Vettuvanam Ellaiamman Temple, Vellore

Address

Vettuvanam, Pallikonda – Via,

Vellore District – 635 809

Phone: +91 4171 240200

Amman

Ellaiamman

Introduction

Ellaiamman Temple is dedicated to Goddess Renukadevi located at Vettuvanam in Vellore District of Tamilnadu. This Temple is considered as one of the Sakthi Peetams. This has a legend connection with the Renuka Devi Amman temple at Padavedu and Gangai Amman temple at Gudiyatham. The Temple is situated on the slopes of Javadhu Hills and on the banks of River Palar. It is said that Ellaiamman of Vettuvanam and Padavedu Ellaiamman are the same. Melaivithur and Vithagapuri are the other names of Vettuvanam.

Puranic Significance

This temple was newly constructed after demolishing the old temple by Sivarasu Venkatraman Family (Katpadi & London) and the work completed in 2008 (Kumbabishekam done on 3rd Dec 2008)

· Year 1981 – Compound wall was constructed.

· Year 1972 – Mandapam was constructed.

· Year 1973 – Snake Goddess Mandapam was constructed.

· Year 1984-1988 – Kumbabishekam was performed.

· Year 2003 – Kumbabishekam was performed again.

This place has an important legend behind. This is the place where Renuka Devi’s head was cut off by Parasurama at the behest of his father Sage Jamathgini. Padavedu Renugambal is very popular but this is the place the actual incident took place. Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi Devi incarnated as the great Saint Jamathgini and his wife Renukadevi and lived on this world. Visu, Viswas, Viswarupan, Paranjothi and Parasuraman were their five sons. Parasurama was their last son. It was a daily duty for Renukadevi to make a pot out of fresh mud and fetch water for Saint Jamadhgani’s Pooja. One day, she saw the reflection of a Kantharva in the water. She stood mesmerized by his beauty for a split of a second. The mud pot dissolved in the river. She tried again and again but in vain. She realized her mistake and told her husband that an animal chased her and so she couldn’t bring water. But the saint, who guessed the real happenings, called out for his first four sons and asked them to cut off their mother’s head.

They all refused and saint cursed them and called his last son Parasurama to do the duty. Parasurama asked for two boons from his Father and he obliged. He chased her mother who ran for life and she hid behind an Arundhati girl, who was cutting woods and begged for mercy. Parasurama warned the girl, but she did not oblige. In the heights of anger Parasurama chopped both heads together. In great distress, he took the heads to his father. According to his granted boons. He brought his brother and mother back to life.

But in confusion, he fixed his mother’s head on the Arundhati girl body. Henceforth the deity was named Mariamman and the place was called as Vettuvanam. A farmer who cultivated the land accidentally dropped the spade on the deity. Blood poured out like a river. A divine voice from the sky said, “I am Ellaiamman” and a temple was constructed in the place. Though the time and year cannot be judged precisely, it said that in 1961, this temple was one among the 2500 temples in Tamil Nadu.

Beliefs

It is said that childless couples tie circles of threads with the wish of a baby. Unmarried devotees tie the sacred yellow thread around the tree and wish for suitable life partners.

Special Features

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Special Features

The temple was newly constructed after demolishing the old structure by the Sivarasu Venkatraman family (from Katpadi and London). The renovation work was completed in 2008, with the Kumbabishekam (consecration ceremony) taking place on December 3, 2008.
In 1981, a compound wall was constructed around the temple.
In 1972, a mandapam (hall) was constructed, followed by the construction of a Snake Goddess Mandapam in 1973.
The Kumbabishekam was performed twice in the past—once in 1984–1988 and again in 2003.

Legendary Significance

The Ellaiamman Temple holds deep historical and legendary importance, particularly for its connection to the incident involving Goddess Renuka Devi and her son, Parasurama.

The temple is believed to be the location where Renuka Devi’s head was severed by Parasurama, following his father’s (Sage Jamadhgini) command. This event, while being a central part of the story, differentiates the Vettuvanam site from other famous temples dedicated to Renuka Devi, such as the Padavedu Renugambal Temple.

According to the legend:

Renuka Devi, who was married to Sage Jamadhgini, was tasked with fetching water for his rituals every day. One day, she became mesmerized by the reflection of a celestial being (Kantharva) in the water. Her distraction led to the pot dissolving in the river, and despite repeated attempts, she could not succeed in filling it.
To cover up her mistake, Renuka Devi lied to her husband, claiming that an animal had chased her. Sage Jamadhgini, who saw through the deception, called on his sons to carry out his orders and behead their mother.
The first four sons refused, leading the sage to curse them. Only his youngest son, Parasurama, was tasked with carrying out the beheading. Before doing so, Parasurama asked for two boons from his father, which were granted.
Parasurama chased his mother, who fled in fear and took refuge behind an Arundhati girl. In a moment of intense anger, Parasurama beheaded both his mother and the girl.
In his remorse, Parasurama revived his mother and the girl, but in his confusion, he mistakenly placed Renuka Devi’s head on the Arundhati girl’s body. From then on, Renuka Devi was worshipped as Mariamman, and the place came to be known as Vettuvanam.

A farmer working on the land where the deity was believed to have been found accidentally dropped a spade on the idol, causing blood to pour out. A divine voice from the heavens declared, “I am Ellaiamman,” marking the spot as a sacred location. Consequently, a temple was built there.

While the exact timeline is unclear, it is believed that the temple was one of the 2,500 temples in Tamil Nadu by 1961.

Festivals

10 days Adi Peruvizha includes Car Procession, Daily Vahana procession, Theppam, Laksha Deepam is the most famous festival celebrated here. Navarathri, Deepavali, Pongal, English New Year and Tamil New Year are the other festivals celebrated here with much fanfare.

References

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2018/04/ellaiamman-temple-vettuvanam-vellore.html