Kottayur Sri Chelliamman Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Kottayur Sri Chelliamman Temple, Kottayur Post, Valangaiman Taluk, Thiruvarur District Mobile: +91 94439 75740

Diety

Amman: Sri Chelliamman

Introduction

Chelliamman Temple is located in Kottayur Village in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. This Temple is also called as Siddhi Vinayaka temple. Presiding Deities in this temple are Chelli Amman and Siddhi Vinayaka. Sthala Vriksham is Neem (Vembu in Tamil). Theertham is Shivakulam. The place cultivated oilseeds. Hence the name Kottayur. Also Vithanapuram as the seeds were sent for crushing oil. Needamangalam Santhana Ramar, Yamunambal Chathiram, Alangudi Guru Bhagwan and Agastheeshwarar Temples are close by this Temple.

Puranic Significance

People in the place worshipped Lord Siddhi Vinayaka for prosperity and Chelliamman as the custodian of the village. Many worshipped Chelli Amman as their Kuladevatha-family deity. As the temple began to decay, the villagers collected funds and built the temple. The temple for both is built following Lord Agastheeshwarar temple for model and design.

Beliefs

Mother Chelliamman is worshipped as Kuladevatha by many families here. People pray to Lord Vinayaka for education and prosperity. Realizing their wishes, devotees offer food grains of 9 varieties (Navadhaya). During the Vaikasi festival, they take part in fire pit walking, carry milk pots, light maa Vilakku, offer Kanji (Porridge) to Poor, and conduct special pujas for lord vinayaka.

Special Features

Presiding Deities in this temple are Chelli Amman and Siddhi Vinayaka. Sthala Vriksham is Neem (Vembu in Tamil). Theertham is Shivakulam. The entrance is on the eastern side for the Siddhi Vinayaka temple. On the left side behind is the shrine for Kaman-Cupid-Manmatha. On the right is the shrine for Mari Amman. Siddhi Vinayaka is facing east. Chelli Amman is facing north from her shrine. The temple is said to be above 500 years old. The last consecration of the temple was performed in 2014.

Festivals

Tamil New Year day falling almost on 14th April, Fridays of Aadi month – July-August, Purattasi Navarathri in September-October, new moon days, Masi Magam in February-March, Kaman Vizha – a festival for Cupid – and Vinayaka Chaturthi in August September are the festivals celebrated in the temple.