Gangai Amman Temple, Chandavasal, Thiruvannamalai
Gangai
Amman Temple is located at Chandavasal Village in Thiruvannamalai District of
Tamilnadu. Theertham of this Temple is called as Perumal Theertham. Sthala
Vriksham is Vilwa Tree.
Legends
Vishnu saving world from Shiva’s fury:
As per
legend, Daksha arranged a Yagna. But he ignored to invite Lord Shiva, his
son-in-law. However, Parvathi, the consort of the lord and the daughter of
Daksha planned to visit her father and advise him not to insult her husband
but to honor him, by sending specific invitation. But the Lord refused to give
permission to Parvathi to call on her father, as he was afraid that Daksha
would insult Parvathi also. Notwithstanding this injunction, Parvathi went
to Yagna. Her action angered him. He also suffered from the feeling
of separation. He wanted to teach Daksha a bitter lesson.
With
this view, he climbed down to the earth. He put his left leg on the Rajakambira
Mountain. The mountain was unable to bear the excessive heat coming from
the Lord. It began to burn and also to submerge slowly into the earth.
Therefore the Lord wanted to avoid this further and he put his right leg
on the grounds of Adiannamalai, which is near Thiruvannamalai. His
foot marks are imprinted on the tank of Adiannamalai. The mountain on
which he put his left is called Mithi Malai. Even now his foot prints could be seen on this
mountain.
The
devotees going to Padavedu,
via Santhavasal and Kalvasal, particularly seek the spot where the foot prints
are stamped and pay their homage to it. The mountain which received his
right leg, “Adiannamalai”, continues as a very famous place of worship. Actually
his anger would have caused a great calamity to the earth, because of
his anger and subsequent production of excessive heat generated.
Fortunately
Gangadevi intervened in time. She prayed to her brother, “Lord Vishnu” to
prevent the probable calamity by pouring immeasurable quantity of water on
the burning mountain. Lord Vishnu accepted to her request and he arranged
seven tanks around Raja Kambeera Mountain and doused the devastating fire,
and saved the earth. Those seven tanks are still in use of the public
in that area.
They are
known as
1. Perumal Tank,
2. Utru Perumal Tank,
3. Kattu Perumal Tank,
4. Vanniya Perumal Tank,
5. Komutti Perumal Tank,
6. Kutta Karai Tank,
7. Verum Tank.
Ganga
Devi profusely thanked he brother and made arrangements to worship him.
She chose a place for worshipping. Later she built a temple for her brother in
the same place of worship. Subsequently a temple was built in her honor in
the same area. Unfortunately both the templates are now in dilapidated
condition. As mark of respect, the people celebrate karthigai festival
here by lighting lamps on the Raja Kambeera Mountain, as done on
Thiruvannamalai.
But the
God on whom this event is celebrated is Lord Vishnu. This is quite
different from the age old custom, under which Lord Shiva only was
worshipped on that sacred day. In Raja Kambeera Mountain Lord Vishnu is
honored on that day, perhaps as a token of their gratitude to Vishnu for
saving from the wrath of Lord Shiva.
Senaikku Meendan Vasal:
When Muslims
invaded the South, Kumarakambanan, a Vijayanagara King came here, fought with
the Muslims and recovered the temples from their aggression. He stayed
here on his way. A king Rajanarayana Samburvarayar mistook Kumarakambanan
as an invader and fought him with but was defeated and hid himself in the
Rajagambeera hills. The queen of Kumarakambanan came to know the
glory of this hill and built this temple for Mother
Gangadevi. Kumarakambanan invited Samburvarayar and gave him back his
land. The name came to the place as Senaikku Meendan Vasal – Gate of the
king returned from war.
The Temple
Mother
Gangadevi graces in a sitting form with her left leg bent and the right
down. There is a five hooded serpent above her. Lion vehicle is below
her. She is holding Danda, Udukkai and the nectar pot. There is also the Ambica
idol in Sudhai form behind the principal Ambica. Special pujas are
performed to Ambica on water-related important festivals as Deepavali, Masi
Magam. The abisheka theertha is offered as Prasad considered very sacred
as it is used for the Water-Goddess Gangadevi herself. The faith is
that keeping the water in the house would bring prosperity. There is a separate
shrine for the procession deity who will grace from the entrance hall of the
temple on Poornima-full moon days.
There is
a Light Post (Deepasthamba) at the entrance of the temple with sculptures of
discus, conch, Garuda and Sri Anjaneya indicating the presence of a Vishnu
temple earlier. Mount Rajagambeera is behind the
temple. Lord Shiva placed his foot on this mount first and the next
on Thiruvannamalai. The place where Lord Shiva is believed to have set his foot
here is in the form of a pit. It has the Shivapada also. This is
called Midhimalai meaning the mount where Lord pressed his leg. Lighting
in the mount is done on Vishnu Karthika following Tirukarthika.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. On
Fridays, the temple is open till 1.00 p.m. during morning hours.
Festivals
Deepavali
in October-November, Masi Magam in February-March. Aadi Pooram in July-August,
Aadi Amavasya-new moon in July-August, Poornimas the Full Moon days, Panguni
Uthiram in March-April are the festivals of the temple. Abishek to Mother is
performed with milk from 108 pots on Chithra first day occurring almost on
April 14 or a day before or after occasionally. Devotees are allowed to do
the abishek themselves on this day. A Prasad packet containing 9 items
considered auspicious is offered to women. A sumangali Homa is also
performed on this day. Wedding festival is celebrated on Panguni Uthiram
in March-April.
Prayers
Thuni
Mudithal prayer is for child boon. This is done in a yellow cloth seeking
this boon and left in the temple after prayer pujas. After getting the child,
they come back to the temple, get the pack back for uncovering. Women pray with
Mangal Sutra for the longevity and welfare of husbands. Special Homas are
conducted on Saturn, Jupiter, Rahu and Ketu transit days in the Navagraha
shrine of the temple.
Contact
Arulmigu
Gangai Amman Thirukkoil
Santhavasal,
Polur Taluk,
Thiruvannamalai
District – 606905
Phone: +91 4181 243207
Mobile: +91 9677 341227 / 9994 908747
Email: gangaiamman@gmail.com
Connectivity
Chandavasal
is 32 km from Vellore on the Thiruvannamalai Road. From Thiruvannamalai the
place is 50 km far. The temple is 1 km from Chandavasal bus stop on Padavedu
road. Auto facility is available. Nearest Railway Station is located at
Vellore and Thiruvannamalai. Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.
