Vazhumuneeswarar-Kathayi temple at Karunkanni

Vazhumuneeswarar-Kathayi temple    at Karunkanni

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

  Once it seems the sage brungi wanted only to go round Shiva and not Parvathi. After this the Goddess  requested Lord Shiva to give hw his body to her. When Lord Shiva told that this can only be done with great penance, GoddesParvathi  came to warth along with 64 Yogins and started going on a pilgrimage  to different Shiva temples. On her way she came to Ujjain which was at that time ruled  by seven brothers called Akasa veera Agni veera etc. They were bad people and ordered the Goddess  to be their wife.She childed them and shouted at them.Since they did not go away she praued to Lord Vishnu  , Lord Brahma r etc who appeared  there in person. Hgod Vishnu took a Viswa roopa  and destroyed  Agni veera.Since he touched the sky he was  called Van-muni. The other sages  also took mega forms like that of Lord  Vshnu and killed all the seven kings. The mega form of Agasthya was called as “Chemmuni(red sage). The other sages like Narada, Parachara  took mega forms which were calledMuthu muni, Karu muni , Veda muni  etc and started protecting the Goddess.Then Veera muthu the son of Agni veera    came for a battle.When Vaazhmuni (Lord Vishnu)  was about to kill him, his wife requested  Lord Vishnu to spare hi,So Lord Vishnu appointed  Veera Muthu to be security to the Amman temple.,He also created  goddesses  Vengadamalai Nachiyaer, Ponkurathi nachiyar , Anai kurathi, mudiyaal Azhaki and Vana Kurathi and instructed them to look after the Goddess.He also created a lady form merging himself with Ganges, who was keeping  Lord Subrahmanya  on her lap. He named  her as Kathayi..They went on visiting several Shiva temples and arrived at Naga Pattinam, which was called as  Capital of Shiva places..Then Goddess Parvathi requested g her assistants   to search for aplace which was suitable for meditation and was alone  for some time At thay time a local devotee approached  her and took him to hgis home.Goddess liked that home, At that time, her assistants found a place   on the banks of Vellaru river, where  a Mahalinga tree  and Macizha tree   were growing together. The Goddess started her penance there. Vaazhmuni  , Chemmuni  , Karumuni, Muthumuni, Veda muni and poomuni stayed outside   as security guards to her. After some time when she started   to Kanchipura for doing further meditation, the villagers approached her and requested   her to live there itself., She promised them she would after becoming a part of Lord Shiva. And asper her word she came there.Lord Shiva took the name of M

     Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays are   important days in the  temple,Pachayamman is offered POngal, Kathayi is offered Maa vilakku, Varamuneeswara  Milk pongal and Periyachi Amman is offered non vegetarian dishes. Pachayamman consideres Nagapattinam as her  mothers place and goes there along with Kathayi Anmman for 15 days  in a year in the month of Aadi.During this time  no worship   is offered in the main temple. On Aani third she returns back. This temple is situated in the Nagapattinam –Thiruthuraipoondi road  on the banks of a river called Uppathankarai, The temple is open from 9 am-12 noon  and between 5 Pm to 6 Pm.

Vandambalai Mahasakthi Mariyamman temple

Vandambalai  Mahasakthi Mariyamman temple

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

      This temple is situated in the banks of river Cauvery   6 km away from Thiruvarur in the Thiruvarur-Mayiladuthurai   road. It is a very huge temple  facing the east. You first see  the forms of Ashta Lakshmis as  soon you enter the temoke.On the left site Karuppayi Amman who holds Subrahmanya on his lap  has a small temple.Ladies without children  come here to worship the Goddess  They take the rice an turmeric powder   home. They add the rice to the rice copoked daily and apply the turmeric on themselves after bath..It seems within 48 days , they will be in a family way. They all come back and offer pOngal to this Goddess.Next you would come across Pechayi Amman.U It is believed she removes  all attacks  of black magic on all villagers. Then there is a temple of Kalludayaan  who is the family god of many people of this area..Then towards right you would  see Karupanna sami riding on An elephant..Ift is a custom to salute him and then only enter the main temple.Then you enter the temple of Maha sakthi mariyamman.She is supposed to cure all pox diseases. Amman has a yen day  festival in the  Chithirai month.Daily the Amman comes out amd visits the villagers When you come  out of the temple on your lrft you would see Kathavarayan, Aryamb, Bommi and Thottikati  Chinnan  . The temple is open from 9 Am to 8 Pm.

Thoppampatti Soolathamman

Thoppampatti Soolathamman

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

THoppampatti   is on the road between  Coimbatore and Mettupalayam..You can take autos or buses  to reach this village  from Coimbatore Junction. There is an interesting story about  how the temple of Goddess here.

   It seems one cultivator purchased a small piece of land  from his friend, after  taking loan..In that land, in a corner there  was a neem tree.Below that tree , there was a  statue of A goddess, which was mostly buried in side.The purchaser was requested by the seller to  worship that Goddess..He  also did it without fail. Then he started  planting coconut trees and inter crops in the land that  he purchased.. Slowly that area became a part of the town, and houses  camp up all aroung that piece of land.People living there started  worshipping that Goddess.But since the Goddess was in a deep pit  , they found it difficult to worship her,. Then the cultivator  constructed a compound wall around his property. Then The goddess was just outside  the wall in a pit   and only about 9” of her  visible.tHen the worship to the Goddess  was stopped and evil things  started appearing  in all surrounding areas..A priest  cum astrologer was consulted and he told  that the stopping of worship of the Goddess  was the  reason for all their troubles. When they approached the cultivator , he agred them to remove the Goddess from there  and consecrate in another place. When they dug out the Goddess they found, she was more than five feet tall and was holding a trident and on the top of the statue, Sun and moon were  sculpted. Experts who examined the statue told that it was at least 600  years old. People  started calling Soolathamman  and shifted  her to a temporary  shed. They all felt   they were becoming  very fortunate..They built a permanent stone temple for her. They also  consecrated Mariamman,  Vishnu sakthi and Shiva Shakthi in side the temple.Neem tree was  adopted as the temple tree. First day of Chithirai month   and on all Fridays of Adi months are celebrated in the temple, The  temple is kept open from  7 am to 10.30 am  and 6 pm  to 8 pm. On Tuesdays   Fridays , in the evening  temple is open from 7 PM to 8 Pm.

Akasa Mariyamman of Thirunarayur

Akasa Mariyamman of Thirunarayur

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

   Once upon a time the people  of Thirunarayur were bangle sellers. They used to carry glass bangles on their head go  from home to home I villages and villages   and sell  their bangles.Once these people went   to Samayapuram..That time Panguni festival   was being celebrated  in Samayapuram. Then old bangle seller saw a dream.One young  and very pretty came in his dream and asked him for bangles. At that time the old man had very less bangles . He  put  each bangle he had in the ladies hands and all of them broke. Then the old man told the lady “all the bangles I had have broken and so if you come to my village  , I would make you wear pretty pretty bangles. Then she said, “Would you give me bangles only if I come to your  village? No, there  is no need for that,I would make your  village people  wear bangles.”

And she disappeared. The old man woke up suddenly and he saw that all the bangles had broken and were  lying by his side and he saw that all other villagers  had pox all over  the bodies, At that time  the priest of Samayapuram temple came there and told them, “The goddess   wanted to  compensate   you   for the broken bangles.” And he gave them the cash for it.” Then the old man realized that the young lady  who came in his dream  was Samayapuram  Mariyamman herself.,Then he applied the ashes got   from Samayapuram temple on their bodies and all the pox marks disappeared.,Then the goddess appeared to them on the sky. They called her akasa Mari and saluted her and requested  her to visit their village.. She asked them , “Which is your village?” and they replied “They said it is narayur   famous for its Jasmine flowers.”  And she said, “ I would come every year to your village for the sake  of jasmine flowers and your bangles.”

  It is believed SAmayapuram Mariyamman comes there through the sky every year  (may-june)  and stays  there  for twelve days during the spring.  She has a temple there  in the north east side of the path   where chariot runs. Lakhs of pilgrims come there on all those days a, pray to her and make her  offerings. There is no statue or idol for this goddess. During the festival days using a potm, silk cloth, Durbha grass   and decorations the   form of a very pretty Mariamman is made. She is made to wear all sort of gold and jewel ornaments. She daily  travels on a palanquin made of flowers on the shoulders  of her devotees. All the Nadaswara artists assemble there   and a special Raga called “Mangala Mallari “ is chanted. It is a custom in the village, during these 14 days, no other individual family   celebration would   take place.Devotees bring Kavadis to the templke.Non stop  feast is given in the temple during the festival days.On the thirteenth day , Amman would depart to Samayapuram. On other days a lighted lamp  is kept in the Akasa Mari temple   and is worshipped. The temple is kept open from 6 Am to 10 Am   and 5 pm to 8 PM .People pray here for marriage and child birth.. The temple is 10 km from Kumbhakonam  on the Kumbhakonam- Nagapattinam road near to the Nachiar kovil town.

Kodungayoor Nagathamman

Kodungayoor  Nagathamman

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

  Once  KOdungayoor was  a prosperous  farming village.Near a big pond there   several snakes were living.Near that place there was a banyan tree. The villages consecrated  three Nagars  under a thatched roof below that  banyan tree and they were worshipped as  the Gods of the village. The village slowly became a part of a city  ,Then about 50 years back the villagers  erected a permanent structure   and along with the three Nagars   , they also consecrated an Amman. She was called  as Nagathamman..The temple was called “Sri Devi Nagathamman temple” . There is a  very big pond before the temple.There is a separate temple for Lord Subrahmanya   along with Valli and Devayanai    in the temple complex

    In the sanctum sanctorum the Goddess  appears befre an umbrella of serpent  holding   in her right hand a sword and a hand drum  and Soola  , pot of Kumkum  in her left hand . On the platform  where Amman is consecrated there ois a head of Amman also.

   Those who  light a ghee lamp and worship her are blessed  with children, long life  , health  ,removal of problems due to loan,  removal of problem of stoppage of education etc.People pray her for removal of Naga  dosha in their horoscope .  ON the right side of the sanctum below  the Banyan tree  the nagas who were consecrated originally are    also there. The specialty of Nags is that   each of them are seen holding a Shiva linga. There are also temples of Ganesa and Gajalakshmi behind it.

   Rahu kala pooja are performed on all  Fridays and Tuesdays,Special poojas   are done on full moon days and sankada  hara chathurthi days, Vaikasi visakham, Naga chathruthi and Adi pooram are   also celebrated.There is a special worship of lamps on the first Friday of tHai month.On Chithra  pournami day there is a festival of pots of milk.

   From Kannadasan Nagar bus stop , Madras-118, the temple is 2 km away.It is  in the 7^th street of Ever ready colony. ON normal days temple is open between 7.30 am to  10.30 am   and 5.30 pm to 8 pm.On special days  and Fridays it is open from 7.30 aM to 12 noon and 3 Pm to 8 Pm.

Karumandapam Ilamkattu Mariyamman

Karumandapam Ilamkattu Mariyamman

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

      It seems there was a  Mariyamman in a village called Ilamkadu without any place to stay..Shhe appealed to her elder sister  “Samayapuram Mariyamman” .She advised her.”Many people going  on a pilgrimage to Pazhani would pass through your village. yOu join them.When you reach the town of Uchi pillayar koil, Kali and Karuppachami would prevent you from going further..You stay there.”  As her her advice Ilamkattu Mariyamma came and was stopped near in a place called “Karumandapam” in Trichy..Intially she was staying in a hut constructed by the people. Now it is a permanent temple

     The temple faces the east. As soon as we enter, you can see Karupannachami sitting on a horse on your left  side.Om the western side you would find Pillayar, Nagar and on the north  the idol of Vishnu Durga. The Mariyamman has a peaceful look iN the month of Vaikasi there  is a ten day festival in this temple.Apart from several celebrations, walking  on fire   is also observed.

   Aadsi pooram is celebrated  in a grand scale in this temple. That day the Goddess  is decorated with One Lakh bangles. These would be later  distributed among ladies

  On Fridays The goddess is offered  Rose flower garlands and devotees  pray for early marriage and child birth. As soon as their desires are fulfilled   , they offer a  Sari to the Goddess.People going on Pilgrimage to Pazhani by this way  , take rest at this temple.

Alamaathi Pidari Echathammam temple

 Alamaathi  Pidari  Echathammam temple

Compiled by

P.R,Ramachander

.There  is an interesting story behind this temple:-

    When Goddess Parvathy was fighting with  an ASura called Mahishasura, wherever a drop of blood fell from that ASura’s body a new  Rakthabheeja was created. To  Stop this Goddess Parvathy created the Ferocious form of Kali who drank all the blood  that fell from the Body of  Mahishasura.  Due to consumption of blood, she became   extremely ferocious  and Goddess Parvathi made her wear  a garland of limes which cooled her down. She then covered herself  by an ant hill in that village which was called  Erumavetti palayam(The village of cutting of elephant) .

 Later when Rishabhasura   the grand son of Ravana lusted for Goddess  Parvathi and started troubling her, she again woke up that Kali who cut off the head of Rishabhasura and drank all his blood. DEvas who saw her ferociousness   Offered her several lime garlands and saluted her. She then became Elumichai B Nayagi( Lime Goddess) and  again started living in an ant hill. The ant hill became very huge and the villages who knew about her offered g her Bali on wednedays and  also decorated her   with lime garlands

     AS Time went by the attention of the villagers  came down and they started neglecting her. At that time she caused torrential rain on the village which troubled them greatly. Then their village was visited by  sage Markandeya who advised  them to start worshipping the  Goddess again. So in the month of Masi (February-march) on a Wednesday  when it was also  Amavasya(new moon) , the villages  started worshipping her. Then they heard the Goddess assuring them that  she would protect  that village as well as the seven villages   surrounding it.Sage Markandeya also started  living in that village.

   Once there was huge storm and torrential rain in the village again and those seven villages were about to be drowned by a flood and the lake which was the life line of the village   was about to break..  People got scared and approached sage Markandeya who prayed the Goddess  to solve their problem.Then Elumichai Nayagi rose from the ant hill and went and sat at the bank of the lake which was about to break. The banks became strong and rains stopped. All the villagers requested the Goddess  to stay there itself and she agreed. She  from that time was known as “Pidario Echathamman”.. Here echa indicates yAgna and Athuthal means curing. Since she rose up like a flower in the village  that village became known as “Alar Mathu”  which  lated became Alamathi  

    Pidari sits in a small temple   facing the north. There are separate sub temples   for Ganesa, seven maids(SAptha kanniyar), Karumari and Durga of anthill in that temple.Tuesdays, Wednesdays , Fridays and Sundays are  important in the temple and  huge crowds of devotees visit   their goddess .

   Maha Shivarathri   and new year   are celebrated  in this temple  ,. The festival month of the temple is Aadi(July-august). SEvarl festivals take place durig the month. Ear boring , marriages, worship of new Vehicles etc of these seven villages take place only at this temple.

    A special  worship practiced in the temple is anointing her , offering her pongal  on Wednesdays   for five weeks.Every time they offer five limes to the Goddess. The priest returns two of them. They then  pierce one lime on the spear of the goddess, and cut the other in to two.The juice of  the fruit is poured on the Bali Peda of the Goddess and they light two  ghee lamps on the lime skins and offer it to the  Goddess, On the fifth Wednesday, they make the Goddess  wear a lime garland and offer  her sweet pongal.Devotees believe by doing this all their problems would get solved. The temple is open every day from 7 Am  to 12 noon  and 4 pm to 7 PM.