Angala Parameswari Temple, Kalavai, Vellore
Angala Parameswari Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to
Mother Parvathi located at Kalavai Town in Vellore District of Tamilnadu. Towards the end of 19th century, a family of Mudaliars
who were residents of Kalavai but devotees of Mel-Malaiyanur-Angala Parameswari
Temple took efforts to build the Angala Parameswari temple in Kalavai. One Appu
Mudaliyar who established the temple and received a yantra from the Kanchi Sri Shankaracharya
Mahaswamikal and consecrated it in the temple.
Appu
Mudaliyar was succeeded by his efficient son Kannappa Mudaliyar who popularized
the temple in Karnataka and Andhra besides Tamil Nadu. His statue is placed in
the enclosure of the temple. Ever since the worship is in the hand this family.
The goddess is seated in the sanctum with four arms holding Udukkai, and trisula in the rear arms and sword and varada pose in the
front arms. But what is significant is that an image of the Goddess, over five
meters in length, is portrayed in stucco, brightly coloured, with multiple arms
wielding weapons, lying face up on the ground in the front mandapa.
She is
portrayed as if in a Shatkonam (six
sided) sacrificial pit. The image is awe inspiring and clothed and decorated
with garlands. This temple is attracting large number devotees and believed to
cure incurable diseases especially mentally affected patients. Peoples from far
off places like even Karnataka and Goa are seen coming here. Thus, it is a
great pilgrim center and also a Prarthana Sthalam. Secondly it attracts tens of
thousands of devotees on the Mahasivarathri day for the masana kollai festival
when the Goddess is taken in procession to the cemetery.
The Temple is located at about 1 Km from Kalavai Bus
Stop, 5 Kms from Kalavai Koot Road Bus Stop, 23 Kms from Arcot, 24 Kms from
Ranipet, 25 Kms from Arani, 22 Kms from Cheyyar, 39 Kms from Kanchipuram, 46
Kms from Vellore and 118 Kms from Chennai. Kalavai is well connected to
Kanchipuram, Cheyyar, Arani and Arcot by Buses. Nearest Railway Station is
located at Ranipet (24 Kms) and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai (100 Kms).
Location
