Sri Angala Parameswari Temple and a Stone Pillared Mandapam at Kalmandapam, a part of Royapuram – A Royapuram Heritage Ride / walk.

11^th August 2018.

The visit to this temple and the stone-pillared mandapam are a part of the Royapuram Heritage walk/ride held on 11^th August 2018. As per the legend, the name of this place Royapuram was derived from the guarding deity Pavadai Rayar of Sri Angala Parameswari. And the Kalmandapam, a part of Royapuram was named after the Stone Pillared mandapam in front of the temple. This is one of the 5 Amman temples maintained by the Vishwakarma group in Madras ( Chennai ).

 

Presiding deity: Sri Angala Parameswari.
 
Some of the important features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Palipedam and Simha vahana are immediately after the Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. Amman is with 4 hands, while the lower hands are in abhaya and varada hastam, and the upper hands hold Trishul and angusa. The sanctum vimana is of two tiers.
 
In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Veerabhadra, Ponmudi maharaja, Varasiddhi vinayagar, Adhi Sakthi, and Subramaniyar. In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Manikka Vinayagar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Periyandavar and the temple tank.
 
HISTORY
It was believed that the temple is more than 500 years old and in 1818AD one by name Subbiah Achari had renovated this temple.
 
LEGENDS
As per the legend, Shiva chopped the 5^th head of Brahma, and the head stuck to his hand. With this, he roamed, as Pickshadanar. When he reached Vallamputhur near Mayavaram ( Mayiladuthurai ), the Pavadairayan who takes care of the Village, unknowingly put Shiva in jail. When he realized the next day, begged Lord Shiva to pardon him and relieve him from Shiva dosha. Shiva advised him to worship Kali in “arupam” ( without image ) under a palm tree at Pananjalai near Adhipuri ( Thiruvotriyur ) in the north direction. Your dosha will be relieved if you guard her.  After reaching Pananjalai, bathed in the temple tank and worshiped Kali. When Pavadai Rayar asked, why she was in aroopam – without an Image. Kali replied, that she would reveal that at an appropriate time, till that time asked Pavadairayar to worship her in the form of Arupam. Pavadai Rayar brought all his assistants & soldiers and stayed permanently. Hence this place was called Royapuram.
 
Years passed, the people wished to construct a temple and worship Kali in the form of an image. Goddess Kali came to a small boy and asked them to construct a temple with an image through Uthukadu Panchalars and wanted to go to Mayana Kollai. (still, we can see the stucco image of the boy on all the corners of the Vimana). In the meantime, Uthukkadu Panchalars came to the Village in search of their livelihood. When the trustees of the temple asked them to construct a temple as per the wish of Kali. They agreed to do so with the condition of doing pooja on Maha Shivaratri day, by themselves.  The temple was constructed with stone mandapa and Kali was also installed in the form of Sri Angala Parameswari, who blesses her devotees. (The stone mandapa is between the temple Rajagopuram and the Entrance arch on Angalamman Koil Street. The pillar has reliefs and the capital is carved like demon heads. This place is called Kal mandapam due to the presence of this mandapa. Now the mandapa was encroached on by the vendors )
 
It is believed that the obstacles in the marriages will be relieved, boon for the Child, and family problems will be resolved after praying Sri Angala Parameswari.  
 
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Devotees gather in large numbers on Tuesdays, Fridays, No-moon days, Pongal, Navaratri, and Deepavali days. The 13-day Brahmotsavam festival will be celebrated after Maha Shivaratri. Amman used to go to Mayanam/ burial ground along with Pavadairayar (Mayana kollai - மயானக் கொள்ளை), where she kills the demon.       
 
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.45 hrs.
 
CONTACT DETAILS:
The official web site
http://royapuramangalaparameswariamman.tnhrce.in/history.html
 
HOW TO REACH:
The temple is on Mannar Koil Street opposite Royapuram Police station.
For those who are coming by bus, the bus stop's name is Royapuram Police Station.
 
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 

 The Boy’s stucco mage – Sri Angala Parameswari came to this boy to give directions for constructing the temple. 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---