Sakkarayi Amman Kovil, / சக்கராயி அம்மன் கோவில், தாராசுரம் / Darasuram, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Sakkarayi Amman Temple at Darasuram, near Kumbakonam, was a part of the “Shiva, Vishnu and Amman Temples Visit, in and around Kumbakonam”, on 13^th July 2024.

The Sakkarayi Amman worship is similar to the Lajja Gauri worship in Upper Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh areas. The Main deity is unique, and I hope only one such deity is under worship in Tamil Nadu.    

Moolavar : Sri Sakkarayi Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces North with a Balipeedam on top of a Chozha period Stone Pillar part – Kudam. Stucco Dwarapalakis are Pachchai Kali (Painted in green colour) and Pavala Kali (Painted in Red color) at the entrance of the Sanctum Sanctorum. In addition, two stucco images of Dwarapalakis are in the mukha mandapam.  The Main Deity, Sakkarayi Amman, is in the form of a bas-relief on a flat stone. Amman is without a head (maybe a lotus flower instead of a head), and its hands are seen in a raised position near the head side. It was said that Amman would be in a squatting position with legs apart. No Dress is shown. A Head of the Amman has been installed in recent years. No images are in the kostam.

In ardha mandapam, Narthana Vinayagar, Bairavar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahalakshmi, Maha Vishnu Pada, Maruthuva Mariamman, Trishul, Mariamman, Vinayagar, Ayyanar, Sri Nardana Kali, Veerabhadra, and Sri Vinayagar. Nagaras are under a Neem Tree.

 Sakkarayi Amman

Jyeshta Devi

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is square in shape and built in the gramiya style. The adhistanam was built with Stone, and above it was built with bricks. A two-tier Salakara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Amman’s various forms are on the tala and greeva koshtams. The mukha mandapam was built in recent years with cement and concrete.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The Main Deity and the temple belong to the 11^th to 12^th Century Chozha Period. It was said that the Main Deity image was brought as a war trophy by the Chozhas from the northern part of India.

A 19^th to 20th-century inscription on a slab stone is installed on the left side entrance of the temple. The inscription is not legible, but records some Gifts given to this temple.

Balipeedam is installed over a Chozha period mandapa pillar part- kudam- 

 Maybe one of the Ashtadikpalaka or a Royal person riding on a Horse

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Amman was a female Demon who was killed by Kali. The head was thrown into the nearby temple tank. The head was taken out and installed in front of the Demon, and the female Demon is worshipped as Sakkarayi Amman.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, Special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Tuesdays, and Amavasya Days. The annual 10-day Utsavam is conducted in the month of Vaikasi, from the 3^rd day after Amavasya.   

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 08.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The priest Ravi may be contacted on his mobile number +919150831842 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This Sri Sakkarayi Amman Temple is about a km distance from the popular Dharasuram Airavatesvara Temple near Kumbakonam, 4.6 km from Kumbakonam Railway Station, 36 km from Thanjavur, and 40 km from Mayiladuthurai.

The nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---