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.