Mondaicaud Amman Temple

Last updated

Mandaikadu Bhagavathy Amman Temple is a Hindu Temple where Devi Parvathi is the prime deity. It is located near Colachel in the Western coast of Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. [1] This is one among the most renowned and most important Hindu temples in Kanniyakumari district.

This temple is near the sea shore of Colachel and it is a sought after pilgrim centre for both people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The ten days Kodai festival at Mandaikadu Bhagavathy Amman Temple which is celebrated on the Tamil month of Maasi(March) called as Maasi Kodai is a major celebration in the region as well as in the district. The tenth day of festival is very important and local holiday is announced throughout the district. On the seventh day a ritual called as the ' Valiya Padukka ' is celebrated in which large amount fruits, food flowers are exhibited in front of Amman. On the ninth day of festival ' Periya Chakkara Theevetti ' called as the ring of fire in front of the Utsava Murthi Amman who is taken out from the Sanctum Santorum on Velli Pallakku (Silver Cart) with various events is taken as a procession around the Temple.

On the Midnight of the tenth day a unique pooja called as the ' Odukku Pooja ' is the most important ritual of the ten days festival. This temple is known as the Women's Sabarimala because many Kerala women carry ' Irumudi ' on their heads as in Sabarimala. [2] To accommodate the large populations special buses run between Nagercoil and nearby towns at the time of festival, there are also chain services operated from Thiruvananthapuram.

The idol of Devi here is unique, huge and is earthy. There are three idols of Amman in the Sanctum Santorum. The worship is also unique as every woman who visits temple should make Pongala and offer to Bhagavathy Amman. Cane Sugar Payasam is Devi's favourite. Mandaikadu Mandaiappam is also the major food offered to Amman. Before going in to the temple, people go to the Sea and wash their hands and sprinkle some divine Sea water on their heads and walk into the temple.

The goddess of this temple, Mandaikadu Amman is also linked with Ayya Vaikundar and is detailed in Akilathirattu Ammanai, the holy text of Ayyavazhi. Akilathirattu is the main source of reference which addresses the divine nature of the prime deity though the Stala Purana and the related beliefs are mentioned in few other texts too.

The unique aspect of the temple is that the devotees can see Bhagavathy Amman even from the road itself. During the festivals hundreds of shops are accommodated all through the streets. Thousands of devotees worship Bhagavathy Amman each day.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabarimala Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

The Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple that is devoted to the worship of a deity named Ayyappan, also known as Dharma Shasta. Ayyappan is believed to be the son of Shiva and Mohini. The temple is situated atop a hill in the village of Ranni-Perunad, within the Ranni Taluk of the Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India. The temple is surrounded by 18 hills in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It is one of the largest annual pilgrimage sites in the world, with an estimate of over 10 to 15 million devotees visiting every year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chottanikkara Temple</span> Bhagavathi temple in Ernakulam District, Kerala, India

The ChottanikkaraDevi Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu mother goddess Bhagavati Lakshmi. She is believed to be residing in Chottanikkara (Mahalakshmi) along with her Husband Maha Vishnu. The main deity is also considered as Lakshmi Narayana according to the temple legend. The temple is Classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition. The temple is located at Chottanikkara, a southern suburb of the city of Kochi in Ernakulam district, in the state of Kerala, India and is one of the most popular temples in the state. The temple is also known for conducting exorcism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhadrakali</span> Hindu deity

Bhadrakali is a Hindu goddess. She is considered to be the auspicious and fortunate form of Adi Shakti who protects the good, known as bhadra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attukal Temple</span> Hindu shrine

The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is a Hindu religious shrine at Attukal in Kerala, India. Goddess Bhadrakali (Kannaki), mounted over 'vethala', is the main deity in this temple. Bhadrakali, a form of Mahakali, who killed the demon king Daruka, believed to be born from the third eye of lord Shiva. 'Bhadra' means good and 'Kali' means goddess of time. So Bhadrakali is considered as the goddess of prosperity and salvation. Goddess 'Attukal bhagavathy', itself is the supreme mother 'Bhadrakali', the goddess of power and courage and the fierce form of Devi Aadiparashakti. She is often referred as Kanyavu or Kannaki, the heroine of Ilanko Adikal's 'Silapathikaaram'. The temple is renowned for the annual Attukal Pongal festival, in which over three million women participate. A festival that has figured in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the single largest gathering of women for a religious activity, the Attukal Pongala continues to draw millions of women with each passing year. Attukal Temple is situated near the heart of the city, 2 kilometres away from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram. Devotees believe that all of their wishes will be fulfilled by the goddess, provide prosperity and can attain salvation. Attukal devi is often worshipped in 3 forms such as Maha Saraswati, Maha Lakshmi and Mahakali/ Parvathy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morkulangara Devi Temple</span> Hindu temple

Morkulangara Devi Temple is a famous Hindu temple in the Kottayam District of Kerala state in India. The presiding deity is Bhagavathy. The prime feature of this temple is the deity having a height of more than 6 feet. It is believed that the Devi in Morkulangara temple placed in this place after killing the demon Darika.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kadakkal Devi Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Kadakkal Devi Temple is situated at Kollam District, Kerala, India. Kadakkal village is in the eastern part of Kollam District, Kerala. Kadakkal is well known for the social revolutionary activities held in the pre-independent period of India. Kadakkal is an agriculture village and it is known for its spice production. Main agricultural cultivation include rubber, coconut, tapioca and pepper.

The Meenkulathi Temple is located in Pallassena, a village in southern India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple</span> Hindu temple in Thrissur, Kerala

Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple is a Hindu temple at Kodungallur, Thrissur District, Kerala state, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of Mahakali or simply Durga or Aadi Parashakthi worshipped and significantly revered in Kerala. The goddess is known also by the names "Sri Kurumba"". This temple is the head of 64 Bhadrakali temples in Kerala. This Mahakali temple is one of the oldest functioning temples in India. This is attested by numerous Tamil poems and inscriptions of different times. The goddess of the temple represents the goddess in her fierce ('ugra') form, facing North, featuring eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the demon king Daruka, another a sickle-shaped sword, next an anklet, another a bell, among others. Routine worship at the temple every day at 03:00 and ends at 21:00 local time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pongala</span> Harvest festival

Pongala is a harvest festival of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The name 'Pongala' means 'to boil over' and refers to the ritualistic offering of porridge made of rice, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins. Generally women devotees participate in this ritual. Tamil people celebrate as Pongal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valayanad Devi Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Sree Valayanad Devi Temple dedicated to Bhagavathy, is situated in Valayanad near Kozhikode in North Kerala, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swamithope Pathi</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Swamithoppu Pathi is the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi and the sacred venue of the Tavam. Swamithope is considered primary among the Pancha pathi and the primary centre of the incarnational activities of Vaikundar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghati Subramanya</span> Famous Temple in Karnataka, India

Ghati Subramanya is a Hindu temple, situated in the village of Sri Subamanya Ghati near Tubagere, Doddaballapura, Karnataka, India. It is 60 km from the city of Bangalore and is a popular pilgrimage centre. The uniqueness of this temple is that the prime deity Lord Karthikeya, is found together with Lord Narasimha. According to mythology, both idols are believed to have emerged from the earth. It is also an important centre in South India for worship of the Hindu deity Kethu. Special rituals are performed during Brahmarathotsava on the day of Pushya shudda Shashti. Narasimha Jayanti is the other major festival celebrated here.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vellayani Devi Temple</span> Bhadrakali Devi Temple

The MajorVellayani Devi Temple is a highly revered shrine in Kerala, India, dedicated to goddess Bhadrakali. The shrine is situated in Vellayani 1.5 km west of Vellayani junction, 12 km southeast of Thiruvananthapuram on the eastern bank of Vellayani Lake. The temple is under the management of Travancore Devaswom Board. The temple structure has a bronze roof with traditional art work and carries Dravidian architecture. The temple has eastern and northern towers called Gopurams with statues of different Gods sculptured in them. The Gopurams function as gateways through the walls that surround the temple complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil, Chennai</span> Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Ayyappan in Chennai, India

Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil is a Hindu Ayyappan Temple dedicated to the deity Ayyappan in Chennai, India. It is located at the junction of 6th Main Road and 2nd Avenue in Anna Nagar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vekkali Amman Temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Vekkali Amman Temple is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Vekkaali, a form of the goddess Kali. It is located in Woraiyur, a neighbourhood in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. The central shrine of the temple houses the image of Vekkali Amman and the major feature of the temple is the absence of roof over the sanctum. The temple is known from the period of early Cholas, but there are no historical records. The people of Woraiyur see Vekkali Amman as their guardian deity. The temple has six daily rituals in its calendar and celebrates six annual festivals. The temple chariot is made of gold and was launched during 2010. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karikkakom Devi Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Karikkakom Sree Chamundi Devi Temple or Karikkakom Devi Temple is a temple to three Hindu goddess Chamundi located in Thiruvananthapuram, India at Karikkakom. It is more than 600 years old and enshrines a Panchaloha idol of the goddess Karikkakathamma – an incarnation of Chamundi. Chamundi Devi is worshiped there in three different forms: Maha Chamundi, Raktha Chamundi, and Bala Chamundi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalarivathukkal Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple, Bhadrakali Shrine located near Valapattanam river, is the family shrine of Chirakkal Royal Family. The deity of the shrine is the fierce form of Bhadrakali. Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy is considered as the mother of the ancient martial art Kalarippayattu and hence the name. The shrine is administered by Malabar Devaswom Board and classified as Category A Temple of the board. Kalarivathukkal has come from the word Kalari Vaatilkal.

Rajah Annamalaipuram Ayyappan Koil is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Ayyappa in Chennai, India. It is located at Raja Annamalaipuram, a coastal neighbourhood of Chennai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thiruporur Kandaswamy temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Thiruporur Kandaswamy temple in Thiruporur, a panchayat town in Chengalpattu district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been expanded during the 18th century with the images excavated from Thiruporur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keezha Sarakkalvilai</span> Village in Tamil Nadu, India

Keezha Sarakkalvilai is a small village in Kanniyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu with Indian postal code 629002. It is an important pilgrimage and the site of the famous Bathirakali Amman Temple.

References

Citations

  1. "New flag post for Mandaicadu temple". The Hindu. 7 February 2017.
  2. "A temple where legends abound". The Hindu . 28 September 2001.[ dead link ]

8°09′48″N77°16′49″E / 8.163260°N 77.280153°E / 8.163260; 77.280153