Koovagam Koothandavar
Temple, Villupuram
Koothandavar Temple is
located in Koovagam which is a village in the Ulundurpettai
taluk in Villupuram
district, Tamil Nadu. It is famous for its annual festival of
transgender and transvestite individuals, which takes fifteen days in the Tamil
month of Chitrai (April/May).
The festival takes place at
the Koothandavar
Temple dedicated
to Aravan (Koothandavar).
The participants marry the Lord Koothandavar, thus reenacting an ancient myth
of Lord Vishnu/Krishna who married him after taking a form of a
woman called Mohini. The next day, they mourn the god Koothandavar death
through ritualistic dances and by breaking their bangles. An annual beauty
pageant and several other competitions like singing contests are held.
Basic rights of transgender
and transvestite individuals and health care are discussed in seminars too.
People from different places attend this festival. It is located at a distance
of 25 km from Viluppuram and 15 Km from Ulundurpet 15 km.
The temple has numerous
murtis (idols) of deities from the Hindu pantheon. The important murtis are
that of Koothandavar, Mohini and Hanuman. The Koovagam festival is observed for
18-days and it is known as Chitra Pournami Festival. Other important festival
days are Aadi Amavasya and Thai Pongal.
The small hamlet of Koovagam
is present in the Vizhupuram district of Tamil Nadu, making it virtually a
‘nothing’. However, once a year this tiny village turns into the biggest camp
for transgenders from all over the country. They gather in flocks to take part
in the rituals of the festival which lasts for 18 days, culminating on chitra Pournami
(April-may).
Of the many bizarre and
strange customs and festivals observed in India, the Koothandavar festival of
Koovagam is one among them. The very basis of the festival, its associated
rituals and the people involved make it the weirdest possible celebration on earth.
Legends
A festival which has its base
rooted into the depths of the Mahabharata war, Krishna’s cunningness and the
noble nature of a very valiant young man. War between the Pandavas and Gauravas
was imminent. There was no way that a war could be averted, thus saving
millions of innocent human lives. Krishna, as the protector of the universe was
worried about the outcome of the war. It was true that he could intervene with
his divine powers and avert catastrophe, but humans are required to decide their
own fates. That’s what the Vedas and shastras say. But still, he wanted the
Pandavas to win the war, he was on their side and their doings were just and
moral. This would be the ultimate “Good wins over Bad” story if it went along
as he desired.
Having no choice, he goes to
Sahadeva who is blessed with the talent of accurately forecasting the future
and reading horoscopes, and to his greatest dismay finds Dhuryodhana there too.
“Welcome, my lord”, exclaimed Sahadeva,” and you too, cousin. How may I help you
both?” Dhuryodhana lays forward his request, “Oh Madri Putra, being true to
your skill, guide me along a path, wherein I can surely claim victory in the
upcoming war.” Nodding thoughtfully, Sahadeva looked at Shri Krishna, “and you
my lord?” “Sahadeva, I came to ask the same favor on behalf of the Pandavas.”
Krishna blurted out. Without saying a word, Sahadeva rolled his Shozhi (shells
used to help in prediction) and after several calculations looked up to both
his guests.
“The path to success is alike
for both of you”, he explained. “To attain victory in the upcoming war, you
need to sacrifice a man filled with all the good qualities of Valor, strength,
bravery, beauty and such, to the goddess of war, Kali. He who first performs
this sacrifice will gain the blessings of Kali and win the war”, he concluded
and with very worried eyes looked at Krishna. “Leave that to me Sahadeva. Why
fear when I am here?”, and with a dangerous look at Dhuryodhana, he left
Sahadeva.
All along his way back his
mind was filled with a single thought, “Can it be? Hope it is not so. I cannot
bear to lose him. Oh, wish that we do get another suitable person for the
sacrifice.” The reason for his worried thoughts is Arjuna. Matching the
qualities required in the sacrificial person to the various people in the
Pandava camps, he could come up with only two people, Himself and Arjuna, and
he wanted to lose neither. With a heavy heart he summons the Pandavas and
relays Sahadeva prediction. “Is there anyone… Anyone else, other than Arjuna
who can match the requirements of sacrifice? Anyone at all?” He pleaded, only
to be met by a stunning silence. Krishna’s heart shattered at the thought of
losing a dear friend. He felt light headed and started to sway with dizziness,
when a voice cut through his haziness.
“Am I eligible to be
sacrificed?” the voice asked. Looking for the source of the voice, Krishna’s
eyes land on a very handsome man, dressed as a warrior and bearing resemblances
to Arjuna. “Who are you, may I know?” questioned Krishna, as hope revived in
his heart. “I am Aravaan, the son of Arjuna, born to the Naaga princess
Chithrangadha, through an illicit wedlock. I have come here to help bring
victory to my father and his brothers. And if I can indeed help them win by
sacrificing myself, then I am ready to die.” he proclaimed.
Krishna is flooded with
relief. Using his divine powers, he comes to know that Aravaan is indeed a
warrior par excellence, full of good qualities and excellent character. “He
would make the perfect sacrifice to Kali”, Krishna thought and he beckoned
Aravaan to come with him. He introduced Aravaan to the Pandavas including to
Arjuna, his father (what weirdness!!!) and praised the sacrificial qualities of
Aravaan. “So you will be sacrificed to the Goddess at the dawn of war,
tomorrow. Purify yourself mentally and physically and prepare for the day. Long
live your sacrifice”, Krishna told Aravaan and turned to leave.
Before his death, he made a
last wish to Lord Krishna to be married for a day. But no woman was ready to
marry a man for a day and be widowed for the rest of her life. So Lord Krishna
took the form of a woman, Mohini and married Aravan and spent the night
together. The next day, Aravan was beheaded as a sacrifice to the Goddess upon
which Mohini became a widow and mourned his death.
Though this was merely a
myth, the Eunuchs in India consider themselves to be Mohini, the female form of
Lord Vishnu and every year they celebrate the ‘Koothandavar Festival’ to recall
this incident.
Pooja Timing
Worship Time:
·
From
Morning 06:00 A.M to 12:00 P.M
·
From
Evening 04:00 P.M to 09:00 P.M
Festivals
·
Aadi
Amavasai
·
Thai
Pongal
·
Chitra
Pournami Festival(16 Days)
Unique Ritual of Koothandavar Festival
Koothandavar Festival
Celebration:
On the full moon day of the
Chitra month of the Hindu lunar calendar every year, Eunuchs from all over
India gather at the Koothandavar temple in Koovagam village to celebrate their
marriage to the temple’s God Koothandavar widely known as Aravan. The marriage
lasts only for a day and the next day the new brides mourn their groom’s death.
Aravani is another name given to Eunuchs, as they are wives of Aravan.
The Eunuchs gather at the
Koothandavar temple 18 days before the actual festival at Koovagam making the
tiny lifeless village come to life. Many talent shows and beauty pageant are
held for 16 days. During these 16-day celebrations, a brightly painted wooden
head of Aravan is kept at the temple.
On the 17th day,
the priest at the Koothandavar temple performs a special Pooja by reciting
spiritual mantras and decorating the Aravan’s idol with flowers and brings upon
the power of Aravan on himself, and ties yellow strings called ‘Thaali’ around
the neck of all the Eunuchs as a marriage ritual. Now that they are wives of
Aravan, the Eunuchs spend the night merrymaking by dancing and singing.
At the dawn of the next day,
the Eunuchs rip away the yellow strings from their necks and cry in loud
voices, beating their chests with both the hands and rolling on the floor, just
like how Mohini mourned Aravan’s death. Then they bathe in the ‘Varaha’ river
located near the temple and wear white costumes as a sign of widows.
Koothandavar Festival Chaos:
Every year, hundred’s police
are placed on duty at the village. However, the police have never been
able to control the violence and assaults that happen, as thousands of men
throng the village to see the beautifully dressed Eunuchs. The main reason for
chaos is that these men try to mingle sexually with the transgender crowd,
sometimes without their permission.
After 18 days of uncontrolled
life, the Koothandavar Festival celebration comes to an end in the evening of
the 18th day. All the devotees and their admirers return to their
normal lives leaving the Koothandavar temple and the Koovagam village to rest
in peace until next year.
Contact
This Temple is administrated
by The Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department.
Executive Officer
Arulmigu Koothandavar
Thirukoil,
Koovagam, Ulundurpet Taluk,
Villupuram District,
Pin Code: 606 102.
Email: koovagamkoothandavartemple@gmail.com
Temple Administrative Office
Postal Address
Connectivity
By Road:
Devotees should reach
Villupuram. From Villupuram devotees should reach Ulundurpet and from
Ulundurpet have to go Koothandavar Koil. Direct Buses are available even from
Panruti, Manapattu itself to Koothandavar Koil, Koovagam.
· From
Southwards 4.5 KM-->Villupuram to Trichy NH47 Madapattu (Ulunthurpet)
- Periyasevalai.
·
From
Northwards 3 KM-->Ulunthurpet to Pillaiyarkuppam.
·
Share
Auto facilities available from Periyasevalai.
By Train:
Villupuram is the nearest
railway station & is well connected from the cities/towns all over India.
By Air:
Chennai and Pondicherry are the nearest Airports.
