Paramakudi Muthala Parameswari Temple – Ramanathapuram

Address

Paramakudi,

Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu -623 707

Phone: +91- 4564 – 229 640

Amman

Muthala Parameswari

Introduction

Muthala Parameswari Temple is dedicated to Goddess Muthalamman located in Paramakudi town in Ramanathapuram District of Tamilnadu. This Temple is around 1000 Years Old. Thala Virutcham of this Temple is Kadamba Tree. Agama of this Temple is Shivagama. Theertham of this Temple is Vaigai River. Paramakudi is 80 km far from Madurai where the temple exists. Devotees from Paramakudi may use Ilayangudi bound buses and get down at Vaigai Palam stop. The temple is just a km from this bus stop. Nearest Railway Station is located at Paramakudi and Nearest Airport is located at Madurai.

Puranic Significance

A Chola king ruling this region then announced a strange contest. The contest was that the participant should make out a chain with pearls having small holes but without touching the pearls. All lost the game. A young daughter of a trader offered to accept the condition. She arranged the pearls in line and placed the thread coated with sugar. The ants sensing the sugar smell moved on the thread through the holes of the pearls. The girl promptly drew the thread carefully and completed the job. The king appreciated the girl, offered gifts and wanted her to marry him. When the girl refused, the king forced her to accept him. The frustrated woman resorted to self-immolation and ended herself. A temple was built in praise of her divinity with sand brought from the place of her self-immolation. As she made a chain with pearls Muthu in Tamil, she was named Muthala Parameswari

Beliefs

Majority of devotees pray for cure from illness. Those facing Nagadosham perform milk abishek to Nagas. Realizing their wishes, devotees perform abishek to Ambica, offer vastras and sweet pudding – Sarkarai Pongal as nivedhana

Special Features

The temple is situated on the southern bank of River Vaigai. Mother Muthala Parameswari Amman appears soft and merciful on a lotus shaped peeta holding in her four hands Trident, Kabala the skull, Kataka and damaruka. Her Lion vehicle is before her. Devotees pray to Ambica for excellence in education, scholarship in research activities performing abishek and offering sweet pudding nivedhana.

Special pujas are performed on Fridays. Panguni Brahmotsavam in March-April is grandly celebrated. In order to cool down the fury of the Goddess, a festival called Poochoridhal – raining baskets of flowers is devotionally performed in the temple. Different varieties of flowers are used to cover the Goddess excepting the face. Lord appeared here to bless a devotee. The place is named Paramakudi – Paraman Kudikonda Oor meaning God dwelling here. Sri Mariamman shrine is behind that of Mother Ambica’s. There are two Nagar idols nearby. Those facing Naga dosha-adverse aspects of serpent planets perform milk abishek to Nagas. There are shrines for Marthandi Amman, Pothiraja the guardian deity, Karuppannasami and Sri Anjaneya in the front mandapam.

Festivals

Panguni Brahmotsavam in March-April; Masi Poochoridhal in February-March; Aadi Mulaikottu Vizha in July-August and Purattasi Navarathri in September-October are the festivals celebrated in the temple. On the day of Panguni Brahmotsavam Ambal come in the Sivan vehicle of Rishaba Vaganam.