Eraniel Odupparai Nagaramman Temple- Kanyakumari

Address

Eraniel Odupparai Nagaramman Temple- Kanyakumari

Eraniel,

Kanyakumari District,

Tamil Nadu – 629810.

Amman

Thangamma, Thayamma

Introduction

• Location: Eraniel, an ancient town in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu.
• Deities:
  • Nagaramman (Snake Goddess) as the presiding deity.
  • Idols of Thangammai and Thayammai.
  • Shrines for Lord Vinayaka and Shiva-Parvati are also present.
• Historical Background:
  • The temple is believed to be 1,000 years old and has deep roots in the Ezhur Chetty trading community, originally from Kaveripoompattinam.
  • The temple’s legacy includes the unique preparation of Odupparai Kolukkattai, a traditional sweet offering.

Puranic Significance:

• Legend of Thangammai and Thayammai:
  • These two clever daughters of the king’s trade adviser ingeniously solved the king’s challenge of threading tiny pearls (Kunni Muthu) by leveraging ants to drill the pearls overnight.
  • The king, enchanted by their beauty, wished to marry them. Their father and his siblings, unwilling to comply, made a tragic decision to bury the girls in a well to protect their honor.
• Migration of Ezhur Chetty Community:
  • Originally affluent sea traders of Kaveripoompattinam in the Chola Empire, the community fled after a tsunami destroyed their town.
  • They carried with them the idols of Vinayaka and Nagaramman, migrating to the Pandya and Chera Empires.
  • Upon reaching Kottar, they installed the Vinayaka idol, leading to the establishment of the Kottar Pillayar Temple.
• Arrival at Eraniel:
  • The group eventually reached Eraniel on the last Sunday of Chithirai month under the Aayilyam nakshatra.
  • Here, they enshrined Nagaramman and idols of Thangammai and Thayammai.
  • This marked the beginning of the Odupparai Nagaramman Temple, preserving their traditions and rituals.

Special Rituals and Offerings:

• Odupparai Kolukkattai:
  • A unique offering made from a mixture of raw rice flour, banana, cardamom, dried ginger, coconut, and jaggery.
  • The mixture is shaped into solid rectangular forms, wrapped in banana and coconut leaves, tied with fragrant Kaithai root, baked using coconut husks, and served as neivedyam.
  • This tradition has been passed down for centuries and remains an integral part of the temple celebrations.

Festivals:

• Annual celebrations are held on the last Sunday of Chithirai month under the Aayilyam nakshatra, honoring the arrival of the Ezhur Chetty community and the installation of their deities.

Century/Period

1000 years old

Managed By

Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE)

Nearest Bus Station

Eraniel

Nearest Railway Station

Eraniel

Nearest Airport

Trivandrum

Location on Map

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