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Siruvachur MadhuraKali Amman
INTRODUCTION

The town of Siruvachur is loacted near Perambalur in Tamil Nadu, around 50km from Trichy. The main deity at Siruvachur, Madhurakali, is an epitome of beauty and grace. Unlike the usual Kali with a face fuming with anger and tongue sticking out, the Devi here is calm and serene.

The temple is open only on mondays and fridays, as was commanded by Kali. All the other days it is believed that Madhurakali amman retreats into the Periyasami hills to spend time with Chelli. The temple teems with thousands of devotees on these two days. At every pooja, when the arathi is being offered, the priest first lifts the arathi upwards in the direction of Periayasami hills, offers prayers to Chelliamman and then only proceeds to worship Madhurakali.



LOCATION

Sri Mathurakali amman temple is situated at Siruvachoor, which is on the Trichy - Chennai National highways,around 50km from Trichy. It is about 8 km before Perambalur. From the national highways, the temple is at a distance of 1 km. Surrounded by hills, lake, gardens and pond, the temple gives feast to the eyes as well as the mind.

BUS ROUTE

There are direct buses to Ponnamaravathy from Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Erode, Thiruchi, Dindigul, Salem, Tirupur, Pudukottai and Thanjavur. And, there are buses that ply frequently from Ponnamaravathy to Vendhanpatti

MYTHOLOGY

‘Madurai’ Kaliamman became ‘Madurakaliamman’ in course of time. And, there’s a variant that says that the enraged Kali became peaceful on entering this ‘sthala’ and blessed the devotees with many sweet things in life and She came to be called ‘Madura Kali’ because the term

‘Maduram’ meant sweetness. As per the request of Chelliamman, whenever ‘deeparadhana’ is done, it is first shown upward in the direction of Periasami malai where Chelliamman temple is situated and then only shown to the presiding deity. This temple is believed to have been built during early Chola period by Dharma Varman. The issueless king prayed to Goddess Kaliamman and a son was born to him. In gratitude to the goddess he had the temple at the foot hills built. 300 years later Srila Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamigal installed the “Sri Chakra” in the Sanctum Sanctorum and consecrated it.

According to legends Goddess Parvati consort of Lord Shiva came down to earth in the form of Kali to destroy the asura (demon) Charukan, who had been terrorizing the innocent and helpless humans living in these hills. After Kali destroyed him, Lord Shiva appears and cools her anger. He blesses Kali and asks her to stay as the guardian and benefactor of the people in the hills.

Another legend regarding the goddess name “Madhura Kaliamman” is attributed to the story of five rishis. The five Rishis- ‘Mudavar, Panthagar, Boumar, Arunar and Sigandeesar’ were doing penance in the hills. Each day of the week except on Monday’s and Friday’s each rishi used to take turns to perform various rituals to Goddess Kali. The goddess appeared before each of them and showered her blessings on them. Overwhelmed by the Goddess’s visit, the rishis requested her to make home under the Kumkumam (Thurakai) tree, so that they could visit and pay obeisance. The Goddess granted their wish. Each day when each rishi prayed to her, honey drops from a beehive above the Goddess used fall on their lips. This honey drops was regarded as divine nectar, hence the Goddess was called “Madhura Kaliamman”, Madura meaning divine nectar. Perumaruda malai the hill behind Madhira malai is now known as Periasamy malai. A legend regarding this hill is the story of three Siddars – ‘Notchindar, Neminadar, Sambu’ who lived here. One day they came across a foundling and brought him up. He grew up as Boodhar and was educated by the 3 siddhars. On the completion of their earthy duties, the 3 siddhars were transformed into honey bees, a curse of their previous birth when as shepherds they stole honey from a saint. The saint cursed them to become honey bees in their next birth to atone their sins. The 3 siddhars as honey bees made their home in the beehive of Thuraka Tree at Madhira Malai. These honey bees made honey which fed the 5 rishis when they came to pray Goddess Kali. This feeding of devotees through hard work absolved them of past sins. Boodhar who had come to pay respects to his teachers (3 siddhars) saw the rishis praying to the Goddess. He realised his true self and fell at the feet of Goddess Kali.She recognized him as the incarnation of Lord Narada and blessed him. Boodhar requests his teachers to pray to Kali to get back their human forms. They do so and the Goddess pleased with their devotion blesses them and gives them their human form. Boodhar requests the Goddess that he should always think of her and pray to her. Kali grants his wish by giving him permission to perform rituals on Mondays and Fridays as the other days of the week rituals were performed by the 5 rishis. Hence the practice of performing pujas to Madurakali Amman only on Monday’s and Fridays came into practise, which is followed even today. Another popular legend regarding her descent from the hills to the foothills revolves around the great Saint Adi Shankara.One day Adi Shankara passing through the foothills of Madhira malai rests under a tree due to thirst. With his concentration on the Goddess, she appears before him as a spring to quench his thirst. She shows her true form to Adi Sankara, blesses him and becomes an idol. Adi Sankara then consecrated this idol which is now worshipped as Madurakali Amman.

TEMPLE

The temple is open only on mondays and fridays, as was commanded by Kali. All the other days it is believed that Madhurakali amman retreats into the Periyasami hills to spend time with Chelli. The temple teems with thousands of devotees on these two days. At every pooja, when the arathi is being offered, the priest first lifts the arathi upwards in the direction of Periayasami hills, offers prayers to Chelliamman and then only proceeds to worship Madhurakali. The temple is known for protecting people from demonic forces and evil elements. In the times of yore, a board existed on the border of the town of Siruvachur claiming thus, “In the holy town of Siruvachur, ruled over by MadhuraKali, no form of evil will be allowed to exist. Eval, Billi Soonyam, Kaathu Karuppu will all fail to work and backfire on the originators. People with evil intents are warned from entering the town.” Even today, the temple happens to be on the top of the list of ways to counteract black magic and other similar stuff.

Temple will remain open on Mondays and Fridays from 8.00 AM to 8.00PM. Abishegam to Sri Mathurakali amman takes place at 11.00 AM, after which Amman is adorned with thanga kavacham. Before Mahadeeparadhanam, two persons call Ammaan and other deities by striking drum (udukai). It is believed that at this time Amman comes from the Periasamy hills to the temple. •Other days on which the temple will remain open are •New year day (Jan 1) •Tamil New Year day •13 days festival (Apr/May) •Adi perukku •10 days during Navarathiri •Deepavali •Karthigai Deepam •First day of the tamil month Margazhi •Vaikuntha Ekadasi •Pongal •Thaipoosam •Maha Sivarathiri

Deities

At first, the main deity in this temple was Sri Selliamman. It is said that Kannagi came here to stay on a Friday night and asked permission of the goddess Selliamman. It is also said that goddess Mathurai Kali, i.e goddess Kaliamman at Madurai who helped Kannagi, came and stayed here. Sri Selliamman told her that she was under the control of a magician. Sri Mathurakali amman assured her that she would relieve her from that magician. When the magician came, Sri Mathurakali amman killed him. As per the last wish of that magician, his body was buried at the place, where the devotees would come to worship Sri Mathurakali amman. Later, Sri Selliamman requested Sri Mathurakali amman to bless the devotees by staying in that temple and also added that she would go to Periasamy hills nearby.

Sri Mathurakali amman agreed to it and said that first respect would be given to Sri Selliamman. She also said that she would come to this temple on Fridays and Mondays, staying on other days with Sri Selliamman at Periasamy hills. Even today, first respect is being given to Sri Selliamman at Periasamy hills before poojas. Sri Mathurakali amman is in sitting posture facing north. She hold weapons and akshaya pathram in her four hands. Her left leg is folded and her right leg is placed on a lion.

Devotees perform Angapradhashinam (rolling around the temple) and also lit Mavilakku. Flour for Mavilakku is prepared manually within the temple by the devotees.

As Sri Mathurakali amman destrroyed the magician, people affected by evils and wicked magics come here and get relief from that by the grace of Amman.

Mathuram means sweetness. As the Amman is so kind and sweet like a mother, she is called as Mathurakail amman.

Jagathguru Sri Adisankaracharyar visited this temple and installed a Sri Chakram. Sadasiva Brahmendrar and Kanchi Chandrasekarendra Swamigal also visited this temple.

Madura Kali blesses Her devotees through simple ‘pariharas’ for even very complicated problems. As She destroyed the sorcerer who was using black magic, the ‘sthala’ is famous for redemption from the evil impacts of black magic and people who are afflicted by the impacts of ‘billi’ and ‘sunyam’ come here for removing them and return happily with the evil lifted. All their woes and sorrows evaporate when devotees shed tears before Her. The problem of progeny is also solved. Those wishing to donate or sponsor can contact the administration at the temple. Let us pray to Madura Kali that all should be blessed with solace and happiness and all those waiting for marriage should be blessed with early marriage.

FESTIVALS During the Tamil month of Chitthirai, a 13-day festival is celebrated with all grandeur. It starts with flower shower on the first Tuesday after the new moon day. Thousands of devotees attend the festival. ‘Malai vazhipadu’, ‘Thirukalyanam’, silver horse mount and car festival are very important features of this festival. Special pujas are also done on these days. Glory of Madurakali Madurakali is a very powerful goddess. Those who worship Her once at this temple keep coming again and again. The temple is situated at the outskirt of the hamlet, surrounded by green fields, dense groves, hillocks and lakes. In the east-facing ‘sannidhi’, Madurakali is portrayed with four hands holding a small drum, ‘soolam’, ‘akshaya patthiram’ and a rope. She has been portrayed in a sitting posture with Her left leg folded and right leg planted firmly on Her mount Simha. The posture is one of grace and benevolence not of destruction as the demon is not portrayed. On the days of puja, the ‘abhishek’ is started at 11 a.m. The deity is adorned with ‘gold kavasam’ and diamond necklace at around 1 p.m. and ‘mahadeeparadhana’ is done. Then ‘prasadam’ is distributed to the devotees. The two drummers, who beat the drums during the ‘mahadeeparadhana’ narrate the glory of the deity. ‘Angapradakshinam’ by devotees is a very important ‘prarthana’ at this temple. Another equally important ‘prarthana’ is ‘maa vilakku’. They prepare the rice flour inside the temple premises itself with care and devotion, following all the rules. Then, they light up ghee lamps. The required tools are provided by the temple itself and the space for this task has also been allocated. And, for those who are not able to do the work, they can employ workers attached to the temple. ‘Maa vilakku’ is considered as the most suitable ‘parihara’ for delay in marriage.