Vinayagar Temple , Saptamatrikas, Idakini and Kotravai, Marangiyur, Viluppuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to the Vinayagar Temple, Saptamatrikas Temple, Idagini, and Kotravai at Marangiyur, in Viluppuram District, was a part of the 105^th Ahimsa walk organized by the Tamil Samanars on 06^th April 2025. The Marangiyur is one of the villages on the island formed by the Then Pennai River. Ancient remains are found in this village, which include a Jain Tirthankara, a Vinayagar temple, Saptamatrikas, Idakini, Kotravai, etc.

VINAYAGAR TEMPLE WITH CHOZHA PERIOD DWARAPALAKAS, MARANGIYUR.

This Vinayagar temple is on the banks of the Thenpennai River. The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum and an open mukha mandapam. The Chozha-period Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. The Dwarapalakas wear ornaments, padra kundala in the earlobes, Yagnaopaveetha, uthara bandham, and a half dress below the hip. They are with two hands, keeping one hand on the thandam and the other hand on the tarjini/ vismaya mudra.

LOCATION OF THE VINAYAGAR TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

IDAKINI, MARANGIYUR (Pallava period).

This Pallava-period Idakini sculpture in the form of a base relief on a flat stone is on the right side of the Saptamatrikas temple. Idakini, also called Idakini Ghost, lives in the cemetery and eats the dead bodies. She is in a standing posture, holding a dead Child in her left hand and a knife in her right hand. Idakini is in a ferocious look, with protruding teeth, fluttering hair in the form of viri sadai, and hanging breasts. She wears ornaments around her neck, a pathra kundala in her earlobes, and a half dress below her waist.

As per the Sangam Literature Silapathikaram, a woman called Malathi gave Cow’s milk to the child of her Husband’s other wife, when they were away. The child died due to a hiccup. Malathi was afraid of her husband and his other wife and the Child to all the temples of the village, and prayed to all the gods to give back the life of the Child. The temples include Murugan Temple, Amman Temple, Suryan Temple, Chandran Temple, Jain Temple, etc. Finally came the Pasanda Sathan Temple at the burial ground. On hearing Malathi’s prayer and cry, Idakni Ghost came in the form of a beautiful young woman and said, You innocent woman, no Gods will help you, since you had not done any good thing in your previous birth, and took the dead child from Malathi’s hand, went into the dark to eat the child. The Pasanda Sathan took the child from Idakini and gave life to the Child. This was narrated in Silapathikaram, which is given below.  

ஓர் பாசண்டச் சாத்தற்குப் பாடுகிடந்தாளுக்கு,
ஏசும் படி ஓர் இளங்கொடி ஆய், ‘ஆசு இலாய்!
செய் தவம் இல்லோர்க்குத் தேவர் வரம் கொடார்;
பொய் உரையே அன்று; பொருள் உரையே; 

கையில் படு பிணம் தா’ 

என்று, பறித்து, அவள் கைக் கொண்டு,

சுடுகாட்டுக் கோட்டத்து, தூங்கு இருளில் சென்றாங்கு 
இடு பிணந் திண்ணும் இடாகினிப்பேய் வாங்கி,
மடியகத்து இட்டாள், மகவை...

……… சிலப்பதிகாரம்

LOCATION OF THE IDAKINI: CLICK HERE

SAPTAMATRIKAS.

This Pallava period Saptamatrikas temple faces north with a balipeedam and a simha vahana. The Idakini sculpture is on the right side of this temple. The Saptamatrikas panels belong to the Pallava period. Each Matrika is carved in the form of bas-reliefs on individual flat stones. On both sides are Shiva as Yogeswar and Vinayagar.

LOCATION OF THE SAPTAMATRIKAS TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

KOTRAVAI, MARANGIYUR

This Pallava period Kotravai is just opposite the Marangiyur Public Library. Kotravai faces north, buried up to the knee. This Kotravai is in the form of a bas-relief on a flat stone. Kotravai is with ashta bhuja, ie, 8 hands holding various weapons. She wears ornaments around her neck and pathra kundala in her elongated earlobes. Her vahanas, Dear and Simha, are shown on both sides of her leg.

LOCATION OF THE KOTRAVAI: CLICK HERE

HOW TO REACH

Marangiyur is a part of a naturally formed island on the Then Pennai River.

Marangiyur is about 8 km from Thiruvennai Nallur, one of the Thevaram Paadal Petra Sthalam, and 18 km from Villupuram Railway Station.

The nearest Railway Station is Villupuram.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---