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.