Mariamman Temple, Rasipuram, Namakkal
Sri
Mariamman Temple is located in Rasipuram Taluk in Namakkal District of
Tamilnadu. Amman in the temple is a swayambumurthy with the honour of Nitya
Sumangali title. The temple is situated on the Rasipuram-Namakkal route. The
bus stop is very near the temple.
Legends
The
place was fertile with green fields. A farmer, while tilling the land
found a place bleeding. He brought all the people and while digging the
place, they found a swayambu deity. Mother spoke through one of her
devotees to build a temple for her in the place. People did it. Later,
they built a temple installing an idol of Mother Mari Amman.
The
Temple
Amman in
the temple is a swayambumurthy with the honour of Nitya Sumangali title. As a
tradition, only during festivals, a wooden post with three branches (Kambam in
Tamil) is planted in Mari Amman temples before Ambica. It is a permanent
feature in this temple. It is said that Ambica has a direct view on this Kambam
considered as her Lord. Hence, she is praised as Nitya Sumangali
Amman. Women believe that worshipping Amman would bless them a life with
their husbands and absolute longevity to their Mangalsutras in their life
time.
People
seeking child boon follow a strange puja in the temple. During the Aipasi
festival, they remove the old Kambam and replace it with a new one. Take the
old one to a well nearby, do pujas and offer curd rice nivedhana. Women seeking
child boon worship the Kambam and consume the curd rice nivedhana so that they
will get their wish-child boon.
This
temple is situated amidst four hills, Kollimalai, Alavai malai, Nainamalai and
Bodhamalai. During the Aipasi festival Ambal is decorated with flowers
called Poochattu. Worshipping during this time is considered a lucky
opportunity for the devotees. The swayambu Amman is in the sanctum
sanctorum before Ambica seated on a square stage-peeta.
Swayambu
Ambica is in the form of a Linga. The Yali Vahana – resembling a lion – is
before Ambica. There is also a swing mandapam. The foot prints of
Ambica are on the swing. Women seeking child boon move the swing to and fro
with their prayers. There are shrines for Lords Vinayaka and Muruga only
in the prakara. There are other deities in the prakara.
Cooked
raw rice is offered as nivedhana to the Lord of the temple. Sri Vinayaka
of the temple is praised as Anugnai Vinayaka. The vimana of the temple is of
hexagonal design.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is opened from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Festivals
A 15 day
festival is observed in the month of Aipasi (October-November)
Prayers
People
pray to Mari Amman for cure from all the diseases and those with vision
problems in particular. Realizing their wishes, devotees carry fire pots and do
body circumambulation-Angapradakshinam.
Contact
Sri
Mariamman Temple,
Rasipuram-637
408,
Namakkal
District
Phone: +91- 4287 - 220
411, 99940 71835.
Connectivity
The
temple is situated on the Rasipuram – Namakkal route. The bus stop is very near
the temple. Rasipuram is located on the highway NH7 which connects Salem and Namakkal.
SH79 -
Athur - Mallikkarai - Rasipuram - Triuchengode - Erode Road and SH95 - Mohanur
- Namakkal – Sendamangalam - Rasipuram Road are the two state highways runs
through Rasipuram.
The town
is located on the new broad gauge line which connects Salem and Karur. Salem – Karur railway line was opened for rail traffic
in May 2013. The Rasipuram Railway Station (RASP) is well connected to major
cities in South India.
There
are daily express trains from Chennai - Central, Bangalore, Salem, Madurai, Tirunelveli and Palani. The nearest airport is Salem Airport which is 37 km north of the town. Nearest
Major Airport is located at Trichy & Coimbatore.