Melpattambakkam Adhi Angalamman Temple, Cuddalore

Address

Melpattambakkam,

Cuddalore District,

Tamilnadu– 607104.

Amman

Adhi Angalaman

Introduction

Melpattambakkam Adhi Angalamman Temple is an Amman Temple, in a small village called Melpattambakkam in Cuddalore district, Tamilnadu. This is a 500 year old Adhi Angalamman Temple. Although there are many shrines in the name of Angalamman, there are only a few special shrines. Melpattambakkam Angalamman Temple is one such special place. This temple can be reached by buses going to Cuddalore – Panruti.

Puranic Significance

About 500 years ago, the region was inhabited by a large number of people belonging to the Parvadaraja clan. Their main occupation is fishing. They used to do their business on the nearby Devanampattinam beach. At one point there was a great depression in the fishing industry. The fish did not get caught in the fishermen’s nets spread in the sea. As a result, the livelihood of the fishermen was greatly affected. Stunned by this, the people decided to worship their ancestral deity Angalamman. They also decided to build a temple for the mother. But because there is no business, no one has an economy. Everyone was confused as to how to build a temple for Mother.

At the end people came to a conclusion; let’s go to the beach thinking of Parashakti mentally. We will return after worshiping Angalaman there. They thought that if the business goes well, they can build a temple for the mother with the material from it. Accordingly, after worshiping the goddess, the fishermen went to fish in the sea as usual. After going a certain distance, the fishermen realized that something very heavy was caught in their net. The fishermen, who thought that they had got plenty of fish by the grace of Parasakthi, were shocked and surprised to find only a small black stone in it when they lifted the net. They were shocked and asked, ‘How can this small stone last so long?’

The fishermen thought that the stone had some power and brought it to the beach. Then grace came upon a woman. He said, “What you have brought is not an ordinary stone.. I am the Goddess. Build a temple for me and worship me. All your sufferings will be removed.” Immediately, the fishermen said, “Mother, we don’t have enough money to build a temple.”The industry is going slowly,” they said, highlighting their inability. “Tomorrow you go to the sea. Your life will prosper. I will stand by. There will be no shortage for you anymore,” said the woman of Parashakti to Arulvaku.

With that hope, the fishermen took the net and went to the sea. That day alone, too many fish were caught in the nets for them to bring ashore. The fishermen were mesmerized. They immediately decided to build a temple with the money they got from selling the fish. Accordingly, a small shed was constructed and the stone full of grace of the goddess found in the sea was consecrated there. Worships for that were going on every day.

After a few days an old man came to that town. He introduced himself to the people there that he was from Mayavaram and his name was ‘Mayavarathan’. He also said that he is a sculptor. And he said, “Parashakti who came in my dream, I am like a stone without form in this place. She ordered that you go there directly and set up an idol for me. I have come here as my mother said.” Hearing that, everyone there was mesmerized. Within a few days, the sculptor carved a beautiful sculpture of divine nature. They consecrated it on the day of Masi month and built it as a small temple and started worshiping it. Even today in the temple there is a statue carved by Mayavarathan in the sanctum. Eventually, the temple was blessed by the devotees and repaired by many people and the temple was built on a large scale.

Beliefs

Ama abhishekam is given to Amman and Tenpenna is taken in a procession to the river bank. Theerthavari will be held there for the Goddess. It is believed that then the mother will give the boon that the devotees want. Every month on the new moon day, Unchal Utsavam is held here. It is also believed that if childless people participate and worship the goddess, they will surely get a child. As per the wish, the child’s birth ceremony is held in the Maha Mandapam of this temple. And they bless the child by placing it at the feet of the Goddess.

Special Features

Festivals

Masi Maha Utsavam is celebrated for five days in this Temple. The main event of this is the Tirthavari Utsavam which is held on the banks of Tenpenna River. On that day, special pujas are performed in the temple, Maha Abhishekam is given to the goddess, and the goddess is taken in a procession to the bank of Tenpenna River. The special feature of this is that the abhishekam is performed daily.