Muthala Parameswari Temple, Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram
Muthala
Parameswari Temple is dedicated to Hindu Goddess Muthalamman located in
Paramakudi town in Ramanathapuram District of Tamilnadu. This Temple is around
700 Years Old. Thala Virutcham of this Temple is Kadamba Tree. Agama of this
Temple is Shivagama. Theertham of this Temple is Vaigai River.
Legends
A Chola
king ruling this region then announced a strange contest. The contest was
that the participant should make out a chain with pearls having small holes but
without touching the pearls. All lost the game. A young daughter of a
trader offered to accept the condition. She arranged the pearls in line
and placed the thread coated with sugar. The ants sensing the sugar smell
moved on the thread through the holes of the pearls.
The girl
promptly drew the thread carefully and completed the job. The king
appreciated the girl, offered gifts and wanted her to marry him. When the
girl refused, the king forced her to accept him. The frustrated woman resorted
to self-immolation and ended herself. A temple was built in praise of her
divinity with sand brought from the place of her self-immolation. As she
made a chain with pearls-Muthu in Tamil, she was named Muthala Parameswari.
The
Temple
The
temple is situated on the southern bank of River Vaigai. Mother Muthala
Parameswari Amman appears soft and merciful on a lotus shaped peeta holding in
her four hands Trident, Kabala the skull, Kataka and damaruka. Her Lion vehicle
is before her. Devotees pray to Ambica for excellence in education,
scholarship in research activities performing abishek and offering sweet
pudding nivedhana.
Special
pujas are performed on Fridays. Panguni Brahmotsavam in March-April is
grandly celebrated. In order to cool down the fury of the Goddess, a
festival called Poochoridhal – raining baskets of flowers is devotionally
performed in the temple. Different varieties of flowers are used to cover
the Goddess excepting the face. There is a Shiva temple also nearby.
Lord appeared
here to bless a devotee. The place is named Paramakudi – Paraman Kudikonda
Oor-meaning God dwelling here. Sri Mariamman shrine is behind that of Mother
Ambica’s. There are two Nagar idols nearby. Those facing Naga
dosha-adverse aspects of serpent planets perform milk abishek to Nagas. There
are shrines for Marthandi Amman, Pothiraja the guardian deity, Karuppannasami
and Sri Anjaneya in the front mandapam.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Festivals
Panguni
Brahmotsavam in March-April; Masi Poochoridhal in February-March; Aadi Mulaikottu
Vizha in July-August and Purattasi Navarathri in September-October are the
festivals celebrated in the temple. On the day of Panguni Brahmotsavam Ambal
come in the Sivan vehicle of Rishaba Vaganam.
Prayers
Majority
of devotees pray for cure from illness. Those facing Nagadosham perform
milk abishek to Nagas. Realizing their wishes, devotees perform abishek to
Ambica, offer vastras and sweet pudding – Sarkarai Pongal as nivedhana.
Contact
Sri
Muthala Parameswari Amman Temple,
Paramakudi-623
707
Ramanathapuram
District
Phone: +91- 4564 - 229
640
Mobile: +91- 94434 05585.
Connectivity
Paramakudi
is 80 km far from Madurai where the temple exists. Devotees from Paramakudi may
use Ilayangudi bound buses and get down at Vaigai Palam stop. The temple is
just a km from this bus stop. Nearest Railway Station is located at
Paramakudi and Nearest Airport is located at Madurai.
