Mutharamman Temple, Kulesakharapatnam, Thiruchendur, Thoothukudi
Mutharamman
Temple is located in Kulesakharapatnam near Thiruchendur in the Thoothukudi district, Tamilnadu. Navarathri Festival is the grandest festival in this temple.
More than 1,500,000 devotees celebrate together here. Though this is
a Shiva Temple, all importance is given for Mother Mutharamman as to
Mother Meenakshi in Madurai.
Lord
Shiva is swayambumurthy in the temple. Literally means Kulasekarapandian (Maharaja)
+ Pattinam (town). The town is named as Kulasekarapattinam when Maharaja
Kulasekarapandian was ruling the city, one day he had a darshan of the Goddess
directly. Henceforth the town has been named after the Maharaja.
Legends
Mother choosing her Idol Form:
Generally,
only Swayambu idols are chosen for worship in temples. Mother
appeared in the dream of a worker and asked him to make an idol of her and send
it through an archaka-priest coming from Kulasai. She also informed
priest in his dream of her instructions to the sculptor and advised the archaka
to install it near the swayambu. Thus goes the story that Ambica herself
chose her idol form.
Dusshera Festival:
Once
upon a time due to the curse of saint Agasthiyar, The saint Varamuni became a
man with a buffalo head. The term “Magisam” means buffalo. Since he had a buffalo
head he was called Mahisasuran. With his continuous meditation and strenuous
effort Mahisasuran gained more power and dominated all over the world. To
condemn the domination of the Mahisasuran the saints approached the Goddess and
informed the hardship done by Mahisasuran. Then with the power of Goddess there
appears a female baby.
The baby
was named as Lalithambigai. The baby grown up within 9 days and on the 10th
day she grew as Annai Parasakthi Lalithambigai with lots of anger came strongly
and destroyed Mahisasuran and this day (i.e.,) 10th day is being celebrated as
Dusshera. The growth occurred by Annai Parasakthi during the nine days are
resumed as Navarathri. The first three days for Malaimagal, the second three
days as Alaimagal, and the last three days as Kalaimagal.
After
the Goddess Annai Parasakthi demolished Mahisasuran she was called as Mahishasura
Mardhini. At last the Goddess came to this city and settled and showered her
blessing to all the devotees. The devotees whoever wants to observe Vratham
should do so for 41 days continuously, and during the Dusshera (10 days) they
should dress like the god/goddess and should not do any mischief, leaving all
bad habits, and should be pure at body, mind and soul.
One more
thing is that whoever wants to dress up like “Goddess Kali” should be more
cautious than others, since people come to them for blessings. People can dress
up like any God and Goddess according to their prayers and wishes.
Greatness
of Temple
According
to astrology, if two planets mutually occupy the houses belonging to each
other, it is called Parivardhana yoga. For example, Shukra may be in
the house belonging to Mars and Mars in turn may be in the house of
Shukra-Venus. Similarly, Mother had exchanged her Power with Lord and Lord
in turn had offered his powers to Mother in this temple. The Mantra
used in the Shakti puja, Yantra the copper plate installed under the Mother
idol according to religious rules and traditions. The Thanthra and the puja
codes are followed in this temple are similar to the ones in Mother Meenakshi
temple in Madurai.
Small
pox appears on the body of the affected as pearls which people use to call
Muthu in the body. As a remedy, people use to store water around the
Goddess to bring the heat of the boils - Muthu down and dry
them. Mother thus cures the patient. Hence, the name of
the Mother in the temple is called as Muthu - (pearl) Attru (treating) Amman - Goddess
– Muthattruamman – Mutharamman.
In this
seashore temple, Lord and Mother are on the same peeta facing
north. People pray here for relief from small pox. They also pray
for child boon. Those suffering from leprosy pray here for 41 days
with fasting get cured. So those mentally retarded seek asylum at
the feet of Mother Mutharamman.
The
Temple
In this
temple Goddess Mutharamman and Swami Gnanamoorthiswarar Vigraham are combined
together. This is also one of the special features of the temple. Such a
combined Vigraham is not found elsewhere. In the Garbhagriha, Swami and Goddess shower their blessings to the
devotees as Swayambu Moorthigal. The temple consists of three Mandapams namely, Artha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam and Kodi
Mandapam.
Artha
Mandapam is situated next to the Garbhagriha. Maha Mandapam is located next to
the Artha Mandapam. Pechiamman, Karuppuswamy and Bairavar are showering their
blessings to the devotees in Mahamandapam. Kodi mandapam is located next to the
Maha Mandapam. One can find here, a 32 feet height Kodimaram which is fully
covered with brass. At the bottom of the Kodimaram you can see a square
consists of Ambal & Swami, as one side, Astira devar on the other side,
Lord Vinayaga on the third side, on the fourth side Lord Balasubramanian
statues are molded in the Brass.
Poojas
& Festivals
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Prayers
Those
affected with small-pox, handicapped, mentally retarded pray in the temple for
relief and it is the experience of the devotees that Mother Mutharamman
responds to their prayers without delay. People who lost their
properties earlier, meeting loss in business say they had recovered their
assets after praying to Mother. They firmly believe that Mutharamman
is the guardian of their welfare.
Devotees
light Mavilakku, a lamp made of rice flour mixed with ghee, undertake body
circumambulation-Anga Pradikshina, carry fire pots, Vel Ambu Kuthal - punching
the cheeks with needles are the prayer commitments practiced by the devotees.
Some organize feeding-Anna dhanam and Hundi contribution.
Contact
Mutharamman
Temple,
Kulasekharanpattinam,
Thiruchendur
- 628206,
Thoothukudi
District
Phone: 04639250355
Connectivity
Sri
Mutharamman temple is located at Kulasekhara Pattinam village near Thiruchendur
55 kms south of Tuticorin (Tamilnadu, India) on the East coast Road en
route to Kanyakumari. Mutharamman temple is 12 kms from Thiruchendur. Bus
facilities are available. Kulasekharan Pattinam is located at a distance of 55
kms from Thoothukudi, 70 kms from Kanyakumari and 70 kms from
Tirunelveli. Nearest Railway Station is located at Thiruchendur. Nearest
Airport is located at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerela.