Friday, April 28, 2017

Theepachi Amman Temple, Vannarpettai, Thirunelveli

Theepachi Amman Temple, Vannarpettai, Thirunelveli
Theepachi Amman Temple is located very near to the Bus Stand in Vannarpettai in Thirunelveli Town in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. The temple has all the attributes of the story of Kannagi, the celebrated woman of Tamilnadu who proved the power of her chastity before the Pandya king in Madurai.

Legends
India has the reputation of being the home of women praised for their chastity of highest degree. They willingly and unhesitatingly accompanied their husbands in death. Tamilnadu celebrates them as their Goddess. Temples are built for them as the one for Kannagi. Theepachi Amman in Thirunelveli belongs to this noble community. Akkammal residing in Ettayapuram was a staunch believer. After marriage, the couple loved each other heart and soul that they could not live without the other. While she was working in the field one day, she told the shepherds that she would be receiving a message which they did not take seriously. 
Meantime, her relatives arrived at the place and asked her to return home with them without giving any reason. Akkammal calmly told them that they were urging her to return home as her husband died by then. They were shocked as it was true. Returning home, she did not cry or weep as ordinary women but stood resolutely to the surprise of kith and kin. She simply said that she was in her husband by soul and would accompany him in his last journey. Relatives could not stop her. Even the ruler of Ettayapuram could not change her mind. She wanted the cremation of her husband on the banks of Tambiraparani. 
She also had a dip in the river and joined the pyre and shed her mortal coil along with her husband. Lakshmi, a friend of Akkammal since child hood also joined them in death as she could not bear the separation. Praising Akkammal’s chastity, people built a temple for her then. As Akkammal sprang into the fire (Thee Paichal in Tamil), she was praised as Thee Paintha Ambal which later changed as Theepachi Amman.
The Temple
Theepachi Amman is the presiding in this Temple. Along with the presiding deity, her husband also is nearby in the sanctum sanctorum. There is also a shrine for her friend Lakshmi along with her husband and children. Those devoted to Theepachi Amman pray to her on Shivarathri day and others attached to Lakshmi Ambal pray on Panguni Uthiram. Couples desiring to be together throughout life, pray to this deity. The temple has all the attributes of the story of Kannagi, the celebrated woman of Tamilnadu who proved the power of her chastity before the Pandya king in Madurai.
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
Festivals
Masi Shivarathri in February-March and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Prayers
Women pray seeking a good life partner. Devotees perform special pujas and offer vastras to the deity. People believe that worshipping the Goddess on the last Tuesday and last Friday in the month of Aadi (July-August) would bring them immense benefits. 
Contact
Sri Theepachi Amman Temple,
Vannarpettai, Thirunelveli – 627 003
Phone: +91 – 462 – 250 0344 / 250 0744
Connectivity
The temple is located very near to the Vannarpettai bus stop on the Thirunelveli - Palayamkottai road. Buses are available from Thirunelveli junction, old and new bus stands. Nearest Railway Station is located at Thirunelveli and Nearest Airport is located at Madurai.