Muthumari Amman Temple, Kil Kodungalur, Vandavasi, Thiruvannamalai
Muthumari
Amman Temple is located at Kil Kodungalur Village in Vandavasi, Taluk of Thiruvannamalai
District of Tamilnadu.
Legends
Of the
four children of Jamadagni - Renukadevi couple, Sage Parasurama was the
youngest. Renukadevi noted for her power of chastity used to make mud pots
each day and was carrying water in the wet pots for her husband’s
pujas. One day, she saw the reflection of a handsome Gandharva in the
river water and stood a while appreciating his appearance, though she was not
tempted by his handsomeness. Yet, the pot broke. Seeing the incident
with his wisdom power, Jamadagni called his sons to cut off the head of his
wife. The sons refused. Last son Parasurama obeyed his father.
Pleased
with son’s obedience, Jamadagni asked him what he wanted. Parasurama simply
asked to give him back his mother. Jamadagni said that he could join the head
with body & restore her to life. In his urge, Parasurama fixed his mother’s
head with a wrong body. That woman rose alive. The Gandharva watching the
events could not forgive the Sage for his inhuman attitude of killing his wife
simply because she looked at him. He killed the sage. Renuka, with
original head and different body accompanied her husband in death. The unjust
death of two sacred souls had its impact on the celestial world.
Indira
urged Varuna to pour heavy rains to extinguish the fire. The woman rose up
half-burnt. She immediately picked the neem leave stems to cover her
body. She also poured turmeric water on the burns and boils. Her face
was however unaffected and shining. Jamadagni too with his penance power rose
up from the fire. He blessed his wife calling her Mari, the Goddess of
Rain. This is the story behind the Mari Amman worship of Manjal Neerattu (Turmeric
water bathing) and neem leaf dressings.
The
Temple
This is
also one of the Renukadevi temples dedicated to the mother of Sage Parasurama.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Aadi
month Fridays in July-August and Purattasi Navarathri in September-October are
the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Prayers
Shakti
worship is practiced by people since the beginning of the world. Those were the
days people used to cover the body with dresses made of leaves and
stalks. Probably, that system is followed in Shakti worship even
today. In some places, people use neem leaf coverings for fulfilling their
prayer commitments. This is followed in the Kil Kodungalur temple also. People
affected with heat related diseases pray here for remedy. Devotees also
seek child and wedding boon. Devotees wear neem leaf clothing and offer prayers
to Muthumari Amman.
Contact
Sri
Muthumari Amman Temple,
Kil
Kodungalur, Vandavasi,
Thiruvannamalai
District
Phone: +91 – 4183 – 242 406
Connectivity
Bus
facility is available to Kil Kodungalur from Mel Maruvathur (15 km) and
Vandavasi (12 km). Nearest Railway Station is located at Mel Maruvathur
and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.
