Mel malai karuppu

Mel malai karuppu

By

P.R.Ramachander

Natham is a village near Dindukkal. Thottiya karuppu and Azhagu nachiyar were gods of the village. Without knowing their power, the people not only disregarded them but started doing unjust acts The Gods got angry and destroyed sixty families just by their look. They then contacted their leader Lingama Nayakkar and requested to help them. He went and requested the Karuppu and Nachiar to pardon the villagers and look after them. They said, they will pardon them, if they look after their needs properly. Lingama Nayakkar undertook to do that. He became their great devotee. Once there was case going against Nayakkar. He was worried and appealed to the Gods. They told that he will win the case provided , he takes them to the court. He did. But twice the case was adjourned. While on the way to Madurai Karuppu and Azhagu nachiyar were terribly impressed by the valley near Soma giri Malai(Mountain). The third time Lingamma Nayakar won the case. This time karuppu and Nachiyar told him, that on the way to his village he should not keep them any where on the earth. He agreed., But when they reached Soma giri Malai, Nayakkar felt very thirsty and kept down both the statues. They got fixed there and he was not able to take them out. When he was upset and sad, they consoled him and told that every year they would come once to his village.
Karuppu established himself facing west and Azhagu nachiar established herself facing east. There was also an Ayyanar temple below the mountain. Though the local people worshipped Ayyanar and offered him sacred offerings they did not bother about Karuppu and Nachiyar. They both got very angry and decided to teach a lesson to the villagers. They broke down the bund of the local lake at night. All villagers came , struggled a lot and got it repaired. But Karuppu again broke the bund. The villagers were bothered and after repairing the bund put one watch man. In spite of that Karuppu rode on his horse and was breaking the bund. The watch man saw this and got hold of the stirrup of the horse. Karuppu got angry and cut off the little finger of the watch man. Having been offered human blood, Karuppu started obeying the watchman.
After this incident the villagers started taking notice of Karuppu and Azhagu Nachiyar. Then there was a clash between Karuppu and Ayyanar who was already there. Then when Karuppu came with a knife by which he has cut a cow, Ayyanar who is a vegetarian agreed to go away. He went and established himself in a near by village called Attapatti. From then on Karuppu became the uncrowned king of Soma Giri Mountain. Instead of Thottiya Karuppu which was the original name, people started calling the God as Melmalai Karuppu. Melmalai Karuppu is just below the lake If you climb twenty steps to the mountain, there are three more Karuppu statues. These were old statues built for Melmalai Karuppu. A small roof has been put over these statues. Buy their side in between several tridents stands Munnodi Karuppu.
Melmalai Karuppu likes only sweet Pongal and so it is offered to him. But Goats are sacrificed for Munnodi Karuppu. There and then the cook the meat, mix it with rice and offer it to Munnodi Karuppu.
In the month of Purattasi (September-October) , there is a horse giving festival for Mel malai Karuppu. But some how for the past several years, this festival has not been conducted. There is also a festival on Thiru Karthiga day. They also light a lamp at the top of Soma Giri malai. Regular worship is done on all Tuesdays and Fridays, For Azhagu Nachiar, the lamp is lit only twice a week and worship is done.
There are several priests for Mel malai Karuppu temple. They all have to live a very austere and disciplined life. They should not eat or drink anything including water , out side their house. If they fail to do this, they meet with their death. If devotees do not come with devotion and cleanliness, a kind of Gnats from the mountain bite them and drives them away.
People need only think of their problems when standing before Mel malai Karuppu. He will solve them.

Thottichi Amman of Periya Poolankulam

Thottichi Amman of Periya Poolankulam

By

P.R.Ramachander

Periya Poolankulam is a small village 8 km away from Madhurai in the Madhurai-Shiva Gangai road. Once a family who foretell the future of people came to this village. This family consisted of a father, mother and two daughters after finishing their job while they were returning they were planning to take rest in Perumparai which is near the village. At that time the younger daughter became very thirsty. She along with her elder sister went in search of water. They located a stream near by. The younger daughter got down in the stream to drink water. But there was a whirlpool at that spot and she was drawn in to it. The family cried and left there because nothing could be done.
On that night an elderly man of Dalit caste saw a dream in which one young girl told him, “My name is Thottichi. I have fallen in the whirl pool of the village stream. If you save me and worship me I will make your village prosperous.” The elderly man asked her, how this could be done. She told him, all that he needs to do was to go to the stream and call her by her name.
That elderly man took his younger brother and went immediately to the stream. They called “Thottichi, Thottichi,” The girl came out of the stream and immediately died. Both brothers became sad and cried. Then they heard a voice telling them, “Please give me a place in your village. I would take care of you.” The villagers buried her in the village border, kept a stone and a trident there. They started worshipping her as Thottichi Amman. From that time she looks after the village and made the village prosperous. No temple has been built and she sits on a mound. Near her temple there are temples for Ayyanar as well as Ammachi Amman.
Since she is at the entrance of the village, no body can come to the village or leave the village without saluting her. In the month of Karthigai (November-December) on the third Friday there is a Kalari festival in this temple. All villagers contribute money and buy three goats. They sacrifice the goats in the three temples at the same time. Later they bring water from the river, prepare Pongal and offer it to Thottichi Amman. This as well as the meat is equally divided among the families of the village. Thus ends the festival.
Thottichi Amman hears their woes and redresses them. Once a lad drank toddy and broke the bottle on her statue. He was dead before the next festival.
As soon as they make preparations for the festival, they tie mango leaves all round the village to indicate that people who are not clean should not come to the village. Also no outsider is allowed to stay in the village during this time and none of the villagers go out from their village also.
On all Fridays women assemble in large numbers at the temple. Since the Goddess was identified by a Dalit, his caste people only are priests at the temple.

Kokkuvetti Karuppannachami of Thiruengoimalai

Kokkuvetti Karuppannachami of Thiruengoimalai

By

P.R.Ramachander

This Karuppanachmi temple is situated in Thiruengoimalai of Musiri Taluk of Trichy district.
Kokkuvetti Karuppanachami was earlier in a village in the Podhigai Mountain. He was a very troublesome god and use to punish people mercilessly. The villagers got fed up and put the God in a palm leaf box and put the box in the Cauvery River. After a long travel, it reached Thiruengoimalai. When the local villagers saw a box, they opened it. They were surprised to see a statue and simply consecrated in the river bank. It seems one day evening two sisters called Kanjamma and Thirumalai went to take bath in the river. Karuppannachami fell in love with them and started troubling them in a very ferocious form. They ran home, became very sick and died the next day. After this incident people had more fear than devotion towards Karuppanachami. So in the day time they used the statue as a counter weight in the manual pump foe pumping water. As soon as people went home, Karuppannachami reached the river bank. Possibly since he was hungry he started to kill cranes (kokku) which were in the river bank. So the people decided to treat Karuppannachami with more respect and built a small temple for him. When they were about to built the roof, one man came in trance and told them not to build the roof as Karuppannachami did not like that. Since Karuppannachami had killed several cranes, people started calling him, “Kokkuvetti Karuppannachami”.Since Karuppannachami fell in love with Kanjamma and Thirumalai, and their statues have also been kept in the temple. There are also statues of Kunnimarathan, Madhurai Veeran and a Ganesa inside the temple. During festivals special worship is done to these ladies.
All round Kokkuvetti Karuppannachami, several tridents have been planted. There are several typed requests and complaints tied to these tridents. People believe that once they complain in the court of Karuppannachami, he will settle the matter or give severe punishment. If the complainant wants death penalty to the criminal, he has also to bring a cock and pierce it on the trident along with his complaint.
There are no special festivals for Karuppannachami. Every Sunday animals are sacrificed to him in large numbers. Many people appeal for child birth and marriage. There is also a belief that he takes care of vehicles. So all vehicles by the way are stopped and the drivers salute Karuppannachami.

Chenpaka moorthi Ayyanar

Chenpaka moorthi Ayyanar

By

P.R.Ramachander

Iyamkottai is a small village on the road from Madurai to Dindigul near the station called Kodai road. Once upon a time this and the neighboring four villages were called Ammaya naikanoor Jamin. Once this Jamin was ruled by a Jamindar called Kamaiya Nayakkan. At that time due to continues failure of rain, these villages were suffering due to lack of food. So the people went and requested the Jamindar to do some thing. He called an astrologer and asked him. The astrologer told that, if an Ayyanar temple is built in the village all problems would be solved. The Jamindar took immediate action. He built an Ayyanar temple with Poornai and Pushkalai. At that time the Pandya king was called Chenpaka Moorthi. So in his hour the Ayyanar was called Chempaka moorthi Ayyanar. From that time there was regular rains and all the problems of these villages were solved.
Once a cowherd saw a box made of pal leaves in the forest. Being scared , he ran to the village and told them. But by the time he returned the box had vanished. People were surprised by this turn of events. Immediately after this the Jamindar told them to cut a big neem tree by the side of Ayyanar temple so that they can build a big temple for Ayyanar. One of the people went to cut the tree entered into a trance and said, “ My name is Chandana Karuppan , Without knowing where to go I am inside this tree.” The people t first did not believe this. Than Chandana karuppu asked them to back at that time and return next day, so that he can leave them signs of his presence. Next day when people returned to the need tree, they saw the box made of Palm leaves. In side was a statue of Chandana Karuppan .Chandana Karuppu told them that he was from Kerala and since the local people there were not able to worship him properly, he was causing them lot of trouble. Because of this the people put him in a box made of palm leaves and floated in a river. He told them that he reached their village through the river . He also promised them that he would guard their village properly. So they built a temple for Chandana Karuppan on the right side of this Ayyanar temple. Chandana Karuppu did his job with efficiency but there were also minor troubles. Even if people wear slippers and go any where near his temple, they were thrown back. So people were even afraid to walk near the temple.
It seems a Moslem family came to Madurai to see the festivities there. On their way back, they took rest near Chandana Karuppan’s temple. After some time they started their journey from there. After traveling a few miles they noticed that one girl babe=y was missing. They returned back to the temple. They heard a voice from the locked Chandana Karuppar temple, “The baby is sleeping in my temple, If you come tomorrow at this same time, you can take your child back.” Bu the family head broke open the door of the temple. There was no trace of the child. Karuppu has made the child a part of him. The members of this family are devotees of Chandana karuppu till this day. There were also other similar incidents. So the people went and complained to the Jamindar. He again called the astrologer who advised him to shift the temple of Chandana Karuppu to the left side of Ayyanar temple. This was done and afterwards there had been no problems caused by Chandana Karuppu.
When the temple was built for Ayyanar the priest was a man called Karutha Velar. The descendents of his family continued to worship in the temple. Sivanadiyan , who was the son of Karutha Velar was priest immediately after him. He was very famous and a great devotee of Chandana Karuppan. The villagers got jealous and alleged him that he behaved badly with a village woman. They decided to cut his head off and took him to a hill top, Meanwhile some people went and told about this to the Jamindar., Jamindar who had a very high pinion of Sivanadiyan rushed to that spot but could not save Sivanadian. Before beheading him the villagers asked for the last wish of Sivanadian. He told them that the land up to which his blood flows should be given to his family. Immediately after beheading him, there was a torrential rain and his blood spread over 8 acres. The Jamindar gave this land to his family.
Apart from Ayyanar and Chandana Karuppar , there are some more gods in the temple. There are two giant statues of Bhoothas(Ghosts) who are the assistants of Ayyanar. Below them there is Sonai Chami, Veera Bhadra Chami, Chandana lingam, Mayana Karuppu , Pechiyamman, Bhadra Kali , Rakkayi and Andi chami.
In the month of Adi (July-August)there is a horse giving festival (Kudirai eduppu vizha) for the Ayyanar. From the pat of village thy always order for two horses. These are made in the Thanihiyam village. From there the horses are brought ceremoniously. Before the horses reach a pot of sandal paste is offered to Chandana karuppar.
One of the horses is the steed for Ayyanar. The other horse is called Devendra Vahanam. Poornai and Pushkalai are supposed to be the daughters of this horse. People believe that this horse comes there to see his daughters. It seems for the betterment f village Poornai and Pushkalai make requests to Devendra Vahanam, who tells Devendra, and who in turn tells Lord Shiva, The God then sends his cow to the village so that they live in plenty. That cow is called Nachankalai. For this purpose that night they select a calf , anoint it with turmeric water, cloth it and worship it. Then they set free the Nachankalai.
TO satisfy the other Gods, there is a bull catching ceremony conducted in the village They believe that at least few drops of human blood falls during this ceremony and the Gods are satisfied. People of the village take permission from Ayyanar before taking any important decision in the family.

Irulappan-Pathala Pechi of Srivilliputhur

Irulappan-Pathala Pechi of Srivilliputhur

By

P.R.Ramachander

This famous temple is near Thirumukkulam of Sriviliputhur town of Tamil Nadu. It seems three dacoits called Irulappan, Mayandi and Veerabhadran used to enter this village daily and commit robberies in the village. There are two stories about the origin of the temple for them in the village.

I. The villagers requested Goddess Parvathi to help them and she assured that she would solve the problem. Next day when the robbers were coming she was lying on heir road as a pregnant woman who was in late stages of pregnancy. When they requested to give her way, she told, “I am not able to get up and so you can go round me. They agreed but the lady was growing at a fast rate preventing them from going to the village. The robbers understood her divinity saluted her and asked for her pardon. They assured her that they will no more steal. The goddess made them as a part of her. That lady in the form of pregnant woman was worshipped as Patala Pechi and by her side and the three robbers were worshipped as the power of lord Shiva.
II. It seems there was a deep well in the place where the present temple is there. It seems some bad elements attacked a pregnant woman who came to take water from the well and threw her inside the well. Irulappan and friends, who came to hunt there fought with the bad spirits and saved the pregnant woman. That lady wanted them to save the village also and lay own on their way. Since they were not able to cross her, they also sat there.
It seems during this time a black magician came from Kerala, stayed in Chaturagiri Mountain near by and wanted to take Pechiyamman and Irulappan in two pots by his magical powers. It seems Irulappaswami told about this to one of his devotees in a dream. He also told that the magician will suffer a lot. That year was a very dry year with no rains but it seems torrential and a terrible rain lashed at the place where the magician was doing pooja and the pots were swept away. The magician understanding the power of Irulappan ran away from there.
The patala Pechi who is about 6 feet tall is in the form of a pregnant woman lying on the floor. Behind her in a stage are the heads of Irulappan, Veerabhadran and Mayandi. There is no roof to this temple. It seems Pechiyamman has not agreed to have one. On the wall to the temple, there are 18 lamps. They are considered as assistant Gods. First worship is offered to Irulappan and others and then Patala Pechi is worshipped. In the shed outside the temple, there is a statue of Irulappan riding on a horse.
Normally devotes of such temples belong to one caste or even one clan. But this temple has devotees belonging to nineteen castes including Brahmins. On Tuesdays and Fridays, there is heavy rush in Patala Pechi temple. Except for the annual Shiva Rathri, there are no festivals in this temple.
On the day before Shiva Rathri at midnight the priests of temple enter the temple. No body except the drummers who are strictly confined to a circle and are not allowed any where near the temple. And the priests sacrifice a two month old sheep, mix its blood with pongal and throw it in the four directions in side the temple. It is believed that Pechiyamman takes the pongal. If it falls down on earth, the priests would conclude that Pechiyamman has gone from there. Then they bury the head of the sheep just outside the temple and give the body to a particular caste.
Then on Shiva Rathri day there is a great celebration with worship, anointing and giving of general feasts. Nineteen oracles representing the nineteen castes get in to a trance and tell answers to all questions asked to them. This goes on for seven days.
Devotees believe that Patala Pechi would cure all diseases they keep a lime fruit on the body of Pechi, worship it. Later by drinking the juice of the lime fruit, they believe that their ailments would be completely cured.
There is another peculiar custom at this temple. They keep a big ghee lamp and show a Ghee applied bottom of a pot to this flame. A black paste forms at the bottom of the pot. This is taken and put in tins and distributed. This is called “Mai kutti Marundu.” People believe that when going on an important job, if we apply a dot with “Mi kutti Marundu” on their forehead, the job will succeed. This medicine cannot be got as a routine and would be given by the priests according to the wish of God.

Thambi kalai Ayyan

Thambi kalai Ayyan

By

P.R.Ramachander

Thangamedu (Hill of gold) is a village on the shores of river Bhavani which is 20 km from Erode on the Erode Sathyamangalam road. The temple of Thambi kalai Ayyan is there in this village. The story of Thambi Kalai Ayyan is as follows
There was a rich Jamindars in these parts called Thambi kounder. He was maintaining a large herd of cattle. His younger brother Nallayyan used to take his cattle to graze in the forest. One day Nallayyan noticed that there was no milk in the udder of one cow while returning back. Next day he watched this cow carefully. It went in to a bush of cactus. He followed with difficulty and found that, the cow was standing above an ant hill and a Cobra living in the ant hill was drinking its milk, He told about this to his brother Thambi kounder. But Thambi kounder refused to believe this story and beat Nallayyan, black and blue. Other relatives saved Nallayyan and they along with Thambi Kounder went along with him next day to the forest. They also witnessed the cobra drinking milk from the cow. Thambi Kounder was stunned and felt very sad that he has beaten his younger brother. The relatives consoled him and brought him back to the village. That night the snake came in the dream of Thambi Kounder and requested him to build a temple for him(snake) . It said, if you do it , I would look after your future generations. That night Thambi Kounder went to the forest and started sitting near the ant hill. He refused to return back to the village Thambi Kounder started worshipping the snake. Several divine acts were performed by Thambi kounder after this.
One great magician of Kerala who laughed at him became his disciple. One king of Orissa called Vijaya karna heard about him and came to the village and again became his disciple.
One merchant from Orissa brought his dumb daughter Padmavathi before Thambi Kounder and he made her speak. . He also gave sight to the son of Anantha a Brahmin from Avanthi. After a long life, Thambi Kounder attained Samadhi. The people raised a temple for him and the cobra God there itself. Thambi kounder was called by his devotees as Thambi kalai ayyan .
In the temple Thambi ayyan faces north and Nageswari Amman is the adjoining temple facing east. There is a tunnel below her temple. Large number of snakes live there even today. These snakes normally roam inside the temple and have not harmed any one till today. Devotees offer milk in cups to these snakes. Though peacocks are enemies to snakes they do not harm them in this temple.
Behind Nageswari Amman’s temple there is a temple for Naga Lingam. The Theertha (divine water) which is given from this temple is believed to be capable of curing all skin disorders. Like this people who have bitten by poisonous snakes are brought to the temple and lie down before the temple of Thambi ayyan. People believe that they will be cured. People who want to get married do Milk Abhishekam (anointment ) to Nageswari Amman . Just out side the main temple, there is a temple to Nallayyan , the younger brother of Thambi Kounder. Near it there is a statue of a cow from whose udder a statue of Cobra is drinking milk. There are also temple of Pambhatti chithar, Ganapthi , Sankara Narayanan, Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu , sage Thirumoolar and Karupannachami.
On Tuesdays, Fridays, full moon and new moon days, lot of devotees visit the temple of Thambi kalai Ayyan. From the Tuesday just before Panguni Uthram till next Sunday there is a festival in this temple. People bring water from river Bhavani and anoint the Uthsavar statues of the temple on the first day. On all the six days Pongal is offered to the Gods. Goat sacrifice is done only to Karuppannachami. During the last three days a very big cattle fair is arranged in the temple.
On the Karthigai festival day, one lakh lamps are lit in the temple.

Bhadra kali and Murasappan of Velliyampathi

Bhadra kali and Murasappan of Velliyampathi

By

P.R.Ramachander

Velliyampathi is a small village near Perunthurai of Erode district, the temple of Bhadrakali, Murasappan and Kundathu Kali are located here. There is an interesting story as to how these Gods reached here from Natathi village of Thirunelveli district.
Once upon a time Natathi village was populated by Nadars. Many of them were soldiers in the army of Pandya king. Once flood waters entered the Thirnel veli town. The king ordered that one man from all families should help to clear the flood and save the people. But the villagers of Natathi refused saying that they are commanders of his army. From then on the king started troubling them too much. So they decided to go away from the village and started one night with all their materials. In their village they had three Gods- Bhadra kali, Murasappan and Kundathu Kali. They took three bricks representing these gods with them. They had to walk a lot of distance. In two or three places they threw away these bricks and to the surprise next day the bricks came back in to the basket. Later in one place they threw the bricks in to a thorny bush. That day Kali I came in the dream of the priest and told him, “Your man has thrown me in to a thorny bush. You take me out and keep me below the poocha tree in front of you and start worshipping me. I would look after you., the priest did as directed and the people of Natathi village settled in their new home, The Velliyampathi village.

Initially the villagers worshipped only the three bricks. Later hey made idols and started worshipping them. The original bricks are preserved even today. The Bhadrakali faces east and Murasappan her assistant faces north. Outside the temple they have made a gigantic statue for Murasappan. Apart from them Ayyanar, Konnavel perumal, Chappani Nayinar and Anai Thambiran statue are with these two gods.
After consecrating the Kali, it seems the priest went to climb palms to do toddy tapping. As soon as he climbed, it seems the palm was shaked and he was made to fall,. The priest understood that the Kali does not want him to go to any other job. The priest did not understand this but thought that this was done by a called Mundakannan. He started beating the Mundakannan statue with a whip. Later he understood that it was done by Kali and asked her, “Suppose I stay full time with you , how will I make both ends meet.” Kali told him that she would find a way out.
That night Kali went inside the village and placed a human led on his sheep pen. That owner decided that it was the work of Kali and gave one sheep as offering to the temple. This went on for some time. Later the people of the village understood Kali’s intention and started giving regular gifts to the temple so that the priest does not suffer.
Murasappan is also not an ordinary God. Below hid left hand there is a statue of a lady carrying a basket. People call her as Uppukari. She was from Pongupalayam of Thiruppur district and came to this village to sell salt. Once she took rest by keeping her bag of salt in the kali temple. It seems she heard her being called by some body. When she came before Murasappan statue, she was made in to a stone.
The people Velliyampathi village do not take any decision, whether private or public without the consent of Kali. Lots of Offerings of hosiery goods come to this temple regularly.
In the month of Avani (August September) the fire pit (Agni kunda) festival is celebrated. On Thursday night all gods come outside the temple. Next day night ladies offer and worship kali with lamp made of rice flour. Every year Murasappan statue is painted afresh but they never paint his eye. On Saturday , his eye is painted ceremoniously. Then onwards offering of textile and hosiery goods are offered to Murasappan ,who is 22 feet high. The offerings reach to a much greater eight.
That day mid night a pit of 2 feet by 60 feet is dug in front of Kundathu Kai. First they sacrifice a sheep and put it in the feet and the raise the fire. Next day morning the priest with God’s blessings walks on that fire. Later all those people who have told the Goddess that they will walk on fire will do it. After this a buffalo is sacrificed and buried near the fire pit. Next Tuesday ,one more worship is carried out and goats are sacrificed. Later all the offerings to Murasappan are auctioned. Later they offer Pongal before the temple and again sacrifice goat. Its blood is mixed with Pongal and thrown towards the sky.
In the month of Karthigai (November-December) there is a lamp festival to the Kundathu Kali. A light on the pillar before her is lit. It seems it continuously burns for 3-4 days in spite of wind or rain. If it burns well people of the village believe that the year will be prosperous.

Mandu Karuppu-Mandu Karuppi of Jeyamangalam

Mandu Karuppu-Mandu Karuppi of Jeyamangalam

By

P.R.Ramachander

Jeyamangalam is a village 12 km from Aandipatti of Theni district, this village is in the shores of Varaha River. Mandu Karuppu and Mandu Karuppi temple is in this village. These are worshipped by a dalit community called Kolachiyavan. The origin of this temple is not in this village.
There was a Jamindar in Jothinayakkanur near Vathalakundu. He was a bad man and was troubling people. A heroic man called Mandu Karuppu of that village was a rebel. He formed his own group of people and opposed the Jamindar. Once he refused to pay tax to the Jamindar. Jamindar sent his army to capture Mandu Karuppu. Mandu Karuppu vanished in the forest. From the forest he kept on troubling the Jamindar. At this time, he fell in love with a girl of the same village called Mandu Karuppi. She used to go the forest and meet him. The Jamindar’s people came to know of it. But Karuppi did not bother. Once Mandu Karuppi went to meet Mandu Karupan in the day time. The Jamindar’s people caught and tortured her to tell the place of hiding of Mandu Karuppu. When she refused to tell, they cut off her head. It seems the head flew in to the air shouting, “Mandu Karuppa, please take care.” And fell at the feet of Mandu Karuppan. Due to this Jamindar’s people could locate Mandu Karuppan and behead him also.
His people took the heads of Mandu karuppan and Mandu Karuppi and started worshipping them as Gods. Whenever these people migrated to a new place, they would take a fist full of mud from the place where Mandu Karuppu was killed, plant two stones and worship them. The temple in Jayamangalam is one of them. There is no worship or festival to these Gods.
If a marriage is settled for two people of the community, the groom first goes, anoints the Mandu Karppi stone with oil and the washes it with soap nut powder (Cheyakkai). Then the bride will go and perform the same rites to Manu Karuppan stone. Then after marriage both of them go together, anoint the stones together and light a lamp. In this community, regardless of their status, everybody has to do this for getting married. They believe that if this is done they would love each other like Mandu Karuppan and Mandu Karuppi.

Makaliamman of Pulavar palayam

Makaliamman of Pulavar palayam

By
P.R.Ramachander

Pulavar palyam is village in the Namakkal-Karur road. The very gigantic statue of Makaliaman is in this village. It seems once instead of a statue, there were only three stones representing the Goddess. The people were worshipping these stones were worshipped by the villagers as Makaliamman. Every year in the month of Masi (February-march) the place would be cleaned and sacrifice of goat, cock and Buffalo was given to please the Goddess. After this no body will go to the place where this was done till next year festival. It would be completely covered with weeds and trees. Once the villagers heard a child crying from inside this bush. When some body reported this most of the villagers refused to believe it, after this abruptly stones from no where started falling on the houses of villagers.
Then Goddess entered an old man and he told, “I am Kali. I want worship to be done daily. If it is not done I would make this village in to a cremation ground. Hearing this, the villagers cleaned up the place and built up a small temple. Initially the three stones were kept inside the temple and daily worship was offered. Later they made a Kali Statue with ten hands and kept it in side the temple. They also made a 35 feet tall statue of Makaliamman and kept it outside the temple.
The festival was shifted from Masi to Chithirai (April-may). On the first Monday the festival is celebrated with sacrifice of three types of animals as before. A small uthsavar state is taken in procession in side the village. Once the Uthsavar reaches the temple v, the main deity is worshipped and offered Pongal. Around mid night the sacrifice of Buffalo, Cocks and Goat is taken up. The blood of these animals are mixed in the Pongal and the Chamiyadis (Oracles) go to the east side of the temple and throw the mixture in to the sky. They believe that whatever is thrown never comes back and Kali receives it in the sky. The Chamiyadis normally keep a lime fruit to protect themselves, while going to offer this rice.
It is also a custom that the animals should be cut in one sweep of the knife. If this does not happen, the villagers think that there is some deficiency in the festival. The bodies of all buffalos which are cut are buried in a pit. After this no one goes near the temple till next morning.
It seems one lady of the neighboring village came to see the festival. And offered Pongal. After returning from the festival she remembered that she has left the ladle near the temple. At night when she went in search of it, she saw seven girl children playing in front of the temple. They told her, “Don’t you know you should not come here at night. You are lucky to have seen us.” Then the six children vanished and took the form of Makaliamman. She warned the lady not to tell what she saw to any body. After two years, it seems by mistake the lady told it to other ladies about this happening. She died that night because of high fever. After this even on ordinary days no body goes near the temple after 8 Pm.
Behind Makali’s temple there is an Oonja maram. There is statue of snake below this tree. People with Naga dosha, who are not able to conceive, worship this snake for six weeks and later sacrifice a cock. It seems hey get children. On Fridays at noon, one man becomes an unmarried oracle stands on a nail slipper and answers all questions. In his trance , it seems he would be able to identify even strangers. He then tells their problems and the antidote. This is very popular in the village

Pandi Muneeswarar of Melmadai

Pandi Muneeswarar of Melmadai

By

P.R.Ramachander

This God is situated in Melamadai village which is very near Mattu Thavani of Madurai town. People also call this God as Pandi Ayya. People believe that this God is the rebirth of Pandiyan Nedumchezhiyan who wrongly sentenced Kovilan the husband of Kannaki to death.
The present place of the temple was once upon a time a very dense forest. One group of nomadic people from Nerur, which is near Karur, happened to come to Madurai. Valliammai was an elderly lady ogf the group. One day in her dream she saw a well bearded tufted individual. He showed her a place in the forest and told, “I am lying here buried. Take me out and start worshipping me. Then you need not travel from one place to another. I would look after you.” She then told about her dream o others. They went to spot shown in her dream and started digging. They soon found a statue, which was sage like but was having an imposing moustache. Many people from the nearby areas came to see this statue. One of them was a saint. He told them, “This is the place where Madurai was situated and Kannagi burnt it. The king at that time was Nedumchezhiyan. He died due to the shock of the injustice that he had done. Later he was born in, Madurai itself. He did great penances and Lord Shiva gave him salvation. This is his statue.” The people did not believe it. When they wanted to ask their doubts to the stage, he had vanished by then. People then started digging around the area and fount many burnt artifacts. So they decided that the statue was that of the Panda king. They built a small temple and started worshipping the statue. They called him Pandi Muneeswarar or Pandi Ayya. Valliammai and her descendents were appointed as the priests and oracles (Maruladi) of the temple.
Behind the Muneeswarar temple is a temple of Lord Ganapathi People should salute Ganapathi first and come and offer Worship to Pandi ayya. Just opposite him is the place where people tie toy cradles to get children. East of that place is the temple Of Aandichami. There is no form to this God. It is only a few steps and a mound. People believe that it is Lord Subrahmanya. Near this is the temple of Samaya Karuppar. He is supposed to be the assistant to Pandi Ayya and would obey his commands.

“ Pandi Muneeswarar is most famous and well known for granting his boons to the devotees who worship him . He is showering his graces to one and all in a seated position (Padmasanam) He is bedecked with white cloth and colourful flower garlands. He is worshipped with milk, Pongal, Rosewater, Athar, Javvadu, jasmine flowers and dedicated love from the devotees. He will manifest at the place, where you think of him to redress your grievances, hurdles and to grant your wishes without fail.”

There is another interesting story of Samaya Karuppu. It seems once when a white man was going for hunting, he came and asked jeeringly Samaya Karuppu , “How many animals will I kill today.” Samaya karuppu did not answer,. So when the white man could not hunt for any animal, he came to the temple , broke the head and hands of Samaya Karuppu. It seems before he left the village the white man and his horse where turned in o stone. After this incident , people were very much afraid of Samaya Karuppu. Even today his idol is without head and hands.

Vegetarian offerings are offered to Pandi Muneeswarar , Pongal without sugar to the Aandi ayya and animals are sacrificed to Samaya Karuppu. Even arrack, cigars etc are offered to him.

People belie that ghosts and devils will leave their body, if they go to the temple of Pandi Ayya. Two km away from the temple is the place called Kazhungati. Here several tridents are planted. The people with ghosts and spirits start jumping and dancing as soon as they reach this spot. In fact the conductors of buses going to Pandi ayya’s temple, make people get down before this place fearing the violent dance and jumping of ghosts and spirits. The present Maruladi (oracle ) is a lady called Rajathi Ammal.

There is no separate festival for Pandi Muneeswaran. In the month of Adi (July-August) Aandi ayya is offered mango worship. From the Maruladi’s house the ornaments of the temple are brought. Then Pandi Ayya is offered Chakkarai Pongal. They put a screen and then sacrifice animals to Samaya Karuppan. And then the steps of Aandi ayya are covered with mango fruits. And he is offered salt pongal (Ven pongal).

Navaladiar of Mohanur

Navaladiar of Mohanur

By

P.R.Ramachander

Mohanur is a village which is 14 km from Paramathi Velur of Namakkal district. In the eastern boundary of the village is the temple of Navaladi Karuppana Chami., who is referred to also as Navaladiyan. He is also known as Pattamarathan and Judge Durai.
It seems some merchants of the Chera kingdom came to do business with Tamil Nadu. They brought their material on bulls. They also had a cow and calf with them. When they were camping at Mohanur, they noticed that even without milking the udder of the cow used to go dry. They thought that there is some evil spirit in that place and were preparing to depart. On that day they found that their cow was missing. After great search, they located the cow in the forest bush of naval trees (Syzygium cumini (L.)). In spite of the best efforts, the cow did not come out of the bush. At last they found out that the cow was pouring all the milk in its udder at a spot below a naval tree and there was also a stone below the tree. They understood that the stone was divine. Near by there was also a neem tree. Since the stone was below the naval tree, the merchants called that God as Navaladiyar (He who is below the naval tree). They donated the cow and calf to Navaladiyar and went back. Local people started calling the God as Navaladi Karuppu. The local, king called Mogur Pazhayan , used to daily worship this God. Once he observed that milk was coming out of the neem tree nearby. He then made the neem tree as his Security tree. It was also worshipped then afterwards.. The local queen’s brother Nannan , who had the neighboring Viyaloor kingdom used to anoint Navaladiyar with milk , every time he visited his sister. Near Viyaloor , there was another kingdom called Ganga kingdom. The king there was Irungovel. These three kings had complete control of Kongu Nadu (present Coimbatore area) during that time.
In Nannan’s palace there was a mango tree which yielded one fruit , once in 12 years. During the year, it yielded tight security was put to the tree, as the people believed that by eating the fruit people would live a long life. Once there was a cyclone and the fruit fell in a nearby river. One lady who was taking bath in the river ate that mango fruit. Hearing this Nannan sentenced her to death. The local people tried their best to get pardon for the girl , but Nannan did not bother and put the lady to death. The people got angry on Nannan and cut of the mango tree in his palace. Nannan also turned mad. His sister made Nannan pray Navaladiyan three times a day for a period of 40 days. He became all right and went back to his country. Similarly king Irungovel also committed by refusing to marry one of the orphaned daughters of king Pari which made Sage Kapila to give up his life. So Irungovel came to Navaladiyar temple and by praying to him, got his sins excused.
Thus the fame of the God Navaladiyan spread throughout Tamil Nadu. Many other kings were jealous of the king Mogur Pazhayan in whose kingdom Navaladiyar’s shrine was located. One of them was Ayirai. He made a plot so the neem tree which was the security tree of Pazhayan was destroyed.
At this time Villavan kothai who was the Commander in chief of the army of Cheran Chenguttuvan came to worship at the Durga temple in the kingdom of Ayirai . Ayirai went and met the commander and told him that , “ Nannan killed an innocent girl. He should be taken before your king and given proper punishment. “ Villavan Kothai greed to this, He went and met Nannan and told him, “King Cheran Chenguttuvan wants your friendship. His minister is waiting in my country. If you come with me, I will introduce the minister to you,:”. Nannan was attracted by the proposal and accompanied ayirai. He was imprisoned by Ayirai, in his country. Nannan prayed Navaladiyar to rescue him. Then suddenly a tunnel appeared in his jail. He went out through the tunnel and reached his country. Later Pazhayan, Nannan and Irumborai set out to destroy Ayirai. Since Ayirai got information through spies, , in the guise of a woman , he escaped from his country. The three friends conquered the country of Ayirai. They also destroyed the Durga temple.
Ayirai went and met Cheran Chenguttuvan and told lot of lies about the three kings. Cheran decided to wage a war and destroy their country. They managed too kill Pazhayan . Ayirai then wanted to destroy the temple of Navaladiyar. Cheran Chenguttuvan prevented him from doing it. But advised him to cut the neem tree which was guardian of Pazhayan. Ayirai was not satisfied with this,. He shaved off the hair of the queen of Pazhayan and insulted her. The queen cursed him, “Oh rogue , you would be destroyed.” And died t that spot itself. Not satisfied with this Ayirai wanted to destroy Navaladiyan temple. He lifted a huge stone so that he can put it on the temple. A cobra came from underneath the stone and killed Ayirai. Cheran then understood , what a bad man Ayirai was and also the type of lies that was being fed to him. He arranged for the honourable burial of Pazhayan and his queen. Ayiran’s body was thrown as food to the foxes in the forest. He then did redemptive acts to Navaladiyan and returned to his country.
The Navaladiyan statue is now under a new Naval tree (the old dry tree also stands there. This called Patta Maram and hence the name Pattmarathan) which came out of the roots of the old Naval tree. Similarly a new neem tree also has grown up in the place of the old destroyed neem tree.
Once some villagers went for wishing in the near by river. They found a statue floating in the river and recovered it. Since it had the looks of God Chellandiamman of Madhukarai, they consecrated in the same sanctum sanctorum of Navaladiyan. They are calling it Chellandiamman. There are also Kannimar (maids) deivam and Ganesa in the temple. Outside the temple are very big statues of two Bhoothas. The original temple built by Pazhayan was a small one. Now they have rebuilt it but Navaladiyan temple has not been disturbed. There are two big mud horses standing outside the temple now. There is also a horse made of bell metal. Apart from a wooden horse.
There are no festivals for Navaladiyan . But if a devotee pays Rs 3500, Navaladiyan is decorated and taken out as procession. There is a practice of bringing the anointed water to the Uthsava statue and throwing it t the devotees face. It seems this act removes all the problems of the devotee. Opposite the Uthsavar Statue of Navaladiyan, a big Vel has been planted. It is called Shakthi Vel. While Vegetarian dishes are offered to Chellandiamman, animals are sacrificed before Navaladiyar.
This temple is very popular in Namakkal district. Any problem is brought before him for redressal and because of this he is also known as Judge Durai. Any thing can be offered by a devotee to Navaladiyar. For example a cobbler has offered a very big shoe to the God. He hangs it in the tree outside . Every year a new pair is brought and old one replaced. Goats and Cocks are offered to the Navaladiyar. There is also a mid night pooja known as Sathya Poojai ,in the temple.
Devotees also ca submit written requests to Navaladiyar. These should be written or typed and offered along with Rs 5. People believe such requests are heard by Navaladiyar and he fulfills them. These are pierced on several iron rods outside the temple. You may find medical reports , X rays and even ECG reports there.

Pirandi Ayyanar of Chelliyampatti

Pirandi Ayyanar of Chelliyampatti

By

P.R.Ramachander

Chelliyampatti is a small village near Piran Malai of Shiva Ganga district. The God who guards this village is Pirandi Ayyanar.
About 700 years back about 200 people of the same joint family migrated to south from North India. Along them with them was Brahmin youth who used to assist them and his sister.
They settled in the Vanniya country. There was a king of Vali country in this state. Once he happened to see a pretty girl of this group and fell in love with her. He sent his emissaries with a proposal for the marriage. Since he was the king, the people of this family could not tell no to him. But the girl did not like to marry the king. So they went on making preparations for the marriage publicly but were also packing of their things to go away from there. When their preparation for departure was over, they put all the ornaments that they made for the bride on a dog’s neck and departed from there and hastily started going away. The Brahmin lad and his sister accompanied them. Mean while the king with his army found about their duplicity and started chasing them. The family reached a river shore which was in floods. They prayed God to save them. He told them to kick a Vanni tree. They kicked a big Vanni tree on the shore. It well across the river another tree from the opposite shore also fell. The family crossed the river on this god given bridge. Unfortunately the sister of the Brahmin lad fell in to the water and died. They consoled the Brahmin youth and went on traveling from place to place. The Brahmin youth also died. That family thought that the Brahmin youth and his sister were their Gods. . At night wherever they stayed, they use to powder rice and make a ball and offer it to the Brahmin youth. For this they had with them an Ammi (flat granite stone) and a kuzhavi (Pestle). One day when they camped in the forest, they found that the Kuzhavi was missing. Since without offering the rice ball, none of them took food, they started a vigorous search. At last they found the Kuzhavi in an upright poison in the middle of the forest. When they tried to lift it, it told , “I like this place. I want to live here.” Because of this they thought that the Kuzhavi was the Brahmin youth , and constructed a temple for him. They also built houses for themselves and started calling their God as Pirandi Ayyanar. They also made a statue for his sister. When they dug a pond (chengai ) for drinking water, they saw that a tamarind tree started growing near by. Some dogs started howling and scratching the soil near by. So they thought that both the pond as well as the tamarind tree were divine. They started calling the pond as Bhairava Chengai and the tree as Bhairava Chengai puli. Even today this tree is alive,. They also made a mound , in which they buried all their wealth and ornaments and started calling it as Dindodharan Medu. Some black magicians tried to steel these treasures., then the Aandi deivam which was also consecrated at the temple went to Kerala and brought Malayala Karuppu to help them. Malayala Karuppu destroyed the magicians. When he wanted to go away, the other Gods in the temple requested him to be with them. He was reluctant but when he was told that he would also be worshipped, he hose o stay with them not in the temple but near a pond which was at a short distance. He was initially staying in a crab hole., one lady without knowing this introduced her hand in the hole. Then Malayala Karuppu ordered her to worship him. She was doing it regularly on all Fridays. But after a few days she entrusted the job to a boy who had come to graze goats. Till today his descendents are the priests in the temple of Karuppu,
A statue and a temple for Malayala Karuppu has been built in the temple complex of Pirandi Ayyanar. There are seven maidens and Chinna Karuppu temples also. Besides there are 21 Hanuman statutes ,sixty army gods and twenty seven thavasi gods , who are all represented by mounds. There is also a Ganapathi temple.
There are no annual festival for the Ayyanar. If he permits there is a horse offering festival in some years. During that time animals are sacrificed to Malayala Karuppu in which only males participate.
People belied that Pirandi Ayyanar would solve their problems , even before they reach back their homes.

Maya Kuruvi – Chamayi of Mukkudi

Maya Kuruvi – Chamayi of Mukkudi

By

P.R.Ramachander

Mukkudi is a village in between Shiva Ganga and Madhurai. There is no proper transport facility to reach this village. The Maya Kuruvi- Chamayi temple is in the eastern part of the village.
Once upon a timer a cobbler couple was living in this village. They did not have any children. Some people advised them to go and pray in the Azhagar temple. They went and prayed the God and slept there for one night. In their dream Mayan (Lord Vishnu) came and told them that he has blessed them with a son. Please name him as Maya Kuruvi.” He chose one cow herd boy and sent him to be born as their son. That boy told him, “I alone cannot go there. Please send some body else for company.” Lord Vishnu agreed. He chose one girl who was making garlands for Rakkachi Amman, who is at the top of Azhagar Mountain and sent her as a girl child to a village called Chithalakudi. Since she was born at midnight, her parents decided to call her Chamayi.
The parents of Maya Kuruvi were cobblers. When they did not get much of that job, they used to go as farm workers. His mother would take Maya Kuruvi along with her. One day when she went to work, she made a hammock with a cloth and hung Maya Kuruvi on a tree branch on a river shore. That day her work was on the other side of the river. She crossed the river and went for work. Mayan wanted to play with Maya Kuruvi and created a huge flood in the river and torrential rain. A five hooded serpent protected Maya Kuruvi from the rain and a sheep gave him milk. Maya Kuruvi’s mother was able to cross the river only after three days. When she came she was surprised to find Maya Kuruvi hale and healthy. When she tried to carry the child from the Hammock, the serpent wanted her to take an oath, that none of their family members would ever hurt any serpent. The sheep wanted her to promise that none of her family members would ever eat the meat of a sheep. Grateful for them, Maya Kuruvi’s mother promised as they asked and went back home with her precious child.
The next day she left the baby with her husband and went out. At that time Maya Kuruvi’s father who did not know about the oath, cut the only sheep they had and cooked the meat and its blood. All the people who ate became blind. Hearing this Maya Kuruvi’s mother rushed back. And then made all of them take an oath, keeping the meat on Kuruvi that will never, ever take sheep’s meat. They all got their sight back.
Maya Kuruvi grew up and became a lad. At that time one hunter brought a bird called “Vallathan Kuruvi”. Maya Kuruvi wanted that bird as a pet. They made a slipper for the hunter and he gave Vallathan Kuruvi as pet to Maya Kuruvi,
Once for the famous Chithirai festival, Maya Kuruvi went along with his parents to Madhurai. Chamayi had also come along with her parents. Both parents met and decided on the marriage f Maya Kuruvi and Chamayi, They also fixed a date for the marriage. When this was going on Maya Kuruvi one day went to take bath in the pond. He kept his pet Vallathan Kuruvi on that shore. That Kuruvi went and sat in a big hole on a tree. Maya Kuruvi climbed the tree. When he was trying to catch his pet, A snake in the hole bit him(according to instructions of Mayan). Some one went and told this to his mother. She rushed there and Maya Kuruvi died keeping his head on the lap of his mother.
When they try to cremate him, some how they were not able to light the pyre. Then his mother in god’s trance told, “The pyre will burn, only if Chamayi comes and lights it.” So they sent word to Chamayi. Chamayi rushed to the place throwing the pot she was carrying on the floor. She requested for fire to light the pyre from several houses. None of them gave her the fire. Then went and asked the king of Siva Ganga. He was convinced about her greatness and gave her fire taken three times by a golden trowel. She tied the fire in her sari and came to the cremation ground. She made the eyes of all people blind for a moment, lit the pyre and jumped in to it. She also threw the Vallathan Kuruvi and the snake that bit Maya Kuruvi in the fire.
Then the people of Mukkudi understood that Maya Kuruvi and Chamayi were gods born amidst them. They started worshipping them. Since their community people were cobblers, these Gods told them to have festival only once in two years. They said in between these festivals, nothing should be spent on their worship. So no temple was built for them. The festival is celebrated in Vaikasi month (May-June). The statues of these Gods are only made then. Maya Kuruvi statue has a Vallathan Kuruvi in his hands and Chamayi has a pot kept in her hip. These statues are made by a Velar family, which lives south of this village
From the village the new statues are brought in the wedding dress. The old statues are removed and the new statues are installed. Around 11 PM, they offer Pongal to the Gods. Then there is lot of merrymaking for two days. On the third day at the spot where Maya Kuruvi and Chamayi was created, hundreds of families offer Pongal. That day and the next day several goats are sacrificed.
Obeying the oath given by Maya Kuruvi’s mother, none of the descendents of the villagers of Mukkudi eat sheep meat. They also do not trouble snakes. It seems wherever they go snakes do not harm them.

Vana Bhadrakali of Thekkepatti

Vana Bhadrakali of Thekkepatti

By

P.R.Ramachander

This temple is situated in Thekkepatti which is near Meetupalayam. This place was called Nellur Pattinam once .It was ruled by seven sisters called Aaravalli, Sooravalli, Veeravalli etc. They were all experts in magic as well as black magic. They wanted their country not to have even the smell of males. They caught hold of small kings near by using black magic and tortured them. Lord Krishna told Pandavas who were kings of Hasthinapura and requested them to put down these sisters. Bheema waged a war and almost destroyed them but due to their black magic was imprisoned by them. Lord Krishna using his powers managed to make Bheema free from their bondage. Hearing this Aaravalli told, “Are the people who are afraid of ladies men?” and sent a letter to Bheema. Pandavas became very angry and sent Allimuthu, their sister Sangvathi’s son to capture the Aaravalli sisters.
Before entering Nellur Pattinam, Allimuthu, went to the Vana Durga temple and requested for the blessing of the Goddess. The goddess gave him a powerful sword and a handful of sacred ash. Allimuthu defeated the Aaravalli sisters and subdued them. They told him, “We are impressed by your valour. We want you to marry our daughter Palvarisai. Marry her and take her with you.” Since Palvarisai was pretty, Allimuthu agreed and married her. Unfortunately he forgot the sacred ash given by Vana Durga. At one point when he was very tired Palvarisai gave him the juice of a lemon given by her mother to him. Poor, innocent girl did not realize that the lemon was full of black magic. As soon as he took the juice, Allimuthu died. Hearing this Abhimanyu the son of Arjuna went to the world of Indra and brought the soul of Allimuthu in a bottle and made Allimuthu alive. After this all Pandavas went to the Vana Durga temple and requested for her blessings to put down the Aaravalli sisters. They entered Nellur Pattinam and defeated the sisters. One sister ran away to Kerala. The nose of the other sisters was cut and they were killed. They renamed Palvarisai as Valamma and married her again to Allimuthu.
After that people started living peacefully in Nellur Pattinam. They were grateful to Vana Bhadrakali who was the one who helped them and started worshipping her. There was also another reason for them to worship Vana Bhadrakali. There was a place called Bhagasuran Kottai near the Vana Bhadrakali temple. This Asura was tormenting the villagers and eating one of them every day. Once it was the turn of a boy who was the only son of a clan. His mother was crying. Bheema who was there agreed to go To Bhagasura, instead of the boy. Instead of taking the food to Bhagasura, he started eating it. There was a big fight between Bhagasura and Bheema. But whenever Bheema cut Bhagasura in to pieces, the pieces again joined back. Bheema worshipped Vana Bhadrakali. She told him to cut Bhagasura in to two parts and put the two pieces next to each other but the cut ends on the opposite sides. Bheema did this and Bhagasura was killed. At the time of his death Bhagasura prayed Vana Bhadra kali and requested her to make him as a village protection God. She agreed. His temple is facing Vana Bhadrakali temple and is 200 feet away. In between them there is a temple of Aaravalli. Also there is a Muniyappa statue near the Bhagasura temple. Recently they have also constructed a Shiva temple near by.
Vana Bhadrakali removes the effect of black magic and blesses barren woman with a child. They put lemon garlands to Vana Bhadrakali. The lemons from these garlands are supposed to cure all diseases.
From the second Tuesday of Adi month (July-August) there is fifteen day festival in this temple. A big pit of fire keeps on burning during the days of the festival. About thirty thousand people walk through the fire pit without any problem. Apart from that on new moon day in Adi and on eighteenth day of Adi month, there are festivals.
There is another custom at this temple. Before the goddess many packets which contain either red or white flowers are kept. People, who want to take decision on important matters, think of a colour and take a packet. Only if the desired colour comes, they do the job they want to do.
No animal sacrifices are done to Vana Bhadrakali. But goats are sacrificed to Bhagasura some days even one hundred goats are sacrificed to him.
In many of the big mils and business places in Coimbatore and Mettupalayam districts, before a years account is written, they give a big feast in Vana Bhadrakali temple.

Kurathi Amman of Anaivari village

Kurathi Amman of Anaivari village

By

P.R.Ramachander


Anaivari is a village which is 18 km from Pudukottai. Kurathi Amman has a temple in this village. There is an interesting story about this village, which goes back to the Ramayana. It seems when Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, Lakshmana and Rama went is search of her. Sage Valmiki who was in the forest accompanied them. They happened to come to Anaivari village. Somehow, sage Valmiki liked the village very much and decided to stay there. Rama and Lakshmana continued their search. Valmiki who did penance in the village, over time became a God to the village and settled there, the villagers started calling this God as Mayavar.
Kuravan is a nomadic tribe of Tamilnadu. They tell astrological l predictions, sell knick knacks like needle etc. If their woman (called Kurathi) stays outside their camp for one night, they used to murder them. Once seven Kurathis along with their babies missed their way and stayed for a night in the forest near Anaivari. The men of their group murdered all the seven woman along with their babies. It seems they appeared in the dream of a villager and told them, that if they consecrate them as Gods in the village and worship them, they would look after the village. The villages agreed and consecrated their statue near Mayavar temple. They were called by the villagers as Kurathi Amman.
After this one Kudukuduppai karan (a beggar who tell that he lives in the burial ground and foretells future of people accompanied by a drum in the morning) once stole the Thali (Mangalya Sutra) of a woman of the village. It seems immediately he became blind. People said that this was done by Kurathi Amman. He immediately came to her temple, kept the Thali at Kurathi Amman’s feet and begged forgiveness. Kurathi Amman pardoned him and restored his sight. From that time no thief has come to the village. The villagers also appointed the Kudukuduppai Karan as their police man. They gave him some grain as compensation during harvest. Now Kudukuduppai karan does not does police duty in the village but some of them come during harvest to collect the grain. Even simple things like hair pin which falls in the streets are not touched by anybody. Since Kurathi Amman is their God, if at any time a Kuravan comes to the village he is treated properly and given food. These seven Kurathi women stand on the left side of Mayavar. On his right side, Chinna Karuppar, Perriya Karuppar and Otha Mani Karuppar statues are there. A story is there about Otha Mani karuppar.
It seems once some villagers, who went to an outside market town caught hold of a goat and cut it and were preparing to cook it. At that time the owner of the goat came there. Recognizing him the villagers put the meat of the goat in a box. When the owner wanted to see what is inside the box, they were forced to open it. But the colour of the goat had completely changed and the owner said sorry and went his way. Then Otha Mani Karuppar entered one of them and told,”I have saved you. So build a temple for me also.” Thy built a temple for him near the existing temple of Kurathi Amman.
Another peculiarity of this village is that all statues of their God are made of Mud. When they break or get dilapidated, they build a new statue. This is done with a grand celebration. On all Mondays and Fridays, Kurathi Ammans are worshipped by preparing Pongal.
All girls of the village, who get married to an outside villagers, give three fifty rupees and seven measures (Marakkal) of paddy to the Kurathi Amman. This is given in a rope box. The paddy from this box is made in to rice and Pongal made out of it is offered to Kurathi Amman. A part of the pongal is given to the girl, to take it to her husband’s home.
People of the village believe that orders of Mayavar are executed by Kurathi Ammans. There is a pond on the way to the temple. People who have complaints against any body else and take bath in this pond and go the temple of Kurathi Amman with wet cloths. They pay Rupees twelve and Paisa twenty five at the temple. They believe that Kurathi Amman would punish the guilty. If a man outside the village makes such complaints he should observe silence till he crosses the village boundary.

Kali theertha Ayya of Aayakaranpulam

Kali theertha Ayya of Aayakaranpulam

By

P.R.Ramachander

This temple is located in Aayakaranpulam which is near Vedaranyam. It seems one upon a time, the Brahmin priests of Vedaranyam temple were searching for sweet water to Abhisheka to Lord Vedaranyeswarar. They found it in a spring after a great search in a nearby forest. They daily went there and brought the sweet water from the spring for anointing their God. .Five days after the new Moon (Amavasya) they say a strange sight there. They say a glowing circle descend from the sky to the earth near the spring. When it came near the earth, they also heard sounds of some musical instruments. This was seen only be a few of them. When they told it to others, they lost their eye sight. Because of this they went after one month to the same spot and saw the same sight. They planted a brick at the spot where the light has descended and started worshipping it. In the next month, when the light came again, the Brahmin priests sacrificed a goat to that God. As soon as the goat was sacrificed the light did not go back. The Brahmins did pooja and Abhishekam at the same spot for 48 days. At that time, the land below the brick, split open and slowly the split widened. Later a stone started emerging out of the split. From then on the ball of light stopped coming from the sky.
People started worshipping the stone as “Kali Theertha Ayya”, meaning, “Sir who solved our sufferings.” From then all people who have problems come here and request the God to solve their problems. People believe that their problems are getting solved. People also believe that the stone which emerged out from the split is still growing. A brick is placed before the stone and all worship is done to the brick. But for that there are no idols for “kali theertha Ayya.”
Opposite him there is Thoondil Karuppar and by the side is Veerappa Sámi. Also statues of Samban and Pethan statues are there by the side of the main temple.
Devotees say, that” if my problem is solved, I would give a horse to Kali Thee than (Kali theertha Ayya).” Others offer other animals like goat, dog etc. Because of this there are several statues of animals especially horses, before the temple. Some people, who gat sick, pray that they will offer their statue to the temples. Hundreds of such statues can also be found in the temple.
Some times, when people get serious incurable diseases, they are given in adoption to Ayya. Most of them get cured. On Friday and Tuesday, there is a huge crowd at the temple. The chamiyadi enters in to a trance and answers questions of devotes on these days. On the New Year’s Day there is a festival at this temple. Ayya is a vegetarian but every week some or other animal is offered to Veerappachami.
Though the place where the Brahmin priests read Veda for 48 days is in a sandy patch, the place where they read Vedas is filled with red soil.

Kadambagudi Ulagammal

Kadambagudi Ulagammal

By

P.R.Ramachander

Kadambagudi is ten km from Thondi of Ramanatha puram district. Ulagammal of that place is not a statue/idol but a trident.
Once king Sethupathi was returning from a hunting expedition. Then he saw a trident and a lemon fruit floating in the sea. The king asked his assistant to get it from the sea. Though he failed 2 times, in the third time he was successful. The king did not want to take the trident home but he simply made it stand in the mud near Kadambagudi.
Later on the people came to know that this trident was Ulagammal who was worshipped by Dalits in a place called Uppur. Some people in Uppur were told in their dreams that she has established herself in Kadambagudi. The people decided to respect the action of Ulagammal and along with families would visit her in Kadambagudi along with family in the month of Avani (August-September) The people of Kadambagudi brought a Pathinettampadi Karuppan from the next village and made him as security to Ulagammal. The Chamiyadi for both Ulagammal and Pathinettampadi Karuppan are Dalits of the village. Some higher caste people who were engaged in making pots for preparing pongal for Ulagammal , were offended by this. So they did some magical rites so that Ulagammal will enter them and they would be Chamiyadis. They made the magicians tie Ulagammal. Troubled by magic Ulagammal destroyed the roof of her temple and went away through that hole. She killed the magicians , put their guts as garland and started going round holding their heads in her mouth. She cursed the man who brought the magician that they and all the members of their family would stutter. This is found to be true even today. From this time no body lock the temple of Ulagammal. It is always open. She also wanted that her roof should be made of palm leaf. So now though they have built a temple for her, the roof for the trident (Ulagammal) is made of palm leaves only.
In the month of Avani (august-September) there is a ten day festival for Ulagammal. As soon as the festival starts, the trident is brought and kept in her temple. The priest after blind folding himself, takes out a snake from the pot and leaves it in her temple. What is strange is no body is able to see the serpent in the hands of the priest. Now instead of a pot, they put the serpent in a wooden box kept at the temple. On the eighth day the Chamiyadis of Ulagammal and Karuppan go jumping and dancing to the sea. Here they take three times dip in the sea. After the third dip, the people drag them to the sea shore. This is because once the Chamiyadis were swept by the sea after the third dip. They return at night around 3 Am. A pit of burning fire is kept ready. They enter the pit and come out. People ask them questions of the welfare of the village and themselves and the Chamiyadis answer them. With this ends the eighth day festivities. On the ninth day pongal is prepared in forty pots and offered to Ulagammal. A part of is made in to small balls and thrown to the lame ghosts(Nondi pisasu). It seems , if this is not done, the Chamiyadis are troubled by the ghosts. It seems once a pregnant woman hid behind a tree and was trying to find out where this balls offered to lame ghosts go,. She had a miscarriage and died at that spot.
On tenth day two goats are sacrificed to Ulagammal and Karuppan. The Chamiyadis drink the blood of the goats which are sacrificed. The Chamiyadi of Ulagammal tears open the stomach of the goat, and wears its gut and dances in memory of the incident narrated earlier.
Ulagammal it seems saves the life of the husbands of the village woman. She also fulfils the desires of all the villagers.

Palayadi Karuppu

Palayadi Karuppu

By

P.R.Ramachander

Gandharava kottai is a village which is thirty km from Pudukottai. Varappur is 12 km from this village. This is the head village for the surrounding 35 villages near there. The same caste people there have divided themselves in to eight groups. They did not have any God to protect them. So two elders of the village went to Kerala. They saw a sage who was doing meditation there. They waited in front of him for 90 days. Drinking only water. The sage realized their earnestness and opened his eyes and gave one fist full of mud to each of them. One man kept it safely in side his turban and the other made a packet with his cloth and hung it on the thread that he had tied in his hip. They reached their village. When the man went to the pond to drink water, he removed his turban. The mud in his turban became like an arrow and went through a Pala tree and fell below it. The elders then rushed to the village and brought all the people. Then God entered one of the assembled and he told them, “I am Karuppan. I like this place. If you build a temple for me here, I will take care of you.” Then the asked God, as to what has to be done with the mud brought by the other person. Then the God told them to place it below another Pala tree in Nerunchipatti which was two km from there. The people did accordingly. The people built a temple and the Karuppu was referred to as Palayadi Karuppu (Karuppu below a Pala tree).All the 18 villages around Varappur consider this Karuppu as their God and are firm that he will satisfy all their wants.
The Pala tree has become in to a very big tree. Along with Palayadi Karuppu, there are three more sub gods called Chinna Karuppu, Changili Karuppu and Muthu Karuppu. Nearby in another structure, there is a small statue of the man who brought Palayadi Karuppu from Kerala. When Karuppu is worshipped, he also is worshipped. Lot of mud horses are also there built by devotees as their offering. Nearby there is temple for the fearsome God Billi muni. People believe he is the god who does things for Karuppu.
Once a Muslim gentleman called Mal Ravuthar went by this side and he teasingly told about whether the horses would eat grass. After he left Palayadi Karuppu told Billi Muni, “When he is returning back, I will make these horses eat grass. Then he would be surprised and come here. At that time you cut off his head.” As a memory of this incident there is a small structure for Mal Ravuthar also. He sits headless on a horse. Below the feet of the horse, his head is seen lying. Worship is done for Mal Ravuthar also. The Billi muni temple does not have any doors. It seems all attempts to put a door have failed.
In the month of February –March there is a ten day festival for Palai Karuppu. All the villagers attend this festival without fail on the eighth day there is a festival called “Billi koduppu Vaibhavam.” It seems once upon a time to satisfy the ferocious Billi Muni, every year, one child was sacrificed. Its blood would be mixed with Pongal and the balls of rice and blood would be thrown in to the sky on all four directions. It seems in one direction the ball will not fall back. They would then conclude that Billi has taken the ball of rice on that side. They also believed that the villages in that direction would become prosperous for that year.
This sacrificing of a child continued till the family which was supposed to give child for sacrifice had only one son. The family members went and cried before Palayadi Karuppu. Then Karuppu appeared before them and told them not to sacrifice the child but take out a little blood from the thigh of the child.
On the eighth day of the festival , pongal is prepared and offered to the other Karuppu kept below the Pala tree in Nerunchi Patti Then the Chamiyadi of Palayadi Karuppu and Billi muni jump and dance Then they start walking towards the Palayadi Karuppu temple. On the way many villagers garland both the Chamiyadis. They ask al their doubts and in trance the Chamiyadis reply heir questions. Around 12 mid nights they prepare Pongal and offer it to Palayadi Karuppu Then the blood is let from the thigh of the boy. Then the villager belonging to the village of that boy mixes the blood with pongal and throws it towards the sky. With this festival of the eighth day comes to an end.
People of the 18 villages have great faith on Palayadi Karuppu. The first invitation to any function in any house in these eight villages is always to Palayadi Karuppu. The Pala tree behind the Palayadi Karuppu is also believed to have magical properties. Women without children chew the leaves and people honour the leaf by putting them on their head.

Aachi Kizhavi of Usilampatti

Aachi Kizhavi of Usilampatti

By

P.R.Ramachander

Paapapatti is a village which is 15 km from Usilampatti of Madurai district. From here Karumathur is 15 km. Paapayi was a girl born in this village and was given in marriage to a man in Paapan patti. There is an Ochandamman temple in Karumathur Once the family of Aandayi offered pongal in the Ochandamman temple. Aandayi and her sister in law(her husband’s brother’s wife) came to this function. There is a custom in Ochandamman temple , in which the priest takes a small part of the rice used to prepare pongal as well as part of the prepared pongal from each individual offering Pongal. Aandayi objected to their taking a part from her sister in law saying that” My in laws will think very low of me, if you take a share from some body from their village.” The priests did not bother and took the share. This infuriated Aandayi. She took the hot pongal pot, kept it on her head and started walking towards Paapapatti. Her brother who followed her lost his eye sight as son as he crossed the village boundary, Aandayi told him to follow her as Karumathur people would disrespect him if he goes back. When they reached Usilampatti, Aandayi asked her brother to stay in Chinna Karuppu temple there. And went to take bath in the Palace pond. While she was taking bath the watch men of the palace took away her sari to cradle their baby. But because Aandayi had some divine power that sari caught fire. So they showed a place in their town for Aandayi to take rest. Aandayi entered there with the pongal pot. No body has seen her after that. Her ten children when they entered the bush only found the pongal pot. So they assumed that their mother has become God. near the place where she became God there was a temple for Angala Iyer. They built a small temple within that temple for their mother. People believed that she was followed by Ochandamman when she left Karumathur. So they built a temple for Ochandamman also there. From then Aandayi was called as Aachi Kizhavi.
When the children partitioned their property one son got a rough uncultivated parch of land and all others got fertile land. When that sin came and cried before Aachi kizhavi, a voice from the temple told “I would see you with one eye and other nine with another eye.” From then the rough patch became very fertile and that son’s family became very rich compared to others.
In this temple there are several Gods. Angala Iyer Sami along with Thanganni and Poonganni is in the main temple. Out side his temple is Mayandi. On the left side seven prince Gods are there. On the write side a picture of Aachi Kizhavi has been draw and Garlanded. On the opposite side in a row are Agni thangu, Madana thangu, Periya Thavasi, Chenthavasi, Ochandammal, Ulaganathan and near them there is Virumala Rakku. By her side is a small platform, which is worshipped as Aachi kizhavi. Her picture is drawn there also. By her side are Pechiyamman, Chandana Karuppu , Kalanji karuppu and Kotai karuppu. Also statues of China Karuppu , Periya Karuppu , Agniveeran , and Kollimalai Rakkammal are also there.
People who are troubled by false cases come and pray to Aachi kizhavi and get relief immediately.
The Shiva Rathri is celebrated with fan and fare at this temple. All the material of Aachi kizhavi are stored in Chinna karuppu temple of Usilampatti. They are brought from there with drum and pipe music. The Chamiyadi (God’s representative) of Angala Iyer accompanies it along with a whip. In a place called Ilamthoppu, the descendents of Aachi kizhavi receive her ornaments. They check whether every thing is all right. Then it is brought to Aachi kizhavi’s temple and three Poojas are performed. After the Pooja the boxes are taken back to Usilampatti. Later Goats are sacrificed to Chinna and Periya Karuppu.

There is another interesting story about this temple. In front of the temple of Karuppu there are two elephant statues. One of them is black and another white. Once it seems a white man asked the Chamiyadi whether the elephants will eat sugarcane. When Chamiyadi said yes, the white man brought lot of sugar cane. The elephant was covered with a cloth tent and the sugar cane was placed there. After some time, when they opened the tent they saw that the whole sugarcane has vanished. Later The Chamiyadi told the white man that his son is sick and will not live long. It seems immediately the white man received news about his son’s death.
On the day when the procession carries the ornaments of Aachi kizhavi, it seems all offices and shops are closed for a day.

Valladi Karar of Ambalakkaran Patti

Valladi karar of Ambalakkaranpatti

By

P.R.Ramachander

Valladi karar temple is situated in Ambalakkaranpatti which is ten kilo meters from Melur of Madhurai district. This village is situated in Vellalur Nadu which is a group of 60 villages.
It seems long long ago, t in this village mysterious thefts were very common. People believed that it was done by a magician who came to these villages in a flying horse. The people of the villages appealed to their Goddess “Ezhai katha Amman, “to stop these thefts. She met the magician and asked to stop these robberies. She also assured him that if he stops these thefts, he would be worshipped by the villagers of Vellalur Nadu. Hearing this, the magician agreed and vanished in to the earth in that place. Some how this was forgotten by the villagers. One day a lady taking food to her husband who was working in the field fell down at this spot. She thought that it was an accident. Next day also she fell down at the same spot. Then her husband came there and tried to uproot a stone which was there. Blood started oozing out of the stone. Then the village elders came there along with a Kodangi (God man who used to foretell,). He told them hat the magician called as Valladi Karar was there in that spot and they have to build a temple for him. They immediately built a temple for Valladi Karar and started worshipping him. They also built a statue of horse in front of the temple. It stands keeping its leg on a devil. It seems one white man came near the temple and teased the villagers, Would this horse eat grass? Would it neigh?” The chief of the village was hurt and went in to the temple and prayed to Valladi Karar. Then he heard a lizard making sound. He understood it as the positive answer from Valladi karar. Then he went out and offered a basket of grass = to the horse statue in front of the white man. Though the basket of grass was full it seems, the white man saw the horse eating the grass and also heard it neigh. His horse was disturbed and started running uncontrollably. The horse and the white man died by drowning in a pond in the village. This pond is now being called White man’s pond.
Near the temple of Valladi karar who sits along with his wives Poorani and Porkalai is a temple of Periyakaruppan. In the back of the temple is a rare tree called Kookamuthi, which looks like a mango tree. Below the tree, there is a stone and the villagers identify it as the original stone dug at the spot where Valladi karar vanished. There is also an outer wall to the temple. Two boothas are guarding the temple. Inside also the temple is guarded by two boothas. When the villagers tried to remove the boothas in sides, it seems a big snake came out and hissed at them. They thought that Valladi karar wanted them also there.
There is an Uchi Panai pongal worship to the Valladi karar on Maha Shiva Rathri day. Next day all the men of the 60 villagers start from Valladi kara temple and walk 40 km to reach a village called Man kondan chiru vayal. There is a pond and an ayyanar temple in this village. All the men wash their feet and take bath in the pond. And return to Ambalakkaranpatti by noon. Then they take out an old palm leaf and read the story of Valladi karar. This is called “Reading of Bharatha,”
Next they fix the dates for the festival. Once this date is fixed, no villager belonging to these sixty villages would wear new cloths. There would not be sound of drum or crackers in these villages. All the pregnant woman are sent out of the villages. If some one dies during this period new cloths or garlands are not worn to the corpse. They would not mix new soil with water. No non vegetarian dishes are prepared .Not even Idli is prepared.
On the eighth day bull taming takes place. On the ninth day pongal is offered to the horse of Valladi karar. In the evening Pongal, fruits and milk are offered to Valladi karar.

Then a goat is sacrificed to periya karuppan and villagers celebrate the festival in their homes by preparing non vegetarian dishes. Then there is a chariot drive and the festival comes to an end.

Mambarai Muniyappan

Mambarai Muniyappan

By

P.R.Ramachander

This temple s situated near Markampatti village which is about 20 km from Ottan Chathiram of Dindukkal district.
In the days when Pandavas were living in the forest for 12 years, there was a great sage called Saindhava who was doing Thapas below a mango tree. It seems, every 12 years once this tree yielded a miraculous mango . It was believed by eating this mango all occult powers can become ours. Sage Saindhava was waiting for the mango fruit. Once Pandavas with Panchali came near three. It seems Panchali wanted to eat that mango. Immediately Arjuna send an arrow to cut the mango. As soon as the mango came down by 6 feet , Lord Krishna came there and held it in the sky. He told Pandavas that if the Mango falls to the Ground sage Saindhava would curse them. He then requested each of the Pandavas as well as Panchali to tell their inner most beliefs. As and when one person told his innermost belief, the mango rose by one feet. When all of them completed it got attached to the tree. Pandavas went away but Lord Krishna remained there in the form of a cowherd boy. Then the sage opened his eyes and thought that the boy before him was stealing the mango and started chasing him. Lord Krishna ran up the hill and jumped in to a pit at the top of the hill. Sage Saindhava tried to catch him but was able to only catch the last part of the hair of the boy. Using his divine vision the sage could find out all that happened. He decided to stay there and continue to do Thapas. He slowly became a stone which is now being called Rishi. To protect him from wild animals Muniyappan sat near the stone. A temple was later built for the Rishi. Muniyappan still guards the Rishi’s temple. The local villagers started worshipping the Rishi as well as Muniyappan. There is no roof for Muniyappan temple. It seems he has not given permission to build one. The rishi’s temple has a very low roof. People have to bend to see him. Since Panchali was the reason for the initial problem, even today, women do not enter the temple. On the hill top where Lord Krishna jumped in to the pit there is a temple for Lord Krishna.
Sheep and cocks are sacrificed to please Muniyappan, Even the cooking of their meat is done by men. There is a custom of bursting crackers at the Muniyappn temple as a form of worship.
There are no festivals in this temple. People believe that if they come to these temples and tell their problems , they will be solved. If they believe that their problems are due to evil magic or witches, they keep a black thread on the lap of the Rishi and later tie it in their hand. It is believed that all of them get rid of their problems. Whenever any person buys a new vehicle in these parts , he brings it for worship to the Muniyappan temple.
There is also practice of writing their problems in paper and tying it on the guarding fence of Muniyappan temple.

Poyyalamman of Okkur

Poyyalamman of Okkur


By

P.R.Ramachander

The temple of Poyyalamman is in a village called Okkur which is 5 km from Avudayar Koil Of Pudukottai district.

Once upon a time the Poyyalamman temple was a part of the Siva temple of the village. Once when the priest came back from the temple he had locked a child in side the temple. Once he realized he rushed to the temple. When he was trying to open the door, he heard the voice of Poyyalamman, “ I want to play with the child. Let her be here for the night,.” The priest who was nervous tried to open the lock. Then Poyyalamman tore the child in to pieces and threw her out of the temple. When the villagers heard about this incident , they decided to have nothing with the temple and stopped all worship to the goddess. After some time, Poyyalamman came in the dream of one of the elders and told him, “I am very sorry for what I did. I am sad that I am not being offered any worship. Please build a temple for me. Then onwards I will take care of the delivery of all the women of the village. “ The people believed her and a temple was built for her. From then onwards the villagers have stopped spending money for the delivery of the women of the village.
When the family knows that the delivery time is nearing , they take her to an enclosed stage near the temple, leave her there and come back. Poyyalamman takes care of the delivery. The lady and her child live in a temple belonging to the hut for another 15-16 days. The villagers believe that Poyyalamman would also take care of the after delivery problems.
There are two festivals at the temple in the months of Vaikasi (May-june) and Chithirai (April-May)
Apart from Okkur , even all the nearby villagers send their girls for safe deliver to Poyyalamman temple.

Kondrayandi Ayyanar

Kondrayandi Ayyanar

By

P.R.Ramachander

Once upon a time a particular caste of people lived in side a fort is Sri Vaikundam of Thirunel veli district. They were particular that their women should never come out of the fort. But once the fort caught fire and many people along with Families fled the fort. But those who stayed in side were able to put out the fire. Later they did not allow those who fled from the fort during the fire. So all those who were expelled from the fort went in search of a place to stay long with their God Ayyanar. They reached a village called Maravan Kulam which is near Sri Villiputhur of the Virudunagar district. That area was a forest of Pandanus flowers and Konrai flowers (Ixora). They consecrated Ayyanar below a Konrai tree by the side of a big pond in the forest. They also built huts for their stay and settled down there. From then on the Ayyanar was called Konraiyandi Ayyanar.
Since it was a forest area, there were lot of wild animals like deer, rabbit etc around the temple. Some hunters always hunted there. Once a group of hunters caught hold of a cow of the village and cut off its head. They kept the head in front of Ayyanar. When they were taking out the meat, the owners of the cow came there. Seeing the meat they suspected the hunters. But Ayyanar turned the head of the cow to a head of a deer. Thus the hunters were saved. From then on the hunters also started worshipping this Ayyanar.
The Ayyanar is with his wives Poorana kalai and Por Kodi. The statute of the king and queen of that area who dug the pond in that area are also worshipped in the temple. Coconut and rice are offered during worship to the king and the queen. Several gods like Lada Sanyasi, Seven maidens, Pathinettam padi karuppar, Rakachi Amman, Pechi Amman are also consecrated in the temple. Two Boothas stand on both sides of Ayyanar to guard him.
The festival for Ayyanar is on Shiva Rathri day. That night Abhisheka is done four times. In the morning there is a feast. In the month of Aani (June -July) The Ayyanar is bathed by three types of fruits viz Mango, Jack, and Banana. Between April-June the hunters also conduct a special worship of this Ayyanar. There is a Nelli (gooseberry plant) in the temple. Omen worship this tree and pray for children on Sundays. When the child is born, if it is a male, he is called Konraiyandi and if it is a girl she is called Pechiyamma.
Outside the temple Kaladi stands as a security guard below a Tamarind tree. Since the people who brought the Ayyanar were vegetarians, only Vegetarian food is offered to the Ayyanar. For the other security guards some times animals are sacrificed.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays the temple would be open from morning to evening. On other days it is open from 10 Am to 12 noon.

Thenachi Amman Temple

Thenachi Amman Temple

By

P.R.Ramachander

Chiravayal puthur is a small village near Pillayar Patti of Siva Gangai district of Tamil Nadu. Near by in the banks of the river Thenaru and on its bank is the temple of Thenachi Amman. There is a story about its origin.
A cowherd woman was supplying butter milk to the surrounding villages near the river Thenaru. Once after completing her trade, when she was washing the butter milk pot in the river, she saw a big Statue of a goddess made of stone floating in the river. She requested the Goddess to remain there till she comes back. Then she rushed to the near by villages and brought people from there. Once the people assembled, they took the statue from the river and placed it in the banks of Thenaru. One of the ladies in the crowd was taken over by the Goddess and she showed where exactly the statue should be consecrated. The cowherd woman also started living with the Goddess. It seems after death she was also made a minor goddess of the temple called Idaichi Amman and consecrated near the idol of Thenachi Amman. There is another unconfirmed story also It seems a cow herd woman who was in the family way visited the temple and the goddess killed her. The cow herd lady’s soul started troubling the villagers in various ways. So they built a temple for her. Even today no lady in a family way enters the temple.
The goddess is with eight hands and is in the pose where she is killing Mahishasura. She appears very furious and faces the north. The idaichi Amman faces her. Near by there is a separate consecration for Sani (Saturn). By his side is Bhairavar. Also statues of Shiva, Visalakshy, Ganapathy and Subrahmanya are also found in the temple.
In the entrance room of the temple there are many broken statues. People say that they are the statues of the people who built the temple.
It seems that there was one Minnam Chettiyar who used the services of Ghosts (Boothas) to build the temple. Once the job was over, they were not compensated properly so the ghosts stayed in the temple and started troubling the devotees. The devotees thought that by breaking the statues where they reside they will go away. That is the reason why those statues are broken, Later all the broken pieces were collected and buried out side the temple. They also consecrated a Kali Statue there. That Kali is called Minnan Chetti Kali.
On the 3rd of Thai month (January 17th) there is a Manju virattu (Taming of bulls) held at the temple. After witnessing a violent bull fight , it seems the European Collector of the district (in pre independent days) asked them that it should be conducted with out Kombu(horn of the bull) .The organizer was very sad because of it. That night the goddess told him to conduct it without Kombu (A musical instrument). He conduced without Kombu music next day. The collector, who appreciated the reply, gave a huge land for conducting Bull fight to the village.
This temple is managed by the Kundra kudi adheenam. Huge crowds gather at the temple on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Nattu Kottai Chettiars (nagarathar) who brought the Goddess from the river and constructed her temple do not commence any important activity without praying o this Goddess.

Oor kattiya Pattayya of koo pudupatti

Oor kattiya Pattayya of koo pudupatti

By

P.R.Ramachander

Koo pudupatti is a village near Kambam of Theni district. Once upon a time a sage called Veerasikku Chithar arrived in the village. He liked the environment of the village and stayed there.
At that time an evil spirit called Muni used to enter the village often and kill pregnant woman as well as, just born kids. At that time Sarangapani a magician from Karnataka happened to visit the village. He could easily recognize that the problems were due to Muni. He also told that this muni was below the village Banyan tree. Veera Sikku Chithar went to the Banyan tree and requested the Muni not to harm the villagers, Then the Muni replied, “ I would not harm them provided the first hair of the first born of all the villagers is offered to me. “ .Veerasikku Chithar requested the villagers to follow this, Suddenly all the problems of the village stopped. So the people started calling him “Orr katha Pattayya” meaning “Grandpa who saved the village.”
After this the cattle of Nanda gopala Swami temple of Kambam entered the local Jamindar’s field. Enraged the Jamindar caught all the cattle and tied them in his cattle shed. The local people sent Veerasikku Chithar as their representative. The Jamindar bombarded Chithar and sent him away. Chithar came to the boundary of Jamindar’s land and played his flute. All the cattle of Jamindat broke their cattle shed and went near the Chithar. This increased the anger of Jamindar but he acted as if he understood the greatness of Chithar. When Chithar went back to his house, Jamindar with his men set fire to his house. All the local people assembled there with sorrow. But nothing happened to Chithar and he came out of the burning house with a smile. Jamindar fell at Chithar’s feet and begged for his pardon.
Later the villagers started treating Chithar as their god. When Chithar died in his old age, the villagers built a temple for him over his Samadhi and called it temple of “Oor katha Pattayya.” The wooden slippers used by Chithar are also kept in this temple. The Muneeswara and Pattaya guard this village very well. When there is a quarrel or cheating in the village the people go to the temple of Pattayya and the case is settled quickly. The ash from Pattaya temple is treated as medicine by the villagers and they believe that it cures all diseases. Even today the first hair of the first born of the family members, wherever they are is offered to Muneeswara. This even includes the girls of the families.

During Pongal, Karthigai Dheepam and Siva Rathri there are special worship to Pattayya,