Marathurai Kathyayani

Marathurai Kathyayani

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

   Marathurai village   is situated   in the road  between Kumbhakonam   and Manalmedu, two km from Pandanallur.The presiding deity in the village temple is Kathyayni.. This temple was also housed in a hut  inside the  forest in early days and about 40 years back , it was built with stone.

    Kathyayani is supposed to be the daughter of sage Kathyanana . She is also called Kathayi in Tamil nadu, which means , the mother who protects.  On the southern side of the  wall of the inner temple  are Madurai Veeran, Bommi   and Vellayammal who all are in the standing pose. Also the  mud statues  of  the  seven Munis   Vaazhmuni, Chemmuni  , Muthu Muni  , Jatamuni , Palakkattu muni  , Veda Muni and Lada muni  On the western side are three Statues of Pachai Amman  facing east and on the northern side are SAngili Karuppan , Veeran, Madan  and Nagar.On  the main entrance in south is Lord Ganapathi and  near the mani entrance of north is Bala Murugan.On the southern side path leading to the main temple are three mud Statues of Pachai Amman  and Pookurathi and the north is Valli amman carrying a baby in her lap. In the next entrance on the Southern side is  is the Ceremonial statue of Kathai Amman and on the northern side is the Pachayamman.

     In the sanctum sanctorum   is Kathyayani Amman who holds a  Parrot and lotus flower in her hand, folds her left leg and hangs down   her right leg.. A five hooded serpent is holding Umbrella over her head.

Kathyayani or Kathayi   is called by this name   because   she protects her devotees. Some believe that she is Valli Amman  because   she protected  the fields of her father. The idol of Valli Ammai  is seen to hold a baby child on her lap. Pachayamman, the Goddess Parvathi is supposed to do penance at this temple, It seems the Gods of eight directions wanted  to stop her penance. Then  Val (Vaazh?)  muni(Kuzhandai muni )   youngest of the Seven munis (sages)  , who were the sons of Nambi Raja  and brothers of Valli  fought with those eight heads of directions and brought back their eight heads. .He gave one head  each to  his elder brothers and kept two heads  for himself. The  idols of these seven Munis are on the southern side of the temple.  Each of the elder brothers are seen keeping one head each below their right leg but  Val muni is  seen keeping  one head below his right arm and one head below  his right leg.  Apart from the Seven Munis, the idols of Madhurai veeran , Kanjamalai easwarar, Bommi, Vellayammal  and Katteri karuppan  are on the souther side of the temple and  Three Pachayamman  statues  and that of Poonkurathi  on the west side and Changili Karuppan , Veeran, Madan   and Nagar on the northern side.