Mavoothu Vellappar Temple, Theni

Address

Mavoothu Vellappar Temple, Theppampatti (Andipatti), Theni district, Tamil Nadu 625517

Diety

Vellappar (Murugan)

Introduction

Mavoothu Vellappar Temple is located in the town of Mavoothu in the Theni District of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple was constructed by the Kandamanur Zamindar. The temple is believed to be 1000 years old. The spring within the temple is believed to have curative powers. The temple has shrines of Lord Vinayaka and Saptakannikas.. The statues of the deities were founded by Paliyars (the local tribes of this area). This temple is located in a beautiful location which is the Varushanad Hill. It is locked with hills from all the ends and is on top of one. Nesting among the hills and surrounded by natural vegetation. There is a spring near the temple which is known for curing diseases, if Devotees take bath and eat food cooked in this water. This holy shrine is situated in the Varushanad hill ranges, 20km from Andipatti. The temple is on top of the hill.

Puranic Significance

perennial spring under the mango tree south of the temple. Maa means mango, Oottru the spring = Mavootru. The region was dense with Marudha and Mango trees. There is perennial spring pumping water from the ground under a mango tree south of the temple called Mavootru and the presiding deity Mavootru Velappar-Lord Muruga. This part of the place is also named Mavootru. Lord Vinayaka also is praised as Mavootru Vinayaka. Devotees offer sweet pudding – Sarkarai Pongal. It is the staunch faith of the devotees that prayer to Lord Velappar would bring them health and all happiness in life. It is also believed that there are many siddhas and sages performing penance in the surrounding hill caves. Presiding deity Lord Mavootru Velappar, Vinayaka and Saptha Matha shrines are in the hill. Sakthi, Karuppanna Swami shrines are at the foot hill. A community called Pazhiar was living in this region cultivating a root called Valli Kizhangu using it for their food. They dug a place near this temple, but could not take out the crop. The root was going too deep. Finally, they found the Swayambu Velappar. They informed the Zamindar of this place who built this temple for worship of the devotees.

Beliefs

People pray to Lord Velappar for the health and welfare of children, cure from illness, business and trade development, wedding and excellence in education. Devotees perform abishek to Lord with milk, panchamirtham a mixture with ingredients and green coconut. They also carry milk pots and Kavadis.