Kuralnatham Pidari Amman Temple, Salem

Address

Kuralnutham, Salem District,

Tamil Nadu 636204

Amman

Pidari Amman

Introduction

Near Panamarathupatti in Salem district, there is a famous Pidari Amman temple located in the village of Kuralnatham. This temple serves as the guardian deity for eight villages, including Thippampatti, Athippatti, Kullampatti, Muthanur, Suryur, and Kuralnatham. Pidari Amman, who sits by the Panamarathupatti Lake, blesses the devotees from these villages. Adjacent to the main idol of the goddess, the temple’s sacred tree, an Aacha tree, stands majestically. Within the temple premises, other guardian deities like Kannimar, Muniappan, and Karuppanar also bestow their blessings.

Puranic Significance

Around 350 years ago, the British created the Panamarathupatti Lake to meet their drinking water needs. To accomplish this, people living on approximately 2,000 acres of land were displaced. These displaced individuals resettled in eight nearby villages. It was these people who established the Pidari Amman temple on the banks of the lake. The villagers believe that the goddess of this temple roams the village at night, providing protection and blessings.

Belief

When we come to this place, what catches our eye is mace weapons neatly placed here and there. Some of them were even placed upside down. There is a custom of planting mace in this temple to retrieve their lost belongings. The people of the area believe that by planting the Sulam like that, the material will be obtained or those who took it will be in trouble. Putting the mace upside down is called ‘compensation’. They say that if you pay in this temple, you will definitely get money.

A large number of yellow and talik ropes and cradles are also tied in the cradle area in front of the temple. Marriage ban is removed and talik ropes and cradles are built for marriage. They perform worship to remove the ban on marriage and make a cradle for the birth of a child.

Festivals

Special poojas are conducted on Tuesdays, Fridays, full moon days (Pournami), and new moon days (Amavasai). The most significant festival of this temple is the annual ippasi festival.