Ko Nagar Kumaran Vazhipattu Kuzhu, Annual Function, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

31^st December 2017.

After Vijayanagara kings the temples in Tami Nadu are surviving because of the thirupani ( selfless service ) by the Nattukottai Chettiars otherwise called as Nagarathars. All the nagarathars comes under 9 Shiva temples and they also worship Lord Muruga/ Subramaniyar. During Thai Poosam festival they use to walk with out chappal to the Murugan Temples of Palani, Thiruthani, Thiruchendur from their residence.

In addition to this they used worship Lord Murugan at a Common place where they are presently residing  for a day or two. One of my friend of Konapet ( Ko Nagar ), invited me for their 18th year annual function of Swamy & Ambal thirukalyanam and Arupadai Murugan alangara pooja at a Sri Krishna Swamy Kalyana Mandapam, on South Boag Road, Chennai.

Though the function was scheduled from early morning 04.00 hrs with homam, I could able to attend only around 11.30 hrs. Had the darshan of Thiruthani, Swamimalai and Pazhamudir Cholai Sri Valli Devasena Murugan with beautiful sandal paste alangaram.

 

 Thiruthani- see the expression of Sri Valli 

Through out the day the bhajan was performed by the children. Enjoyed the hospitality of Ko Nagar ( Konapet ) Nagarathars  and darshan of Sri Valli Devasena Murugan.  Here are some pictures taken during my visit....

 Thiruthani- see the expression of Sri Valli 

 Swamimalai _ Muruga as Guru to Lord Shiva 

Pazhamudir Cholai 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

YMCA, King George Statue, SICAL Building, A Heritage Walk from Chennakesava Perumal Temple to Nattukottai Nagarathar's Chatram.

 24^th December 2016.

After Visiting YMCA, we had crossed many Heritage Buildings to reach Nattukottai. Nagarathars Chatram.. Mumbai based Ebrahim Currim & Sons started the business of making umbrellas under the brand name of "Stag", in the Year 1860, ( for further reading the article published in THE HINDU may be referred.) The machines and cloths are imported from London initially. The Lakshmi Bai, lady in the show case stands was named after goddess Lakshmi, who brings wealth.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

KING GEORGE STATUE

King George's Statue, was erected in memory of King George V, when he was crowned as Emperor of India. The so called black town  was renamed as George Town, where the statue erected.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

Catholic centre ( this was built from the money received after selling the Gandhi Nagar Housing Plots), Oriental Insurance Building.

LOCATION:

South India Corporation Agencies building   After MA Chidambaram separated from Raja Annamalai’s Bungalow, started his own business of Trading construction materials like, pipes, steels rods etc, in this building. The business expanded and diversified in many fields like, logistics, coal handling, Coffee plantation, Chemical manufacturing, hardwares manufacturing etc,. After his demise, his grand son Ashwin C Muthiah took over the business. As a part of asset restructuring the building was sold to Cafe Coffee day group.
  

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

Kalikambal Temple ( It was told That Maratha King Shivaji worshiped Kalikambal of this temple ). 

LOCATION:CLICK HERE 

Nattukottai nagarathars Chatrams ( Rangoon Chatram, Karaikudi Nagarathar's Chatram and Devakottai Nagarathar's Chatram ) on Coral Merchants Street. These Chatrams are constructed for the Chettiars and served as transit accommodation before going to Rangoon between 1870 to 1930. Their main business was to lend money ( Kasu kadai ). During second world war, the Nattukottai Nagarathars returned to India leaving their properties and assets. Still Chettiars holds the documents of their property in paper, which do not have any value now.

LOCATION: 

 The Pillar Pothyal all are made of Burma teak wood

 The front door panel 

 The Burma teak wood ceiling in front of a Murugan Temple in 1^st Floor of Chatram

 The Burma teak wood ceiling in front of a Murugan Temple in 1^st Floor of Chatram

 The British emblem on the storage unit. 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Veera sekarar Temple, Sakkottai, Devakottai in Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

  

27^th July 2016

When I told about the missed opportunity of attending my friend Mr Venkatesh, son’s marriage at Devakottai,  to one of my friend Mr Nachiappan,  in turn invited me to Devakottai to attend the Kottai Amman’s annual 15 days festival, which is unique in nature and lakhs of people used attend from various parts of India.  So I decided to attend the festival  to get the blessings of Sri Kottai Amman.  I stayed along with his family and visited Two shiva temple and a Saibaba temple.

SRI VEERASEKARAR TEMPLE, SAKKOTTAI, SIVAGANGA DISTRICT

The temple is maintained by  130 pulli Devakottai nagarathars through former Chief justice A R Lakshmanan  and his family. They have their madam which was renovated recently.

Moolavar    : Sri Veerasekarar

Consort      : Sri Umayambigai.

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram and a temple pond  in front with a mandapam. The temple was constructed in stages like a mada temple. Constructed completely with stone. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Durgai.

In the inner prakaram 63var, Bhairavar Subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi,  Perumal ( This Vishnu statue was unearthed during renovation at Nandhavanam ), Bairavar, Natarajar, Navagrahas, Veeramaram in stone with Nagars.

Ambal sannadhi is in the front mandapam with separate Dwajasthambam, Palipedam and Nandi.

There are about 4 statues of Nagarathars sculptured on the pillar ) Might have done thirupani to this temple ).

HISTORY

There is no inscription on the moolavar sanctum but available in the front mandapam, which is of latter period. From the recent period inscription it was learnt that the kumbhabhishekam was conducted during 1887 and from other inscriptions, the temple might have constructed during 15^th to 16^th century.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is very near to Karaikudi, can be reached through Taxi and frequency of the bus is limited.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Sri Saibaba Temple, Devakottai, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

 27^th July 2016

When I told about the missed opportunity of attending my friend Mr Venkatesh, son’s marriage at Devakottai,  to one of my friend Mr Nachiappan,  in turn invited me to Devakottai to attend the Kottai Amman’s annual 15 days festival, which is unique in nature and lakhs of people used attend from various parts of India.  So I decided to attend the festival  to get the blessings of Sri Kottai Amman.  I stayed along with his family and visited Two Shiva temple and a Saibaba temple.

SRI SAIBABA TEMPLE, DEVAKOTTAI.

This temple was built by former Chief justice AR Lakshmanan through his own fund and managed by his brothers. The temple is facing east with an entrance arch on south side. The Saibaba idol was sculptured from white marble and brought from north India.  A Vinayagar temple is by the side of Saibaba temple. The architecture is of north Indian style. It was told that Sri Sai Baba’s miracle vibhuti appears  on the plate.

HOW TO REACH :

Devakottai is about 20 KM from Karaikudi and frequent buses are available from Karaikudi

The temple is on Gandhi Road near Lions Club hall.

Autos are available from Bus stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Sri Kottai Amman Temple / ஸ்ரீ கோட்டை அம்மன் கோவில், Devakottai, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

  27^th July 2016

When I told about the missed opportunity of attending my friend Mr Venkatesh, son’s marriage at Devakottai,  to one of my friend Mr Nachiappan,  in turn invited me to Devakottai to attend the Kottai Amman’s annual 15 days festival, which is unique in nature and lakhs of people used attend from various parts of India.  So I decided to attend the festival  to get the blessings of Sri Kottai Amman.  I stayed along with his family and visited Two Shiva temple and a Saibaba temple.

SRI KOTTAI AMMAN TEMPLE, DEVAKOTTAI.

This temple is also belongs to 40 sections 130 pullis of Devakottai Nagarathars with 5 trustees on board with 2 years period. But as per the comment Devakottai Kottai Amman maedai belongs to 40 clans of nagarathar totalling around 5000 families( pullird what we call) and not 230 pullird as appearing in one of the comments. Please stand corrected on this data  Once in 16 year a group gets as trustee of the temple. The 15 days annual festival will be conducted from 18^th July to 1^st August 2016. During rest of the period people used to worship through  grill. The temple is very simple with a front mandapam constructed with  mangalore tiles roofing.  In the sanctum there is no moortham, but only a platform. During function days a kumbh with coconut was placed on the platform  and decorated like Amman.

Pooja was performed only to the kumbh decorated like Amman. But abhishekam was conducted 2 times in a day  to balipeedam installed in the mandapam. The abhishekam was done with Thiraviyam, Milk, Curd, honey, cut fruits, Panchamirtham, Sandalwood paste, Turmeric paste, Tender Coconut water, Panneer,  Lemon, etc,. About 300 to 400 liters of milk was used for Abhishekam. After abhishekam the balipeedam was decorated with flowers.

Devakottai nagarathars used to attend this festival every year, from where they are. The Amman is very  powerful and people pray for all like, diseases, buying property, getting visa for foreign countries, employment, getting marriage, Child, etc. etc,..  After wishes are fulfilled, people used to offer to Amman, like Pongal, Sugar cane cradle ( Children will be carried through this cradle ), Ma vilakku etc..

  

 Sugarcane cradle – an offering by a devotee after child was born 

People will not fry food items during the 15 days  and it was believed that this will increase the heat of Amman. After the function Decorated Amman will be immersed in the temple pond to reduce the heat. It was learnt that during the function days no mutton shops will open for sale. Till 15 years back goats and cocks are sacrificed to Amman. This practice is stopped now.

  

HOW TO REACH :

Devakottai is about 20 KM from Karaikudi

The temple is on the Oorani street. Autos are available from Devakottai Bus stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

Milk abhishekam 

Pushpa ( flower ) decoration 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---