Kongalamman temple , Erode

Kongalamman temple , Erode

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

    KOngu Nadu   was an integral part of Tamil Nadu   , which spread over the present day Erode and Coimbatore  districts  .The  Tamil speaking people of Kongu Nadu  seem to have a great culture  of their own. Kongalamman is the guardian  deity  of Kongu Nadu and her temple  is situated  in the  Erode town of Tamil Nadu .The wall writings on the temple indicate that it is a very  ancient one .Most probably  the temple was located in the  Adhi Kongalamman temple in Anangur , which is a village  near Erode town. It seems  about 150 years back some thieves were  trying to steal the idol of Kongalamman from Erode temple . When they reached Anangur , they heard a voice from the sky   telling them that  if she is stolen from there  , they would face great danger. The thieves left the Goddess  there itself and ran away,Next day the people of  Anangur found the statue of Amman and built a temple for her there.The people of Erode then got made another idol and consecrated there  in the Erode temple .So before the Chariot  festival of the Erode temple  , the Goddess  Adhi Kongalamman  at Anangur would be  worshipped. People believe that Kongalamman  would guide them  in the day today administration of the village. It seems when a discussion was going on , in side the temple whether to have Kalingarayan Canal , The Goddess told them to build it. Kongalamman  has eight  hands   and  is believed to fulfill all the  needs of her devotees..Even today , when water is being collected for the temples in Erode town,  a part of it is first given to Kongalamman and the rest is taken to their respective temples. There is a Prathyangira Devi temple in side this temple with five temple trees. People with Sarpa Dosha  come to this temple  and by worshipping the Goddess  get rid of their Dosha., The temple also has mahishasura Mardini, Madurai Veeran, Karupaanna Chami, the sapthe mathrikas , The Saptha Kanni   and Pechi Amman temple   inside it.The chariot festival of the temple is on the Month of Thai on the  Poosam day.There is special worship of the temple  during all Fridays in the moth of Aadi. The temple is open from 6 Am to 8 PM.

Nannilam Madathi Amman temple

Nannilam  Madathi Amman temple

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

   Madathi was the   youngest sister of seven brothers. After the early expiry of her parents, her brothers looked after her well. Though  a rich man called Vadavedu Mirasudar was in love with her , her  brothers gave her in marriage to a person in the near by village .The rich Mirasdar started visiting the village where Madathi was living often and her husband became jealous,Once when Madathi went to attend  a festival in a near by village , her son  wanted to ride in the giant wheel. When Madathi and her son got in to it, the Mirasdar   who was there  also got in to the same coach as her.When her brothers came to know about it, they felt that Madathi has  insulted their family and chopped off her head., The head of Madathi which fell on the earth cursed her brothers that, their children also would become orphans like her son. Slowly one by one all her brothers died and the entire village  which found fault with her   was completely destroyed. Her Village Cherankulam built a temple  for her at the spot where   she was killed.The temple which was a hut for the  past  two hundred years has now been built as a strong temple. She has become the Clan Goddess   for many people in the village .One peculiarity of this temple is that  sacrificing animals never take place there as she had ordered her people like that..Daily the priest anoints her with one big pot of water   and Closes down the temple  .Her devotees are   trying their best   to  start normal worship for her. Since the house of her priest is in the same village, devotees can go any day and worship  the Goddess

Keerangudi kudavarasi Amman

Keerangudi kudavarasi Amman

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

Keerangudi is a small Village/hamlet in Kollidam Taluk in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu State, India. It comes under Sathiyakudi Panchayath. It is located 72 KM towards North from District head quarters Nagapattinam. 235 KM from State capital Chennai .ON the way from this village KOnnangattu padugai is the Kudavarasi temple . Her devotees believe  that Kudavarasi Amman  is Renuka Devi , wife of saint Jamadagni and mother  of God Parasurama . When Renuka devi was slain by her son   under the orders  of her father   and later given back her life, Renuka it seems sat on the  banks of Kollidam rived and did great penance addressing  Goddess Durga,The Goddess  appeared before her and asked her to stay there  itself proving the greatness  of virtous woman. REnuka devi stayed  there for several eons as Kudavarasi. Amman. Slowly  her temple got destroyed and covered with mud. Over her idol it seems there was an ant hill.  They were not knowing that   a cow l was letting out  all her milk on the ant hill. When they returned their master   got very angry and beat them black and blue. Next day the master  was surprised to see that   all the vessels in his house was full of milk,. The master went to the boys and  begged for their  pardon. Then one of those  looking at them, got the goddess  in him and told, “I am goddess Kudavarasi who has come here.Your cow gave milk only to me and quenched my thirst. Go to the ant hill and see.”  They found the idol of Kudavarasi at the ant hill and consecrated that idol  there it self and started   worshipping her. Since flods in the river was common , they later shifted the temple  nearer to the village. Many people tried to build a temple for her but failed. But later one Ramrutha Sivacharyar who collected money for that   travelling to several villages   succeeded in erecting a small temple.The full moon day (Pournami) of Masi   and Chithrai month is celebrated with great fan fare  in this temple..In the month of asi Goddess Kudavarasi would go round all nearby villages and each village    would worship her in a grand manner. In each village  the Goddess would visit each individual home  and they would offer her a part of the harvested produce from their fields. They believe  that by doing so wealth will flow in to their homes.

Nallampatti Kunjayi and Kannadachi amman temple.

Nallampatti  Kunjayi   and Kannadachi amman temple.

Compiled by 

P.R.Ramachander

     Nallampatti   is a village which is 5 km from the Dindugal town of Tamil Nadu . There is a peculiar temple there   with two village Goddesses . The story of these goddesses   goes like this.

  Kunjayi  Amman: There was a landlord in Chinnakaran Patti who was   greatly troubled by evil spirits    sent by his enemies. He learnt magic from a famous magician and Attracted Karuppachami who was an expert in driving away such evil spirits  and after praying that God , he sent him to attack his enemies and they were all destroyed. Then that Land  Lord kept  Karuppachami in a mud pot  , kept ist in a box made of palm leaf and  floated it in a river, When that box was floating suddenly a great flood came in that river. A girl who was taking bath with her elder brother was swept away   by the flood  . And that girl went on shouting  Anna(elder brother) and asked him to help her  .Karuppachami who was in the pot heard her appeal and saved her . Then the girl  addressed Karupachami as Anna (elder brother) with great affection. Karuppachami accepted her  as her   younger sister. She was called Kunjayi Amman  . A practice of building Temple of Kunjayi Amman along  with or without  Karuppachami   exists  in these  parts

Kannadachi Amman belonged to a village called  Thayanoor. This village was once surrounded by flood  water. The people of the village who were scared  of the raising   water started vacating it. On their way, they saw a  crying girl child. They did not bother but went  ahead.  However a man called Pandaram   took the girl along with him to a safe place  . After a few days due to serious illness   and  when Pandaram was about to die he entrusted the    girl to his sons and requested them to look after   her. AS per the practice of the caste  Pandaram was   cremated. That night the girl child left the house without any one noticing her. Her brothers searched for her and at last  found her head lying on the ashes of their father  in the cremation ground. When everybody was standing perplexed the  girl’s head spoke  and told if her eldest brother   lights up a stick , she would vanish. She also told them if she is worshipped along with Kunjayi Amman and Karuppachami  , she would protect the villager. Since the girl  closed the eyes  of her brothers and vanished  , she was named as  Kannadachi Amman.

   IN the temple at Nalampatti the  gate of the temple faces west. As soon as you  enter the temple, on the left side you would see Madhurai Veeran and Karuppanachami majestically   sitting on a horse, After that   there are  small temples  of Madhurai Veeran , Bommi  , Vellayammal , Seven  virgins   and Nagamman. On the outer   corridor  of the temple you would find  Malayala  Karupannachami  , Paramasivan  , Parvathi   and Durga, There is also a huge Navagraha  Ganesa  on whose body the  nine  planets are carved.. It is believed that that Worshipping that Ganesa   would   remove all problems    due   to planets..If  a coconut garland is offered to him,  it is  believed that marriage would be settled soon..Next to is the Sannidhi of  Lord Srinivasa Outside the sanctum sanctorum  a huge lion’s statue is there  and near the gate , there are two Lady guards. In side on the same platform Kunjayi Amman and Kannadachi Amman are seen sitting.

     Kunjayi Amman holds a  hand drum(udukkai) in one hand and the other hand she keeps on her  thigh. Kannadachi Amman is seen holding a    sugarcane.

    On 17, 18, and 19 ogf Aadi month(July-august)   there  is a festival for Karupannachami . Both Goddesses would be decorated with a Karagam at that time.  On 17^th , Karupannachami is worshipped by taking Milk pot and there is a procession  on the main streets  of the town. One priest who holds a whip  goes in front of the procession.  People who believe they are being troubled by evil; spirits , go and appeal to him. He   hits them with his whip and it  is believed that   the evil spirits  go away. On New moon and fill moon days special worship to the  Goddess  is conducted . The temple tree is a banyan tree. The temple  is open from 6 AM to 9 Pm and is about 5 km from the  Dindugal   main bus stand.

Cheruppalur Mutharamman temple

Cheruppalur  Mutharamman temple

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

  Cheruppalur is a small village in Kanyakumari district.  It seems once upon a time this place was filled with Madhuca  (Iluppai tree) trees.Once THumburan Sami  and Bhodathan Sami (two village Gods) were walking by that road To Cheru[[alur and took rest below the  Iluppai trees. At the time there was a great epidemic in Cheruppalur and people were   dying like flies, They all went to a Mutharamman temple in a place called Yeethan Kadu and prayer her as well as the God(devan)  there to save them., The goddess Mutharama and Devan agreed and while they were coming to   to Cheruppalur , they happened to    see THamburan Sami    and Bhodathan sami , and they decided  to stay there  itself and then they protected   the people from the great epidemic.The grateful people   built a temple for Mutharamman  as well as Devan..When the regular   worship was being done there , the priest noticed the growth of an anthill there..Scared that it may spoil the   statue of the Goddess , he broke   that anthill..Next day another   ant hill grew up and he felt something is there  behind it and summoned the astrologer, who told them that They have to install   a  Ganesa statue at the place where   the   anthill appeared.

   Another time , there was an epidemic of  Smallpox in that village,. All villager appealed to Mutharamman.  On the 8^th day small pox disappeared  from the village  and on the same day  , a well in the temple crashed   and closed itself. When  astrologers were called that   the small pox affecting the village was put in the well   and it has disappeared for ever . It was also seen that they could dig another well.

   In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple are  Mutharamman and the devan  and outside   separate small temples have been built for  Ganesa, THampuran Swami  , Bhothathan  , Cholla Madan and Nagaraja. In the Panguni (March-April) month  every year there is a five day festival in the temple. On the fifth day, Mutharamman and DEvan come out of the temple and go round the village  If the Amman is worshipped for seven weeks  , umnmarried people would   get   married and also childless couple would get children.People also believe that   all diseases get cured by praying to Amman. The temple is open from 6 Am-9 AM in the morning   and 5 PM   to 8 PM in the evening.The temple  is ion the road connecting Marthandam and Pechiparai  , about 9 km away from Marthandam of Kanyakumari district.

Thimmarayan samuthiram Suyambu Nagamani Devi temple

Thimmarayan samuthiram  Suyambu  Nagamani  Devi temple

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

        Thimmarayan Samuthiram  is on the road from Thiruvanaikkaval temple   and Kallanai in the  TRichinopoly town. On the road while proceeding from THiruvanaikkaval , on the left side    you would be able to see   a 12 feet  ant hill.This ant hill is the sanctum sanctorum of the temple  , which is 400   years old.Nearby there are   steps going down and if you get down   there is a pretty temple there. It seems initially , only  a Karuvela tree  near that anthill   was worshipped as Nagamma. And over time that  ant hill itself became the   sanctum sanctorum of the  Nagamma idol. This idol has a lady goddess face on the top portion   and the bottom  is the usual Shivalingam. Once decorated  it only looks like the statue of the Goddess. This  idol faces north and on both sides   there are guardian goddesses, Next to idol of Nagamma in front of the anthill below the Karuvela Maram are the statue  of Kali and outside the anthill is the statue  of Angala  Parameshwari.People say that   several  serpents live in the anthill and once in a while come out.In the front of the temple , there adols of Kali   and Pechiyamman. In the middle   there is a Soola and statue of a lion. On the  outer Prakara   of the temple are Mahalinga Sastha, KOmbareswarar, Kamakshi Amman, Kalinga Narthanar , Seven mothers, Mahalakshmi   and Anjaneya.

   Angala Parameshwari  , Samayapurathu Bhagawathi , Karuppu Chami, Muneeswarar and Madhuraiveeran  are inside the compound of the temple and are   considered as guardian gods.. There is gooseberry (Nelli) tree  in the temple  and below it  are  Bhairava , Sudalai Madan   and Sambuga moorthi.. The temple tree is a neem tree and possibly to indicate   that the temple is  the Temple of three goddesses, It has split in to three  branches. The Hastha star  and Sashti thidhi  in Thai  month(January-February)  is considered as  the founding day of the temple and is celebrated  as a festival..The mud from the anthill   in the temple is considered to have medicinal properties and the Prasada of the temple , is this mud mixed in water used for anointing the Goddess. Full moon day   of every month is also   celebrated as  a  festival . The poojas and anointing of the Gods are done before 8.30 Am    and the temple opens to devotees only after that . On Sundays in Rahu Kala the Goddess  is anointed with milk. Devotees believe that by participating  in the milk  Anointing , all  doshas would go away , Marriage problems would be solved and  Son would be born.

 Going round the temple three times and tolling the temple bell three times is supposed to fulfill our wishes,. The temple  is open between 8.30 Am to  7 PM..Thimmaraya Samuthiram is situated 4 km away   from Thiruvanaikkaval on the Kallanai road.

Kuisai Mutharamman temple of Kulashekarapattinam

Kuisai  Mutharamman temple  of Kulashekarapattinam

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

      Kulashekara  pattinam  is located   near THiruchendhur of Tamil Nadu , and is 55 km from THoothukudi. It seems there was a Swyambhu idol  of Lord  Shiva in the village   and the Goddess appeared in the  dream of    a worker  (king Kulashekara?)   and requested him  to get her an idol of her made   through the  priest who was coming from Kulisai  and she also  appeared in the dream of the priest  and instructed   him    , how she wants her idol made. The idol was installed along with the Swayambu Shiva Linga (jnanamoortheswarar) facing north. But though it is a Shiva temple  maximum importance is given to Goddess Mutharamman only   .Navarathri is celebrated   in a great manner in this temple.People believe inaugurating any venture during the festival with the blessings   of the Goddess   would lead it to great success .Lakhs   of People assemble in the temple for attending the festival,. Some people dress up like kali after  observing  very strict penance for 41 days  during Navarathri and worship the Goddess .  They also can dress up like  any other Gods they wish depending on what for they are praying . Rahu dosham is removed by dressing as Durgai  , financial status improves   if they dress up as Viswakarmeshwarar  , Wealth accumulates if they dress up  like Parvathi, Long life if they dress up as Muruga  , sickness cured if they dress up like Krishna  , Get power   if they dress up as Mahishasura mardini  ,  Get salvation by dressing up as Nataraja    and  Education improves if they dress up  as Goddess  Saraswathi. Apart from this an Adi Kodai festival for three days   and the Chithirai festival is also celebrated.

  The temple is open    from 6.30 Am to 1 Pm   and 4 PM to 9 PM. On ordinary days   and 5 AM   to 9 PM on festival days.