Vettudayar Kali of Ariyakurichi

Vettudayar Kali of Ariyakurichi

By

P.R.Ramachander


Ariyakurichi is 15 km from Shiva Ganga town. One story about the origin of the temple is as follows. This area was completely occupied by forests once upon a time. Two brothers called Karuppa Velar and Kari Velar went o this forest for digging of tubers. Once they got a statue of Ayyanar from the place that they cut. They started calling the God as Vettudaya Ayyanar. They built a stage there, consecrated the statue and started worshipping it. Once Kari Velar went to Kerala for learning magic. When he returned, he saw some writing in the mud before Ayyanar. He understood that they are the chants meant for Kali. Using his magical powers, he immediately made a Kali statue and consecrated near Ayyanar. She was called the Vettudaya Kali.
Another story about the origin is as follows. A king of Shiva Gangai called Muthu Vaduga nathar was killed by the British during a war. His queen was Velu Nachiyar. After completing the death rites to her husband, she escaped to her to one of their minister called Thandava Rayan. She was being followed by the Britishers. When the army neared Ariyakurichi, the army saw a Shepard girl called Udayal. When they enquired about the whereabouts of the queen, she told them that she will not tell them. They immediately beheaded her. It seems later the queen consecrated her as the Vettudayar Kali. It seems she gave several of her costly ornaments to the temple. Her statue is fearsome and stands with eight hands. If unjust acts of individuals are brought to her notice, she punishes them severely. There is a cage behind the temple, where people cut coin and put in it with a prayer to get them justice. There are lovers appealing them to unite them. She fulfills all their requests. Her judgment comes within 8 days. If the people against whom allegations are made, have anything to say, they should come to the temple within these eight days and ask for her pardon and right the wrongs made by them.
On the north side of her temple is the temple of Sonai Karuppannachami, who is her guard as well as assistant. He carries out her orders faithfully.
Though the Kali temple is more famous, the first worship in this village is only to Vettudaya Ayyanar. Within the temple there are small temples for Karuppar, Solattu Kali and Bhairavar. The temples are open from 6 Am till evening 6 PM. From the Thiruvadirai of Panguni month, a ten day festival is observed in this temple. There is phenomenal rush in these temples on all Fridays and Tuesdays.

Thuravu Mel Azhagar of Chaluppai

Thuravu Mel Azhagar of Chaluppai

By

P.R.Ramachander

Meenchuruti is a village in Perambalur district which is 37 km from Kumbakonam. Six km from here is Chaluppai village. Thuravu in the local dialect indicates well and Thuravu Mel Azhagar would mean, “Pretty man on the top of the well.” One thousand years back, there was a Brahmin locality in this place. There was a well attached to this locality. The Brahmin women used to collect water from this well. Once a sage came to this village and started doing meditation sitting on the top of the well. Without knowing this two ladies drew water from the well. Some water fell on the sage. He cursed them to become formless and he himself became formless.
The villagers of Chaluppai started worshipping this sage as Thuravu Mel Azhagar.. They closed the well and on it established the sanctum for this God .Since he does not have a form, they have a kept stone to represent him and this stone is worshipped. Since all the symbols of Lord Shiva are there in this temple, Azhagar is worshipped as Lord Shiva. Her also they have consecrated a Nandi (bull) statue slightly away from the temple. Since Azhagar is powerful, even Nandi is not kept directly in front of him. Both sides of the Azhagar temples have Lord Ganesa’s temple. One Ganesa is in the form in which he gave protection to a Rakshasa woman.
Over time the Brahmin locality got destroyed. So the Statues of Lord Vishnu’s temple in the locality has been shifted to Azhagar’s temple.
Since the meditation of Azhagar was disturbed by women, young women do not come to this temple. Children and old women visit it however. Sixty feet from Azhagar’s temple there is a small structure. Unmarried girl’s can come only up to this point. Near this hall there is a temple of Veera Bhadra Swamy. He offers protection to Azhagar. Lot of tridents are planted in the soil near this temple. People write their wants and complaints and give it to the priest of this temple. The priest hangs these papers on the tridents. VeeraBhadra Swami appears in the dream of people against whim the complaint is lodged in the form of a horse or elephant. Next day these people come terrified to the temple and rectify the injustices done by them.
Next to this God there is a Madhurai Veeran Statue and also that of Vada Bhadra Selva Maakali. She has eight hands and people believe that she cures all diseases of women. Near to her there is a Veerali tree and people believe that pathinettanpadi Karuppan is on this tree. Animals are sacrificed to Madhurai veeran and Pathinettam padi karuppu.
For Azhagar there are no big festivals. On Thai poosam day , they light a lamp take it in a grand procession and they do worship and Abhisheka for Azhagar before lighting the lamp keep it in the four pillared hall.
No houses are built near the temple . This is so because people do not want to disturb the meditation of Azhagar.

Adaikkalam Kathar of Gopala samudram

Adaikkalam Kathar of Gopala samudram

By

P.R.Ramachander

Uppoor Gopala Samudram is about 4 km from Muthu pettai of Thiruvarur district. There is big Muneeswaran statue in the village. He is the guardian God to Adaikkalam Kathar. Adaikkalam means surrender and also protection. This God is supposed to have protected a ship once upon a time. Once upon a time Gopala Samudhram was a sea shore village. Ships regularly used to pass near this village, when they are going from Colombo to Nagapattinam and back. Once a ship laden with goods was passing from Nagapattinam to Colombo. When it neared this village, the sea became tumultuous and the ship was in great danger. The ship owner prayed God and suddenly the ship stuck to some thing and stopped. The ship owner sent one sailor to investigate. To his surprise he found that the ship stopped because of a brick. He brought back the brick. Though surpised, the owner of the ship did not believe that the ship was stopped by a brick. He threw the brick back to see and told, “If this place has divine power, when I come back let there not be sea here.” To their surprise when the came back there was a small island there and the brick was on the top of the island. He immediately built a temple for the brick and called it “Adaikkalam kathar as it had given support to his ship. From that time the merchant started earning large money, as his business improved. He attributed it to Adaikkalam kathar so he built a better temple. He wanted to build statue of an elephant near the temple. The body was built first. But as soon they completed the head, the head fell down. They tried once more. Then also it fell down. Then the Chamiyadi told them that Adaikkalam kathar rides on a horse and not on an elephant. Not wanting to build the statue again, they made a horse face to the elephant body. This remains there up to date. There is no statue of Adaikkalam kathar in his temple. The original brick recovered from the sea is consecrated there. There is also a very majestic statue of Muneeswaran near the temple. He is supposed to be guardian to Adaikkalam kathar. People first worship Muneeswaran and then Adaikkalam kathar.
In the month of Vaikasi (April-may), there is a horse festival in this village. From Alangadu village which is about 2 km from this village horses (mud-painted) are brought in a procession with musical accompaniment. Adaikkalam Kathar is a vegetarian God. So there is no animal sacrifice for him. But they are sacrificed to Muneeswaran.
There is a curved road running from Muthupettai to Thiruthurai poondi in front of the temple. It seems no accidents take place there in spite of dangerous curves.

Thavasi Aandi of Melaurappanur

Thavasi Aandi of Melaurappanur

By

P.R.Ramachander


This village is near Thirumangalam of Madhurai district. Thavasi Aandi which was once upon a time worshipped by a higher caster is now being worshipped by the Dalits of the village, there is no temple but a decorated platform on which there is a stone, and People believe that Thavasi Aandi is a very powerful God. Nothing is known as to how he came o this village and why the temple priest as well as Chamiyadi is Dalit. People believe that every year they are able to harvest a good crop because of Thavasi Aandi. So once the harvest is over a certain portion of the harvested produce is marked to belong to Thavasi Aandi. The person who gives the grain as well as its quantity is clearly recorded.
On the third Friday of Karthigai (November-December), the festival for Thavasi Aandi is celebrated. All the grain marked o him by different people are sold and banana fruits are brought for that amount. Normally more than 50 thousand Banana fruits are brought. On the day of the festival both the priest and Chamiyadi do not take any food and observe strict penance. Two she buffalos are tied since morning without milking. The priest throws some sacred ash at its udder and it seems its calf will not go any where near it.
The ornaments of Thavasi Aandi kept in a house in a box are ceremonially brought to the temple. The box is taken to every house and worship is offered there. Til the boundary of the village women accompany the box. Since ladies are not supposed to visit this temple, they go back to their homes. After midnight the buffaloes are milked and mixing few fruits Abhisheka is performed to the God.
Later all the male villagers assemble before the temple and pray, “Rain and water should come. We should be able to get a good harvest. Please protect us. Please give a good sign.” After some time they hear the clear sound of a lizard from the near by banyan tree. Till they get this sign, they keep on waiting. If the sign is delayed people believe, it as a result of wrong dong by the village. All of them pray and fall at the feet of the Chamiyadi. Under no circumstance the people of the village return to the village without hearing the sign it seems in one year they got the sign only after two days.
Similarly individual people ask for this sign before taking important decisions in the family.
The Banana is then divided among the families living in the village according to the contribution they have made.

Pachai malyaan of Kappathampatti

Pachai malyaan of Kappathampatti

By

P.R.Ramachander

Kappathampatti is a small village near Jalagandapuram of the Salem district. The village has arid land. Once upon a time a great water shortage came to this village. Some villagers thought that then can to Pachai malai (literally Green Mountain which is 80 km from the village). Four people belonging to one clan went there and reached the top of the mountain. There in a thatched hut, water was kept for the god in three new mud pots, since they were thirsty they drank al the water. Immediately they lost their eye sight. The tribals who had gone back to their village came after three days. Their priest gave sacred ash of their God to the villagers who had lost their sight. They immediately regained their sight. The villagers realizing the power of their God begged them to give their God to them. The tribal priest gave them a stone from in side their temple. The villagers of Kappathampatti brought the stone and consecrated it in their village. They called that Go as Pachai malayaan. After the coming of the new God village became rich. They got regular rains. Even today only a few stones are shown as Pachai Malayaan. Round him there are other Gods viz seven maids, Sannsi , Veerakaaran, Naadar , Vedar , Chinnannan(holding a bow and arrow) , periyannan holding a spear. Chinnannan and Periyannan are represented by two statues riding on horses. Except for them all others are represented by stones only. Initially this temple was in the open ground. Later the villagers constructed a stage and shifted the gods there. It seems they forgot to shift two gods from the ground. These Gods appeared in their dreams. But by that time they were not able identify the stones representing them. So they put all the stones round there on to the stage.
Pachai Malayaan is a vegetarian God. So in the month of Vaikasi(may-June), a festival called Pachai Malayaan thava thiru Vizha is celebrated in the village for him and other Gods. The festival is only for a day . Around May first all members of the village assemble at the temple and ask the God , permission to celebrate the festival. If the sound of Lizard comes from a Banyan tree to the north of the temple , then the festival would be celebrated.. If the sound comes from the Azhinjil tree to the south of the temple, they assume that God does not want the festival.
The arms and bells of Pachai malayaan are kept in a temple house in the village. Once the festival date is fixed the first thing to be done is to get new pots made. The potters observe lot of penance and a disciplined life for making these pots. Pongal is prepared in at least 1000 pots on the festival day. The rice has to be pounded only in the temple house. So the ladies of the village come t the temple house, pound the rice , tie it in a bag over whichthey write their names. Around 3 Am on the festival day, his arms and bells are transported to the temple. Over the temple they make a shed with green palm leaves. First in a big pot Pongal is prepared to the seven maids Later it is prepared for Pachai Malayaan. The people go and bring the Chamiyadi of Pachai malayaan from about 300 meters distance along with music. He goes in to a trance and predicts the future. Every year he answers questions of only very few people.
Later Goats are sacrificed to Chinannan and Periyannan. And their grand father Pattappan. They then start for pig hunt. The pigs are which are offered by the devotes are let lose and are killed
Later they keep three pots full of water in the temple. Thus ends their festival.

Changili karuppar of Kizha vayal

Changili karuppar of Kizha vayal

By

P.R.Ramachander

Kizha vayal is a village in near Singanam puri of Shiva Ganga district. There is a prosperous village called Natha Kalai pattinam near Kizha vayal. Once upon a time, people were very prosperous there. Knowing this some magicians started to trouble them. There is an Oli Vidai ayyanar temple in this village, People went and appealed to Ayyanar. But the magicians started troubling him also. So ayyanar went his sister Meenakshi in Madhurai. She said she has a big army of 121 persons. She asked him to take whomsoever he likes. By examining them he liked Changili Karuppan. And took him with him. As soon as Changili Karuppan reached the village he took a very gigantic form and by a stare made all magicians in to stone. When Karuppan asked for compensation, Ayyanar told him that the first worship in these villages would be for Changili Karuppan. He is now the God for ten villages around Kizha vayal. Initially he was I n a paai tree there but later people wanted to build a temple for him. Then the Chamiyadi of Karuppar told them. “I want the sun light to fall on my face and the rain water to fall on my back”. The temple was built fulfilling this condition. Except for the weapons of the God and the bells that have been offered by devotees, there is nothing else in the temple. The large number of bells is proof enough that Changili Karuppan is a powerful God.
It seems a few years back a thief came to steal the bells from the temple. Changili Karuppan in the form of a boy went and told about this to an elder in the village. The villagers immediately caught the thief. Since then there is no theft in the temple.
It seems water was a problem in this temple. Digging of bore well was costly as even at thousand feet depth water was not available. Changili Karuppan appeared in the dream of his devotee and pointed out the place water is available. They got plenty of water there even at 150 feet.
Around once in ten years a festival is celebrated to Changili Karuppan, if he agrees. The elders assemble near his temple and ask his opinion. If he is willing a lizard will make sound from his knife planted there. Three months before the festival the men of the village observe severe [penances. They do not go out of the village at night; do not take food in outsider’s house and so on. About 1000 goats are sacrificed during the festival. Women do not go any where near the temple at any time.

Mappilai Veeran of Thagatoor

Mappilai Veeran of Thagatoor

By

P.R.Ramachander

Thagatoor is a small village near Vedaranyam of Nagai district. . Mapilai veeran translated meant the Son in law hero. There is no statue for this god. There is only a stone which is worshipped. There is a story about it.
There was swamiji living in this village. He used to Worship a Kali Statue. He called her as Thirumeniamman. When he neared his death, he attained Samadhi opposite the statue of Thirumeniamman. There was none interested in her worship and large number of thieves started troubling the village. In Athiyangadu (neighboring village), there was big shiva temple. People thought that these thieves will steal all the ornaments of the God. So they bundled the ornaments and buried at the place where the Swamiji’s Samadhi was there. They also planted a neem tree over it. They called the neem tree endearingly as Mappilai Veeran. They had built a roof with dried pal leaves. One day this caught fire from the temple lamp. The tree was burnt but its remnants are still there near the temple. They decided to build a stone temple. When they dug there their equipment broke a stone and lot of blood came from there. They built a stone mandap without further digging. They installed a stone in the corner of the mandap. They inscribed the letter “om” on the stone .This stone is being worshipped as Mappilai Veeran till this day. They believe that Mappilai Veeran is guarding the statues and ornaments of the Shiva temple buried there.
In the month of Panguni (march-April) there is an 18 day festival in this temple. There is a Bhairava temple in Athiyangadu. The Chamiyadi from there comes to Mappilai Veeran temple and does Pooja and Abhishekam to Mappilai Veeran. Then he answers questions in his trance to all devotees.
People believe, if any of their body part is affected by making a toy of that part and offering it to Mappilai Veeran, their problem would be cured. The huge collection of toys in front of the temple proves how effective Mappilai Veeran is.