Kannudayanayaki Amman Temple, Nattarasankottai,
Sivaganga – Legends
Kannathal vanquishing Mahishan:
As per
mythology, Kannathal emerged with blessings she obtained from Lord
Siva (the God of Creation, Sustenance and Destruction
of evil, in Hindu Mythology) to vanquish Mahishan, who was giving trouble and
anxiety to the people. Mahishan had a rare blessing from Brahmadeva that he
will not die in the hands of men and he will only be executed by a woman. After
heeding to the voices of the tortured people and Devathas, Kannathal appeared
in Simma vahanam (Lion as vehicle) and executed him by stabbing in his heart.
She is praised by many a number of devotees who have experienced her blessings.
One could find names like 'Kannappan' (for male children), 'Kannathal',
'Kannammai' and 'Kanmani' (for female children) abundant in the community.
Story behind the name Kannathal:
2 km
South of Nattarasankottai, there are some villages in the forest area called
Pirandakulam, Allur and Panangadi. Buttermilk vendors from these villages could
not proceed after a particular point as they were hit by some power and lost
the buttermilk and had to go back with empty hands. Scared and confused, they
took the matter to the king in Sivaganga. A day before their meeting with the
king, Goddess appeared in his dream and told him that she was under the earth
in Pirandakulam village near a jack tree.
The king
told the people of his dream and went along with them to the place mentioned by
the Goddess. He asked the people to dig the place. While one man was engaged
the work, the crowbar hit his eye causing bleeding. While other man offered to
continue the work, the first man said that he would do it himself and brought
the idol out. The moment, the idol came out of the earth, his eye injury was
completely cured and bleeding stopped. As the Goddess restored his vision, she
was named Kannathal, the Goddess who gave eyes. Eye in Tamil means Kan.
Kannathal directing Nagarathars to perform Kaliyattam and
Sacrifice:
While
the people of the Yadava community were taking the idol northward, they could
not carry it further from a particular spot and placed the idol facing east in
Nayanmarkulam village. The Goddess directed the Nagarathar people to perform a
Kaliyattam and offer a sacrifice. The Nagarathar assembled, formed two groups
as Kallar belonging to the bride side and a bridegroom side called
Kanakkupillais.
It was
decided to perform pujas in the mornings and evenings and sacrifice 1,500 sheep
from the Nayanmar community. Not a single drop of blood came out from the 1,499
sheeps. Blood came from the last sheep making the number to 1,500 when the idol
began to move.
Uvachar community performing Poojas:
It was
placed south of the Shiva temple in a place called Virakandan Urani. Next day,
when people went there, they found the idol facing north. It was brought the
same way. A voice from the sky said that the idol may be installed in the place
where the sanctum sanctorum existed. Pujas were conducted by the Bangle
Community (Valayar kulam people). After a few days, Goddess ordered that those
belonging to Uvachar Community alone should perform the pujas.
Till now
only this community is enjoying the privilege of being the priests of this
temple. It would be worth mentioning here that the Great Tamil poet, Kavi
Chakravarti Kamban who wrote the Ramayana in Tamil belonged to this community
and is mentioned as Tiruvazhundur Uvachan in Tamil history.
Kaliyattam Festival:
Goddess
Kannudaya Nayaki is very fond of Kaliyattam festival celebrated once in 12
years as the Kumbakonam Mahamaham festival. There are two houses in Pazhaya
Valaivu in Nattarasankottai designated for this festival, one called Kalla
Veettu Kaliyatta Veedu and the other Kanakku Veetu Kaliyatta Veedu. These two
groups belong to Karanakaras comprising of five families. The festival is being
observed with these two groups. Their houses are built with a foundation of
burnt bricks, the second stage with raw bricks and again with two lines of
burnt bricks.
The roof
is made of wooden frames and tiles. Inside the house, the walls are painted
with deity with two pusaris (priests) on sides, Vinayaka, Veerabadra and
Bhairava and other sub-deities, (parivara murthis), Madukari and Dwarapalakas
(security guards) on the four sides. On the outer side rear wall, two boothas
are painted. During the festival period, the houses built earlier for the
previous festival would be demolished and built anew with pictures painted as
described above.
All
these works are undertaken on an auspicious day before the first Tuesday of
Chithirai (April-May) and other ceremonies would follow in order. This is a 22
day festival. Nagarathar people will bring two pots (Karaka kudam) and place
them in each house. The Mulaikottu (sowing seeds in small mud bowls, which will
grow into saplings symbolizing that all good things should grow aplenty, in
both houses with concerned people and offer them betels, nuts, sandal on the first
day after the proper pujas to the deity both in the morning and evening.
During
the evening, pujas are performed in the Nayanmar Kulam also. Elaborate
ceremonies are performed on the 22nd day, after taking oil bath; a sheep is
sacrificed in a place specially prepared for the purpose in such a way that the
blood does not spill on the white linen spread in the place. The sheep will be
removed so quickly at a lightning speed. The head and the body of the sheep are
separated with a single stroke by a Poojari. After this sacrifice, the Madhu
pots (may be called toddy pots) brought earlier here will be brought to the
temple. Then Soolattu puja is performed when only the couple of Karanakara
family alone would be present. This is called Peria Padayal.
From day
24 to 29, the poojaris alone would be performing the ceremonies in the Kaliattu
houses. On the evening of 29th day, having an oil bath in a spring called
Sengamathan Oorani, girls who had not attained puberty would be bringing the
Madhukudams (pots) all decorated. Further sacrifices would be followed in the
two houses then. All the crops grown in mud bowls would be collected and placed
the temple tank last and finally. The poojaris also leave for their respective
Kaliattu houses. The last festival was celebrated in the year 1995 for 22 days.
The Goddess is a Swayambumurthy in the temple.