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.