Pachai nachiyamman temple of Trichinapally

Pachai nachiyamman temple of Trichinapally

By

P.R.Ramachander

Trichy is an important temple town of Tamil Nadu situated in the banks of river Cauvery. Long long ago, this area was a forest. Once a bangle seller was pausing through a forest. He saw a lady dressed in green sitting outside a small temple. She wanted bangles. When asked her preference for colours told green. The bangle seller put large number of green bangles on both her hands. When asked for money, she told that it has to be collected from her brother Prayadyan, whose house is near by. The bangle seller walked on the direction indicated. He could not find any houses. Then he came across a temple. The temple was locked. To the surprise of the bangle seller, the exact cost of the bangles was kept outside the temple. Late he came to know that the God was called Prayadi Karuppu Sami. He rushed back in search of the lady . She was nowhere to be seen but all the bangles he had put in the ladies’ arms was in the arms of the statue. The Goddess of this temple is Pachai nachiyamman.
The temple faces north. Behind the temple there is a big banyan tree entwined with a neem tree. There are also Nagar (serpent) and Ganesa statues below the tree.. On the east there are statues Of Madhurai Veeran, Bommi and Vellai ammal. In the month of Vaikasi for the first 15 days, there is a festival at this temple. There is no uthsava statue at this temple. Instead , they make a statue made of palm leaf and take it in procession. People believe that all their prayers are answered by Pachai nachiyamman. Al the offerings at this temple are to be in green colour.