Coimbatore Ramalinga Chowdeshwari Temple

Address

Sukrawarpet,

Coimbatore district,

Tamil Nadu– 641 001.

Phone: +91 422–2479070, 9688324684, 9786899345

Amman

Sowdambigai / Chowdeshwari

Introduction

Sri Ramalinga Chowdeshwari Amman is also known as Sri Sowdambigai. This goddess is worshiped in three forms: Shakti, Chamunda, and Jyothi (the divine light). Her other names are Banashankari, Chowdamba and Choodambigai. The temple is located in the center of the city of Coimbatore. Also, is located at the beginning of the Mettupalayam road, it the first temple on the way to Ooty Hill. Although this Amman temple is located in the heart of the city, this Sawdamman is also considered as the guardian deity of the forest. Why, history has it that this goddess was brought from the forest in the primeval times.

Puranic Significance

This temple was built about 1000 years ago. According to the Devanga Purana, Sage Devala, is the progenitor of the Devanga. He emerged from the third eye of Lord Shiva (or, in some accounts, from Shiva’s heart) to create clothing and to teach weaving to the world. When Devala returned after obtaining threads from Lord Vishnu, a group of five demons, Vajramushti, Dhoomravakra, Dhoomratchasa, Chithrasena and Panchasena, attacked him at midnight. In the dark, the power of the demons was overwhelming. Devala attempted to fight them off using Vishnu’s Sudarshana Chakra, but failed, and finally prayed for Shakti to protect him. Shakti appeared in light and glory, wearing a bright full crown, holding a trident and other weapons in her hand while mounted on a lion. She killed the demons; their blood was white, black, red, green, and yellow. Devala soaked his threads in the demon’s colorful blood. Shakti was then given the name Chowdeshwari or Sowdeswari (Chowda/Sowda/Sooda=the brightness). Sowdeswari advised Devala to worship her during every new moon (Amavasya).

Devala went to the south Himalayas and founded Sagara Kingdom with Amodh Nagar as its capital. He wove new clothes and gave them to all: the gods (Trimurti and Tridevi), demigods (Deva, Asura), immortals (Gandarva, Kinnara) and humans. He married Suryadev‘s Sister Deva Dhutta so as surya is first kinsmen, Then Aadhi shesha‘s daughter Chandra Reka so Devanga people are called as Sedar/Jendar (Aadhi shesha is written as Aadhi Seda in tamil) and then he married Asura Vakrathantha’s daughter Agni Dhutta. People who follow Devala are known as Devanga or Devangar.

According to the Ramayana, Rama, who is the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu, prayed to the god Shiva to absolve him of the sin of killing a Brahmin committed during the war against the Rakshasa king Ravana (who was a brahmin, son of a vedic rishi) in Sri Lanka. Rama wanted to have a large lingam to worship Shiva. He directed Hanuman, the lieutenant in his army, to bring a lingam from the Himalayas. When Hanuman was delayed in bringing the lingam, devi Sita built a small lingam out of the sand available in the seashore, which is believed to be the lingam in the sanctum. Later all of them decided to give the lingam brought by Hanuman to a great rishi and they choosee Devala Rishi. Devala Rishi bought the Lingam and named it as Ramalingam as it was given by lord Rama, from that day he worshipped Ramalingam along with Chowdeshwari Devi hence Chowdeshwari becomes Ramalinga Chowdeshwari. In general the Devanga people worship Sri Ramalinga Chowdeswari Amman as well as Chowdeshwari Devi, and several other names.

Beliefs

It is believed that those who worship at this temple will be cured of all diseases and blessed with peace & prosperity.

Special Features

Chaudeswari Amman and Balamurugan have separate flagpoles. Ramalingeswar is shown with Nandi in the southern part of the Artha Mandapam. Nataraja, Gayatri Devi and Lakshmi Narayanan are standing in Kolumandapam. In Mahamandapam, Vinayaka, Balamurugan, Navagrahas, Chandran, Surya, Nalvar, Devala Maharishi; In the inner prakara, Dakshinamurthy, Sandikeswarar, Kalabhairava and Durgai are also enshrined in separate shrines. The separate inscriptions inscribed with Kalabhairava Ashtaka, Dukka Riyasha Ashtaka, Gayatri Mantra and Lakshmi Narayana Mantra is inscribed in the shrines of the respective deities for the convenience of the devotees.

Festivals

Chitra Poornima in April-May; Vaikasi Visakam in May-June; Aadi Pooram in July-August; Vinayaka Chathurthi in August-September; Navarathri in September-October; are the festivals celebrated in the temple.