Narthamalai Muthu Mariamman Temple, Pudukkottai

Address

Narthamalai,

Pudukkottai district

Tamilnadu – 622 101.

Phone: +91 4322 221084 Mobile: 97869 65659

Amman

Muthu Mariamman

Introduction

The Mariamman Temple of Narttamalai is one of the important temples of the district. The hill was earlier known as Naradar Malai as Sage Naradha performed penance here which later changed as Narthamalai. This is a famous shrine for those seeking child boons and a total cure from the attack of small pox. These two features draw huge number of devotees to the temple. Besides usual abishek and pujas to Mother Muthu Mari Amman, people light Maa Vilakku made of a paste of rice flour and ghee, tying cradles made of sugarcane stems, carry birds Kaavadi, lighting deepas and offer sari to mother. Some undertake feeding – Annadhana.

Puranic Significance

The Amman idol in the temple is believed to have been found at a place named Keelkurichi 4 miles far from Narthamalai in a field and brought here by a priest in the place. A small temple was built then. The Temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old. Later, one Malayammal from the Thiruvannamalai Zamin extended this temple with her own funds and celebrated festivals which are continued now.

A village called Keezhakkurichi is 4 km away from Narthamalai. A priest living in this village while walking through a narrow path in the middle of the farm everyday stepped on something in a particular spot and he stumbled and fell down. So, with the help of the people working in the farm, he dug in the ground and unearthed a beautiful Amman idol. Immediately, he heard a divine voice. It instructed him to build a temple for the idol in the foothills near the temple for Lord Shiva.

It said that thus the people of the village will be saved from disease and infirmities. Accordingly the people have built a small temple and placed the idol there. The villagers say that since the people have been living healthy and resistant to diseases like small pox, the Amman is called as Muthu Mari. The villagers say that the Muthu Mariamman residing in Narthamalai became famous because of Malaiammal. Malaiammal was born in a Zamindar family in Vetta Valam, a district near Thiruvannamalai. When Malaiammal was young, she was affected severely by small pox. The Zamindar brought Malaiammal to the temple and left her at its entrance and went away. On hearing the cries of the little girl, the Amman blessed the girl and cured her from the disease. Malaiammal had spent her entire life in the temple, cleaning the shrine and meditating before the Amman. Muthu Mariamman blessed and glorified Malaiammal.

Malayammal gave ‘Arul Vaakku’ (prediction the future) to the devotees who came there with sufferings and worries and her Vaakku became true. Many devotees came from different places to worship Muthu Mariamman and to get ‘Arul Vaakku’ from Malaiammal. Malaiammal extended the temple premises. Soon, it became a famous temple. The Malaiammal Sannidhi is near the temple. Every year, a group of people from Vetta Valam worship Malaiammal here by offering Pooja and ‘Bali’.

Beliefs

Those seeking child boon make cradles from sugarcane stems and tie in the temple. They carry Agni Kaavadi for relief from serious illness and pray for total cure from small pox. Besides usual abishek and pujas to Mother Muthu Mari Amman, people light Maa Vilakku made of a paste of rice flour and ghee, tying cradles made of sugarcane stems, carry birds Kaavadi, lighting deepas and offer sari to mother. Some undertake feeding – Annadhana.

Special Features

A Yantra with Lord Muruga influence sculpted in stone and fixed on the northern wall of Ambica Shrine is considered very powerful and blessing. Devarishi Naradha performed penance in this place. The hill has a wealth of herbal plants.

The Muthu Mariamman temple is 1000 years old. The temple stands magnificently with a five storied Raja Gopuram facing the East. If we cross the Maha Mandapam and the Artha Mandapam we can reach the Garbagriha and see the Amman who is seated in a calm and composed manner. She has four hands, each having a Kadgam, Kabaalam, Damarugam and Shakthi Hastam. In this temple, in the Muthu Mariamman Sannidhi, there is a Murugan yendiram made of stone on the right side wall. The devotees say that it has immense power. Since the Goddess has a Shakthi Hastham which is generally possessed by Lord Muruga, the devotees also worship by taking the ‘Kaavadi’ for the Goddess.

Narthamalai is surrounded by other hills, Melamalai, Kottai Malai, Parayar Malai, Uvakkan Malai, Aalurutti Malai, Pommadi Malai, Mann Malai and Pon Malai, thus in the shape of Onkara. Every hill has a story behind it. These hills are believed to be the bits that fell here of the Sanjeevi mount carried by Sri Hanuman to save the lives of those dead during the Rama-Ravana war. These are hills with a wealth of herbal plants.

Festivals

10 day Panguni festival in March-April, the most important among other festivals of the temple drawing crowds in lakhs: last Friday of Aadi month in July-August, though a single day festival the devotee crowd being huge: Vijayadasami in September-October; Tamil and English New Year days, Deepavali, Pongal are the festivals celebrated in the temple. The devotee crowd is huge on Tuesdays and Fridays usually