This Pachaiamman temple at Thirumullaivoyal (Chennai), in Tiruvallur
District, is very much similar in respects, both in construction and legends, to
the Pachaiamman temple at Munugapattu, Vazhaipandal in Tiruvannamalai District.
Moolavar: Sri Pachaiamman
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces a 5-tier Rajagopuram on the back side.
A mini Rajagopuram is on the east side. Stucco images of Pachaiamman, Shiva, Parvati, and Saptakannis are on the east side of the mini Rajagopuram.
The main idol of Pachaiamman is a stucco painted in green
colour, and a stone idol is in front. Pachai Amman is in a sitting posture with
4 hands. The upper hands are holding pasa and angusam, and the lower hands are
holding a bowl and a pirambu/cane. A balipeedam and simham are in front of the
sanctum sanctorum. Amman’s various forms like Agni thabas, Varahi, Achvaruda,
Brahmi are in koshtam.
Sri Mannatheeswarar Shrine...
In the paraharam, Sri Mannatheeswarar is in a separate Sannidhi and faces North. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. In the sanctum sanctorum, Shiva (not in Shiva Linga Form), Vinayagar, and a Shiva
Lingam. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Sarabeswarar, Dakshinamurthy, Durgai, and Maha
Vishnu.
In the praharam, Utsavars, Vallaba Vinayagar & Prithiyangira Devi,
Sri Valli Devasena Subramanir, Nagars under Peepal Tree, Kathyayini Amman with
a child on her lap, Durgai Amman, Nagar, Navagrahas, Saniswarar, Kala Bairavar
and Ashta Bairavars, Dakshan & Veerabhadra, Veeradashi and Veeramuthu
(Believed to be of Heri Stones/ Sati Stones), Stucco images of Muni, Parasarare
Jada Muni, Viyakkamare Muthu Muni, Naradare Veda Muni, Vishvamithrare Kari
MuniVasishta Chemmuni, Two Horses, and Suka Brahma Rishi.
Dakshan & Veerabhadra
Kala Bairavar
Ashta Bairavars sannidhi
ARCHITECTURE
The total temple was built with bricks and cement concrete. The temple
consists of a sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. A
three-tier salakara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.
Moolavar salakara vimanam
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple may be 200 to 300 years old. The temple and the mandapam were
renovated, and maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 31st August
1923. This was carried out by Soolai Kusapettai, Muthusamy Pillai’s son
Munisamy Pillai, the descendants of Thiruneelakandar, Poojari Periyasamy Pillai, and the General Public.
Again, the temple’s thiruppani was carried out, and maha kumbabhishem
was carried out on 12th July 1971 and in 2017.
LEGENDS
The legend associated with Sri Pachai Amman Temple at Munugapattu, Vazhapandal
in Thiruvannamalai District is applicable to all the Pachai Amman temples in
Tamil Nadu. The legend goes like this….
Here, the Pachai Amman is considered the incarnation of Ma Parvati, and
Shiva has a human form as Mannatheeswarar Swamy. As per the legend, when
Shiva and Parvati were at Kailash, Ma Parvati playfully closed the eyes of
Shiva. At that moment, the universe became dark. Angered, Shiva cursed Ma Parvati to
go to earth and live as an ordinary woman. Ma Parvati knew that Shiva would grant
her wish if she did severe penance. So, Ma Parvati came to this earth and
selected this place, Thirumullaivoyal, which was called Veeramapuri in those
days, to do the penance. Shiva as Vazhlmuni and Maha Vishnu as Semmuni guarded
her to complete her penance. Devotees gathered to have the darshan of Ma
Parvati's penance. Due to this, the place was covered with dust. On seeing this, the
Suraponman, the ruler of this place, ordered his brother to chase Ma Parvati away.
On hearing of the beauty of Ma Parvati, his brother wished to marry her.
On hearing this, Ma Parvati got angry and, with the help of Munis, riding
on her vehicle, the lion in the form of Pachaiamman killed Suraponman.
There are many side stories about Pachaiamman, and some of them are….
Due to Ma Parvati’s severe penance with agni/
fire around her, the celestial deities couldn’t bear the heat and requested Shiva
to make her calm by giving the left side of his body. Shiva and Ma Parvati reunited and gave Ardhanareeswarar darshan to Devas and celestial deities.
The story of Agniveeran. Ma Parvati ordered the destruction of the fort and
killed Agniveeran through Maha Vishnu as Vazhlmuni. Agniveera’s wife prayed to Maha Vishnu as Vazhlmuni to give back her husband’s life.
Ma Parvati, with her children, went to Kashi and didn’t do poojas to
Shiva. Due to this, Kashi experienced drought. The King prayed to Ma
Parvati to forgive him.
Ma Parvati, as Pachai Amman, did poojas to the Shiva Linga; due to this, Kashi
was relieved from drought and poverty. Ma Parvati, as Annapoorani, served food to
relieve all from hunger.
The legend of
Mannatheeswarar… After coming to the earth, Ma Parvati didn’t get water
immediately. Due to this, her body became hot and red in colour due to
anger. After getting water through her sons, Vinayagar and Murugan. Then, Ma
Parvati started her penance calmly, and her body turned green.
The people of this region worship Pachai Amman as their Kula
Deivam. Since Shiva was made out of mud, ie, மண், Shiva was called Man
Lingeswarar, Man Swamy, and the same has been corrupted to Mannatheeswarar.
This Pachai Amman temple is popularly known as the main temple; Shiva as
Mannatheeswarar Swamy is one of the parivara deities of this temple. The specialities
of this temple are that Ma Parvati did penance at this place, Shiva is in human
form, and Shiva and Maha Vishnu as guardian / dwarapalakas.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on Amavasya Days, Aadi month, Fridays, etc. The annual festival will
be celebrated in August. Pachai Kungumam is offered at the sanctum.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs and from 15.30
hrs to 20.30 hrs.
Arulvakku will be told from 14.30 hrs to 16.00 hrs on Fridays and
Sundays.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The temple is on the Kulakarai Road, about 250 meters from Chennai –
Tirutani – Renikunda Highway. The temple is about 4 km from Avadi, 7 km from
Ambattur Industrial Estate, 13.6 km from Koyambedu CMBT, and 22 km from Chennai
Central Railway Station.
The nearest Railway Station is Thirumullaivoyal (3 km).
Navagrahas Sannidhi
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
