16th
April 2019.
It
was a two days trip to Koothandavar
Temple at Koovagam, near Villupuram.
The annual 18 days festival was
in-progress and wish to to attend the important functions on 16th
April 2019 night and 17th morning Chariot procession ( on Chitra
pournami day ). Even-though there are many Koothandavar temples from Cuddalore
to Coimbatore, this Koothandavar temple festival is a special and popular.
This
temple is dedicated to Aravan also called as Koothandavar. The transgender from various parts of India and
abroad used to assemble on the above two
days to celebrate and worship Aravan of
this temple.
Decorated Aravan Chriot
The
presiding deity : Aravan also called as
Koothandavar.
Some
of the salient features of this temple and the festival are…
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple is facing east. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, artha mandapam
and a open mukha mandapam. In the sanctum
Koothandavar head is kept and worshiped. The artha mandapam has pillars seems to
be of Nayakas period. Stucco images of Chariot with Arjuna is on the top of the mandapam.
LEGENDS
Basically this temple is associated with Epic Mahabharata. The story goes like
this.. The war between Pandavas and Kauravas
is about to start. It was told that Pandavas to win, they have to
sacrifice a Good looking, handsome , good character man to Kali.
In Pandavas team, Krishna, Arjuna and Arjuna’s son Aravan who was born
to Arjuna and Vettua Girl Nagakanni has the qualifications. Since Arjuna and
Krishna are essential for the Mahabharat war and decided to sacrifice Aravan.
Aravan accepted for sacrifice if three conditions are met. The three conditions
are, to marry a Girl and live for a day as husband and wife. The second
condition was, he must see the 18 days war scene. The third was, people should
worship him in temples.
Nobody
came forward to marry him for one day married life. So Krishna took Mohini form,
marry Aravan and lived for a day. Aravan
was sacrificed before Kali and Krishna kept the head alone to see the 18 days
war.
TRANSGENDER CELEBRATIONS
To Match with this 18 days Mahabharata war, the annual celebrations in this temple will also be held 18 days. On
16th day thousands of Transgenders
assemble at the temple dressing themselves like bride and tie
mangalsutra, through temple priests. This signifies that they consider
themselves as Mohinis and marry Aravan. (
Normal people also tie mangalsutra for prayers... like illness, marriage or Child birth etc ). Whole night the transgenders
celebrate their one day married life by singing and dancing.
At the same time the
chariot will be assembled for which hand, legs, chest, body were brought from nearby
villages. Head will be taken from The temple. The body of the Aravan will be
built using straw and levees. The Chariot will be decorated with garlands and
flowers.
On
the next day morning, the chariot
procession will start from the temple. It will circumambulate the temple and
then it will be pulled to Aazhikalam also called as Pandaladi. On reaching
pandaladi, a pooja will be conducted. The head will be taken to the temple, signifies
the sacrificing Aravan. The transgenders will cut the mangalsutra tied on the previous day, break bangles and remove the thilak & flowers. They form
a group and cry & mourn the death of their husband Aravan. Some used to wear white sarees to
signify that they had become widows. Finally they disburse and proceed to their
native places.
HOW TO REACH:
Special
buses will run from Villupuram to Koovagam
on festival days.
About
6 KM from Thiruvennainallur and 3 KM from Periyasevalai.
Share
autos are available from Thiruvennainallur and Periyasevalai.
Nearest
Railway station is Villupuram.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
Decorated Aravan Chriot
Prepration of Aravan Chariot
Dressing like a bride
priest tie the mangal sutra
Normal people too tie mangal sutra for pray.
Breaking bangles
Mourn the death of Aravan
Mourn the death of Aravan
Mourn the death of Aravan
Mourn the death of Aravan
Mourn the death of Aravan
The removed mangal sutras and flowers
Broken bangles
Had
been to this temple once again on 08th June 2019 a part of ancient
temples visit around Villupuram. There was no rush in the temple, very few
people came for dharshan. As we have seen
earlier, the removed head of Aravan or Koothandavar from the chariot was kept
in the sanctum on an oonjal. The head
will be in the sanctum till next thiruvizha.
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