Gudiyatham Gangai Amman Temple, Vellore

Address

Gudiyatham Gangai Amman Temple,

Gudiyatham,

Vellore district – 632602.

Contact: 98410 14700

Amman

Gangai Amman

Introduction

Gangai amman blesses devotees on the banks of the Kaundanya River in Gudiyatham, Vellore district. It is believed that wishes are fulfilled for those who participate in the Vaikasi festival held here. The temple can be reached by traveling about 20 kilometers from Vellore via Pallikonda.

Puranic Significance

Renuka Devi was the wife of the sage Jamadagni. Every day, she would go to the riverbank, mold a pot out of sand, and bring water back for her husband’s worship rituals.

One day, while doing this, she became momentarily distracted by the beauty of a celestial Gandharva passing by in the sky, and her mind wavered. Because she lost her chastity in thought, she was unable to form the pot as usual.

With his divine insight, Sage Jamadagni realized what had happened and instructed his four sons to behead their mother. The first three refused, so he cursed them to turn into stones.

But the youngest son, Parashurama, agreed—on the condition that his father grant him two boons. The sage consented. Parashurama then went to kill his mother. When she tried to hide in a washerman’s house, and his wife tried to protect her, Parashurama killed both women to fulfill his father’s command.

Pleased, Jamadagni told Parashurama to ask for his boons. Parashurama requested that his brothers be restored from stone to life, and that his mother be brought back to life—which the sage granted.

In memory of this event, a special procession with the goddess’s head (Sirasu Utsavam) is held during the month of Vaikasi at this temple. The ten-day festival features a unique ritual on the second day, where the goddess’s head is taken in procession, and then ceremonially joined with her body already installed at the temple.

Beliefs

It is a tradition at this temple to offer turmeric, kumkum, and glass bangles as gifts (seethanam) to married women (sumangalis). Similarly, devotees hold a coconut in their hands and make a vow in front of the Goddess. After that, they roll the coconut with their hands while circumambulating the sanctum three times, and finally, break the coconut into pieces as a symbolic act of offering.