Kaliamman of Devi Pattanam

Kaliamman of Devi Pattanam

By

P.R.Ramachander

  There  are two small mountains called Chathura giri and Podigai Malai  in western Ghats .It is believed large number of sages and Sidhas  in these  mountains.,One of the mountain here   was called  Thiruvilangam Malai   and there it seems once the sages   and Sidhas were worshipping Goddess Adhi Parasakthi and she  came before them having a pot on her head and standing on one leg and later she  stayed in that place as a lamp pillar.

      In that place there were two Jamins called chethur and Sivagiri. Once a severe famine came there   and people were  suffering.It seems  the goddess appeared in the dream of those Jamindars and asked them to build a small dam and   leave water to both jamins. The north side  rivulet was named as  deviyaru and  the southern river was named as   Shanmukha Nadi .The water problem was solved but  when due to huge rain   a flood came there , the Goddess  who was being worshipped  in the form of lamp pillar   floated and reached a forest   area  called Thattangulam. The people guessed that the pillar was   divine and started  worshipping it. Some cow herds and goat herds who used to graze their animals there used to take   rest near that pillar. They started  a play of worshipping that pillar. They used sand as food offering called pongal, bricks as coconuts and wooden fallen sticks as  incense, They also used to  whistle or hum to play music to the goddess . the goddess    was pleased    with their play    and appeared before them. Then the play music they were playing  become a great music and echoed everywhere. The entire place was filled with   food offering to goddess .  All the villagers rushed  to that place, That night Goddess appeared in the dream of Jamindars and ordered them   to build a temple for her there near the banyan tree bush  in Thattangulam. The goddess also told them an eagle will fly and show them the correct place. As per her direction a temple  was built  at that place.She is called as Thanga malai kaliyamman, Thamarai kulam kaliyammam,  Thattangulam Kaliyamman etc Later on this place where  The goddess came and sat was named as  Devi pattanam.In the month of june-july(aani)   a big festival is celebrated   in this temple. All round the temple you can see  plenty and prosperity .The first girl of the family in these  parts are usually named as Kaliyammal.

 Apart from the very pretty smiling idol of the goddess  there are sub temples for Karuppachami and Chinna Kaliyamman.Banyan tree is the temple tree(sthala vruksha) . It is believed that   if we worship the goddess  we can get rid of problems due to loan as well as that due to planets, This goddess also blesses devotees    for getting  good family life and children. Every full moon day is a minor festival day in this temple.

    The temple is 6 km from Sivagiri which is in the road connecting Tenkasi    and Madurai towns .You can go by bus to this place from Rajapalayam town, The temple is open from 5 am to 7 pm.