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 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 arthamandappam. Amman is with 4 hands, while the lower hands are in abhaya and varada hastam, the upper hands holds Trishul and angusa. The sanctum vimanam 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 sticked 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 the jail. When he realized on the next day, begged Lord Shiva to pardon him and relieve him from Shiva dosham. Shiva advised him to worship Kali in “arupam” ( without image ) under a palm tree at Pananjalai near Adhipuri ( Thiruvotriyur ) on 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 is in arupam – without Image. Kali replied, that she will reveal that on 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 as Royapuram.
 
Years passed, the people wished to construct a temple and worship Kali in the form of an image. Goddess Kali came on a small boy and asked them to construct a temple with image through Uthukadu Panchalars and want to go to Mayana Kollai. ( still we can see the stucco image of the boy on all the for corners of the Vimana ). In the mean time 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 Entrance arch on Angalamman Koil Street. The pillar has reliefs and the capital are carved like demon heads. This place is called as Kal mandapam due this presence of this mandapa. Now the mandapa was encroached by the vendors )
 
It is believed that the obstacles in the marriages will be relieved, boon for Child, family problem will be resolved after praying Sri Angala Parameswari.  
 
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Devotees gather in large numbers on Tuesday, Fridays, No-moon days, Pongal, Navaratri, Deepavali days. The 13 days 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 opened 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 the Mannar Koil street opposite to Royapuram Police station.
Those who are coming by bus, the bus stop name is Royapuram Police Station.
 
LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 

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

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---