Irukkankudi Mariamman Temple- Tamil Nadu
Irrukkankudi,
the land where rivers Vaipparu and Arjuna meet
Is home to a temple
more than 500 years old
Maa Mariamman
sits with her right leg folded,
A posture that’s
the opposite of how she adorns the throne
In the rest of
her aalayas.
Under the
beautiful vimana of the aalyam
Lay the artha
mandao and maha mandap
Nandeeswara and
Kodimaram align outside
Vinayaka rests
under the Arasa Maram
Vazha Vandha
Amma* and Rakachi Amman* sit on the west
Pechi Amman* and
Muppdari Amman* have their shrines on the northwest
Kathavarayan* and
Vairavamurthi* are at the east
Karuppusami* has
the southeast corner to himself
The bhakts
worship the devas and devis in order
The story of
Mariamman comes from 300 years ago
When a poojari
saw a woman
Trying to lift a
basket full of cow dung
The poojari and
others tried their best to help
But the efforts
went in vain until the woman called out
In a voice that
wasn’t her own
In the ground
below the basket
Lay the murti of
Mariamman
Waiting to be
dugout and cleaned
To be built a
proper abode in the village
As she would sit guard and keep them safe.
*********
Note:
Vazha Vandha Amma, Rakachi Amman, Pechi Amman, Muppdari Amman, Kathavarayan, Vairavamurthi, and Karuppusami are local deities.
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Source:
https://www.templeshistory.in/2020/07/irukkankudi-mariamman-temple-timings.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariamman_Temple,_Irukkankudi
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Very nice.. Like your style, a lot can be said in a nice little poem without wading through a lot of literature. Kudos and best wishes!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, sir. :)
DeleteBeautiful story, and beautiful temple too!
ReplyDeleteQuilting Patchwork & Appliqué
Thank you, Frederique. :)
DeleteThe first poem took me a while to read. Wanted to get the words right. Looked out for the stars. :-D
ReplyDeleteWell put. I am happy knowing about the deity. Loved the second poem. :-D
Haha... Thank you. It was tricky and looked like I had to include them in the poem. :D
DeleteLoved the poetic way you have used to tell about irukkankudi mariamman temple. Thanks for sharing. I have often heard songs of mariamman now I can connect the deity too.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Pragun. :D
DeleteEnjoyed the history and story of this temple Sri. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Does the 'right leg folded' have any significance/symbolism?
Thank you, Arti. :)
DeleteYes, it does. Her murti has a standard posture with left leg folded and right one dangling over the edge of the throne. Only in this temple, she sits with her right leg folded and left one down the throne.
Srivalli, thank you for this wonderful post. I have come seen pictures of temples devoted to Mariamma in the Caribbean islands. There she's called Mariammen.
ReplyDeleteWelcome. :D
DeleteOh, that's amazing! I googled the temple you mentioned, and got to know a little piece of history. Thank you for sharing it me.
I wonder why she sits with her right leg folded... Is there some spiritual meaning assigned to it too?!
ReplyDeleteI tried to find the reason for this, but couldn't. :(
DeleteGuess the locals would know.