Mahishasuramardhini Temple,
Ammangudi – Legends
Mahishasura was wearing a Lingam
around his neck. Devi took that Lingam from his severed neck and installed in
Ammangudi and called it by the name Kailasanathar. She then went on a penance
for 12 years in Ammangudi to atone for the killing of Mahishasura, though he
was an evil force. She installed the Vinayaka idol for her to go on with her
penance without interruption. At the end of the twelfth year Kailasanathar
appeared before her and told her that the evil effects of the killing of
Mahishasura have vanished and he instructed her to remain in Ammangudi to
protect the devotees. Because Devi herself chose this place to perform her
penance, the place came to be called as Ammangudi.
Papa Vimochana Theertham:
According to a legend, Goddess Durga,
after killing Mahishasura, had her holy dip in the river Cauvery and reached
Ammangudi. Devi washed her trident that she used for killing Mahishasura in the
Pushkarini in Ammangudi. Since Devi herself washed her trident in this
Pushkarini, the Pushkarini came to be called as Papa Vimochana Theertham.
References in Skantha Puranam:
There is a reference
in Skantha Puranam, a famous Tamil poem about this temple and reference
about the Goddess Durga.