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Friday, September 23, 2016

PETTI KALIAMMAN, KORANATTU KARUPPUR- IN KUMBAKONAM

PETTI KALIAMMAN, KORANATTU KARUPPUR
                     IN KUMBAKONAM

SREE ABIRAMI SAMETHA SUNDARESWARAR TEMPLE

This temple is 3 kms from Kumbakonam on the NH 36 and main deities are Sundareswarar and Abhiramai and is about 900 years old.    Kaliamman idol reached this place in flood in the River Cauvery about 200 years back, which flows about 100 metres from this temple.  





It is a big temple with 3 praharas and one of the pancha Krosha sthalam, that is 5 Siva temples within a radius of 10 miles within Kumbakonam.  The five temples are:

1. Darasuram

2. Swamimalai
3. Koranattu Karuppur
4. Thiruvidaimaruthur
5. Thirunageswaram.

It is said that Goddess Mangalambika went in Pradakshina to these five siva sthalas before taking her place with Sree Kumbeshwarar at Kumbakonam. Legend has it that once Devas joined together and conducted Poundreegayagam.  They got a liquid substance during the yagam which would give benefits equivalent to that of Amirtham.   Five droplets from that fell within the 10 mile radius and these are the pancha krosha sthalas.



Koranattu Karuppur in earlier days was known by the name Thirupatalavanam. The place was a Pathiri trees vana and thus the area was called Patalavanam. After Sree Mahakali with reduced shape (Bust Only) came to this place floating in Cauvery, the place got the name Kuraintha Karuppu Kaliyur which later on came to be known as Koranattu Karuppur.   As the Kali came in a box, the deity was also known as Petti Kaliamman.

From the inscriptions on stones in the temple, it is said that the temple had been built during the Chola period and lot of renovations had been carried out by Kulothungan III (1186-1216AD).  The front entrance Gopuram is 5 tierd and the main deity Sree Sundareswarar faces east and Sree Abhirami Ambal Southward.   Devas Sundaram and Logasundaram worshipped the Lord and lord came to be known as Sundareswarar.  The temple tank which is on the eastern side of the temple is known as Brahma theertham.  In the second praharam, one can find deities Sree Vinayagar, Sree Dakshinamurthy, Saptha Mathas, Sree Subramanyar, Lakshmi, Durgai and on the northern side can see the Sannadhis of Sree natarajar, Bhairavar and Navagrahas.  


Lord Siva, as Sundareswarar is in the form of Linga.   Sree Abhirami ambigai is with four hands, right top hand holds the Jepamalai, left top hand has the lotus flower, right lower hand abhayamuthra and left lower hand varadha muthra. The Kaliamman is with Ashta Puja and only the top half came in the box in Cauvery and that is the one presently kept in the temple as suggested by the then Paramacharya of Sree Kanchi Mutt.  When the box was washed aside to the banks of this place and the archaka and people found the bust of kaliamman were not knowing what to do.  A small girl then started speaking in Malayalam and Prakritha languages telling the mahimai of the amman, that she had come to this place and how she should be worshipped.  As she was kept in Sundareswarar temple and she was also called as Sundara Mahakaliamman. As instructed by the Amman, even today all the annam (cooked rice) and other prasadams will be offered first and then only the box will be opened.  Presently this is done only during the Ragu Kala on Fridays and Sundays.  After the pooja is over, the box will be closed again.  As she is an Ugra Amman, curd, milk, Pongal (Curd Pallayam - in cooked rice are added pure curd from cow's milk and with no salt, onion pieces mixed and with fruits - தயிர் பள்ளயம் -குளிர்ச்சியை தரும்) offered first and box is opened and then she is offered the normal pooja offerings of flowers, javvadhu, Punugu, panneer, sandal paste, turmeric powder, Kungumam, viboothi and fruits.  None of the ones offered to the Kaliamman is given as prasadam to devotees but curd pallayam, pongal and milk offered earlier is given as prasadam.  Yearly once during Uttarayana the box will be taken around the village and the palanquin in which the box is taken, will be swung and also the carriers will run to indicate the Ugra kali's fierce nature.







Every day, according to the Agamas, both for Moolavar and Abhirami Ambigai four kala poojas are carried out.  For Sundara Maha Kaliamman as earlier described on Fridays and Sundays and also special poojas are performed on Amavasya, Pournami, Ashtami and Navami days.  Brahmothsavam is being in Chithirai Pournami.



There are also specific restrictions for offering prayers to Mahakali.   Women those on periods, Pregnant women, those who have done shave or taken Oil bath should not offer prayers and Darshan of Mahakali).


Update on 05 03 2018

Presently the temple is under r enovation and the Kumbabhishekam is proposed to be on 21st March 2018 with festivities starting from 19th onwards.  On 04th March 2018, Sunday, I was at this temple and in the morning at 0900 AM the Balalayam was done for the Petti Kaliamman and deity was taken out of the box and she has been covered and will now can have darshan of her after Kumbabhishekam only.   








A picture of the deity has been installed with due homams between 9 and 10 AM on Sunday and pooja will be performed for this picture until Kumbabhishekam.











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