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Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Annamalaiyar Temple – Third Prakaram – Pidari Amman Shrine

Annamalaiyar Temple – Third Prakaram – Pidari Amman Shrine
This shrine is situated in between the Jambukeswara shrine and the Vasantha mandapa. It faces north. It is a walled mandapa. The second day festival of the grand Karthigai Deepam is dedicated to Pidari Amman. The images of the Sapta matrikas are chiseled in separate stones and are placed inside this mandapa. At the centre, Nisumba Sudani with eight hands gives darshan. The head of Renuka Devi in a stone is also found inside. Its height is two and half feet. It wears karanda makuta, patra kundala and at the back there is Siracchakkara. It is of acquisitive beauty.

Further, the images of Naya, Kannappar worshipping Siva, an eight armed Pidari are also found inside the shrine. In front of the shrine there are Bali peedam, sulam and Dipa medai. The modern shrine of Pidari, housing the tenth-century “Seven Mothers” (which originally stood in the second enclosure), is a perfect example of how Temple life has changed over the centuries. In fact, when worship of the “Seven Mothers” declined after the end of the Chola period, their images were often removed from Siva Temples and installed in small village Temples under the name of a single deity who functions as the village Goddess.
In this capacity Goddess Pidari presides over orthodox Brahmin Temple festivals, giving protection by touring villages before the first day of the festival. The unusual feature at Thiruvannamalai is that Goddess Pidari is found within the great Temple itself, and that new images of the “Seven Mothers” were provided for the second prakaram at a later date. 

In front of the Pidari shrine, which faces north, there is a stone trident and two Bali Peethas or sacrificial altars.  At this place there is also an ancient Bilva tree—from this tree “Pittu mann” (i.e. small amounts of soil) are taken from the ground around the tree’s trunk and used in rituals during the Grand Festivals of; Uttarayana, Dakshinayana, Karthigai and Margazhi. After such rituals the earth is then immersed in the tanks of the Sivagangai Teertham, Iyyankulam Teertham, Brahma Teertham and Tamarai Kulam.
Inside the Pidari shrine are representations of; Ganesha, Sapta Kanyas or seven ‘Matris’ (chiseled in separate stones), a severed head of a Goddess with a crown and Nidambasudani who gives darshan with eight arms. This severed head represents ‘Renuka’ the Goddess worshipped at Padaiveedu, a town about 30 miles from Thiruvannamalai. Renuka represents the ‘Formidable’ the ‘Fearful’ aspect of Kali, the consort of Siva. The stoned head of ‘Renuka’ is about 2½ high and although it has a slightly damaged nose, is a very beautiful image.
Goddess Pidari is Kali in a rural setting and regarded as being a consort of Siva. Pidari is the ferocious aspect of Amman. The Mother Goddess gives life but Kali takes life. Goddess Pidari is the feminine form of Kala—time. Kali is the energy or the power of time. Her blackness swallows all that exists and the emptiness of space is her clothing, for when the Universe is dissolved, the power of time remains without Maya (veil).

Kali’s extension, Pidari and her worship; evolved as a fighter and warrior and gained importance with the influence of Tantrism where she is known as Kala Pidari. The Pidari Goddess, in line with Shakti manifestations, emphasizes fierce symbolism. At times Pidari is the sole resident deity in a village. As Devata, She is the all-in-all for the village from simple prayers to Divine blessings. She also watches over the main deity of a Temple in her role as ‘kaval Deivam’ while taking her seat in a structure on the right hand side of a Temple’s entrance. She joins the ‘kavaldeivam’ or Protection Gods’ similar to that of Ayyanar, Muniandy, Karupanna Swamy or Veerabadra, all of whom are warrior-protection village gods.
Pidari shares Kali’s attributes and is depicted holding a noose, trident, skull cup and a pointed knife. The noose is sometimes replaced by ankusha – the elephant goad. The damaru that she holds is entwined by a snake, thus sharing Siva’s characteristics. She has flaming hair and three eyes. She has a terrifying appearance with long incisor teeth to frighten off evil spirits. She is sometimes synonymous with Goddess Mariamman and lime strung as a garland – ‘elumichai malai’ is well favoured by her.

Goddess Pidari is also represented by a simple stone image called ‘veerakkal’ symbolizing courage and venerating ‘veerarghal’ – the warriors. It is believed that Pidari is the combined form of Lord Siva and Shakti. ‘Adanghaa Pidari’ is another Tamil description of Goddess Pidari. ‘Adanghaa’ means ‘one that cannot be controlled’ implying, Pidari, once provoked does not soon subside her anger.
An example of her famed anger is found in the famous legend of Daksha’s yajna. In this legend her father Daksha ignores Lord Siva. Dhakshayani attends the yagna and feels vexed to see that her father has invited all Gods including Vishnu and Brahma, but has ignored and insulted her Lord Siva. For this, Dhakshayani enters the yajna fires after cursing her father Daksha. Narada carries the news to Lord Siva and the Great Lord shakes the earth. Sweat from his body falls down and Lord Veerabhadra and Pidari Badrakali emerge from it and are ordered to destroy the yajna and kill Daksha. Which they do but upon the intercession of the Devas and Gods (who beg for Daksha’s life) the head of a goat is attached to Daksha’s body and he is revived and thereupon begs forgiveness from Lord Siva.
This particular Pidari Temple is highly significant in that it plays a part at the beginning of the Karthigai Festival.
Five Elements:
Previously mentioned is the Kalahasthiswarar Shrine which stands for the element Vayu (air).  The other Shrines connected with the elements, are located in a quadrangle with the Pidari Shrine. These shrines represent the five elements viz; Chidambareshwarar for Akash (Ether), Kalahasthiswarar for Vayu (Air), Jambukeswarar for Water; Ekambareswarar representing Earth and the fifth representation of the elements is Arunachaleswarar, as Fire.