalachi Amman died because of Periyannachami, he told him that , he would stand bare without any roof and suffer the rain and Sun’s heat. That is why till to day there is no roof over Periyannachami.
People believe that Ayyanar looks after their cattle and crops. If there is some disease to the cattle, they pray and leave a calf to the temple. If there is some problem to the crops , after the harvest without measuring a part of the harvest is given to Ayyanar.
Fridays and Tuesdays are suitable days for Ayyanar and Karuppar. Ayyanar is a vegetarian and only pongal is offered to him. Animals are sacrificed before Karuppar. Karuppu does not allow the meat of sacrificed animals to be taken out of the village. So whatever be the number of animals sacrificed, it is handed over to the local villagers.
On Chithra Pournami day Milk Kavadi is offered to Ayyanar. On that day there is also bull taming sport. In the month of Ai (July-August) the horse idol offering takes place. These horses are made in a village of Chenganam. The temple offers only two horses but people offer large number of horses. These are brought from Chengamam village with great fan fare.
Opposite Karuppar is Sonai chami. If any baby is born in the village, on the thirtieth day Ear and nose ornaments are offered to Kammalachi Amman and a cock is offered to Chonaichami. People believe that if this is not done , these gods would pinch the babies and will not allow them to sleep. Since Kammalachi Amman died due to love failure, it seems she does not allow girls to take bath after offering Turmeric paste. If some body does it , they will suffer with skin disfigurement. Even the Thali in this village is tied on a red thread.