Menhir and Sri Ponkaliamman Temple at Kumarikalpalayam, Tiruppur District Tamil Nadu.

After Kodumanal, our next visit was to Kumarikal Palayam, about 9 km from Kunnathur towards Pallagoundenpalayam after Karumanchirai. This was my second visit, along with M/s Srinivasan, Raja, and Gowthami. (Details of my first visit  CLICK HERE ).

MENHIR

The menhir is 30 feet tall, and originally it was 35 feet; 5 feet was broken off a few years ago. And below the ground, at least there must be a minimum of 10 to 15 feet to support this 35-foot menhir.  It is a wonder how the Iron Age people cut the rock into slabs and erected them without using modern equipment.

LOCATION OF THE MENHIR: CLICK HERE

SRI PONKALIAMMAN TEMPLE

This temple is on the way to the highest menhir at Kumarikal Palayam. A small temple was constructed for the village deity Sri Ponkaliamman. The temple faces North, which is rare. In the sanctum, only two stones are installed, and the people worship Sri Ponkaliamman, also called Kotravai.

A lot of Trishuls are kept in the sanctum, offered by the devotees. As per locals, Amman is very powerful. The annual festival used to be celebrated during the Chithirai month (June-July). During the annual festival, goats and cocks are sacrificed in Amman. As per the local lady, Amman used to come to a Girl who was not married and drink the raw blood of the sacrificed goats offered to Sri Ponkaliamman. Also, there will be a solution for everything from Sri Ponkaliamman, like Marriage obstacles, childbirth, etc. After fulfilling their wishes, the devotees used to offer male, female, and crawling child statues made of mud/ terracotta. (சுடு மண் பொம்மைகள்). 

 Offerings to Amman - Terracotta dolls  சுடுமண் பொம்மைகள்

 During the summer, water in the wells dried up, and the water that used to come in these natural ponds for conducting Abhishekam to Amman is a miracle. 

....  to be continued ( Vijayamangalam)

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---