Devotees guarded the Mother’s temple and its surroundings very sacredly. Similarly, no one passes through that area without paying obeisance to the Mother. One day, a young woman from the island of Java came to visit the area. The local people described her glory to her and told her that if they visit the beach area, they must worship her. But she didn’t believe in it either.
Headed into the temple area, she walked awkwardly without bowing to the mother and looked at her mockingly. She was angered by her mother. Meanwhile, she turned to hear someone calling the girl. The turned head remained as it was.
No matter how hard he tried, he could not straighten his head. She sought local doctors. They were also irreconcilable. The locals said that the reason for this was the mother’s anger, so the girl immediately went to the temple and begged the mother’s forgiveness. Mother was depressed.
She spoke rudely so that everyone could hear. “Woman! We forgive you. But instead of your head you curse your head and offer your hair as an offering.” The woman did the same and her head returned to normal.
As proof of this, the woman’s offering of hair is still preserved in the temple. When the mother wakes up on the ninth day of Navratri Puja, she wears that hair as one of her ornaments.
The historical antiquity of this temple is also significant. It is said that many Chola kings visited this temple thousands of years ago. Inscriptions dating back to the 11th century are found on the pillars excavated from the old construction of the temple. One of the most important of them is Rajendra Chola’s Meikirthi.
This temple, which was a great stone temple, was demolished during the invasion of the Portuguese Geesians. So, the pillars of that temple were lying there. A pillar among them is Rajendra Chola’s Meikirthi. The inscription was continuously engraved on the four sides of a pillar. About one-fourth of it is covered with paint. Other parts are also decaying. However, this has been documented 60 years ago.
This meikirthi begins with ‘Swazis da thirumanniva lara iru thila mada(ndya)…’ and goes on for more than 37 lines. Through this we can know the connection between the Chola kings and this temple. (At present, it is worrying that the inscriptions are not properly maintained.)
The temple destroyed by the Portuguese left only the sanctum sanctorum and a new temple was built on the same spot. This temple, which is very grand and artistically beautiful, is definitely a must visit.
In front of the temple there is a Ganesha Sannidhi like a separate temple. Aladip Pilliyar is the name of Vinayaka standing here. If you worship the Vinayaka and enter Pathirakali Amman temple, you can have darshan of the Mother. In the sanctum sanctorum, Goddess Bhatrakali carries the incense sticks, tamarisk, kadgam and kapalam in her hands. The image of the Mother thrills the onlookers. It is special that the chakra is also consecrated in this shrine.
In the Mahamandapam of the temple, the idol of Goddess Kali, which was originally found, is kept. Also there are shrines of Lord Muruga and Vinayaka here. Sannidhis for Saraswati Devi and Mahalakshmi are located in the Snabana Mandapam. The Ashta Naga sculptures on the canopy of this temple are eye-catching. Ketara Gauri Vratham and Navratri are celebrated here with great speciality.
(Completed)
“Arjuna’s Conch!”
Conch is the highest of the dim objects. Like Thiruma, Sang is also born in the ocean, so it is said to be full of Lakshmikataksha. Sangoli is considered as an auspicious omen in marriage ceremony. Andal sings, ‘Mattalam Kota Varishangam Nidhutha…’. The custom of sounding the cymbals to gather loved ones has been around for a long time.
Sanganath, which is sung to announce victory, is referred to as `Vetti Sangam’. Legend has it that Lord Vinayaka, after destroying Sankasuran and giving him moksha, carried the Sangha, which was his nest, as a victory Sangha.
Tirumal’s conch is called Panchasanyam. The conch held by Arjuna was Devadatta. Sangabhishekam is special for Lord Shiva. Abhishekams are performed in Perumal temples in the name of Sangu Tharai and Chakra Tharai.
– L. Kirtana, Valliyur