Thirumalairayan Pattinam Abirami Temple, Karaikal

Address

Thirumalairayan Pattinam Abirami Temple, Thirumalairayan Pattinam, Karaikal District – 609 606.

Deity

Raja Soliswarar Amman: Abirami (Aayiramkaliamman)

Introduction

Location: Tirumalairayanpattinam (T.R. Pattinam), Tamil Nadu.
Deity: The temple is renowned for the unique Goddess Kaliamman, whose statue is made entirely of wood. The wooden parts of the goddess’ body are kept individually in a wooden box, adding to the temple’s mystique and uniqueness.

Puranic Significance:

Legend of the Wooden Idol: According to the temple’s legend, a devotee from the Senguntha Mudaliar caste dreamt of finding a box containing an idol of Goddess Kaliamman on the seacoast. The next day, he miraculously discovered a silver box with the idol, along with a palm leaf inscription. The inscription revealed that the deity should be worshipped daily with 1000 ritualistic items. However, as this was difficult to sustain, the community decided to perform a grand pooja once every five years instead.

Beliefs:

Siyamaladasar and Nethira Pushkarani: The sacred pond known as Nethira Pushkarani is believed to have been sanctified by Siyamaladasar. It is said that those who bathe in this holy water and worship the goddess Ambala will be blessed with health and auspiciousness.

Festivals:

Once in Five Years Pooja: The most significant event in the temple is the special pooja that occurs once every five years, where 1000 items are used in worship. This ritual attracts devotees from across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May–June), when the festival is celebrated with grandeur.

The Aayiram Kaliamman Temple stands out due to its distinctive wooden idol of the goddess and the rare five-year ritual, making it a revered spiritual destination in the region.