Senthamangalam Dakshina Kaliyamman Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Senthamangalam Dakshina Kaliyamman Temple, Senthamangalam, Thiruvarur 610001

Deity

Amman: Dakshina Kaliyamman

Introduction

• Location: Senthamangalam Village, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu, India.
• Deity: Dedicated to Goddess Kali, known as Dakshina Kali. The Mother is also revered as Bhavadharini (meaning “redeemer of the Universe”) and Devi (meaning “Feminine form of Lord Shiva”).
• History: The temple has been gracing devotees since 1983 and is believed to be 500-1000 years old. Notably, it faces west, unlike the Dakshineshwar Temple in Kolkata.

Puranic Significance

• A.M. Ramamoorthy Swamigal: Born in 1947 in Tiruvarur, he established a school to educate the poor and became literate in Sanskrit and the Vedas. Inspired by his visit to Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, he dreamt of Dakshina Kali, who commanded him to construct a temple in South India to protect her devotees.
• Divine Communication: Following his poojas every Friday, Swamigal would sit beside the temple, sharing Arul Vaaku (blessings or guidance from the Goddess) with devotees, strengthening the temple’s spiritual significance.

Special Features

• Main Vigraham: The idol of Sri Dakshina Kali is crafted from mirror-finished pancha-loham, an alloy of five metals: gold, silver, brass, copper, and tin.
• Iconography:
  • Dakshina Kali is depicted as a beautiful girl rather than a fearsome figure, standing with her right foot forward upon the corpse of Lord Shiva, symbolizing the balance of creation and destruction.
  • Her expression reflects fury that transforms into calmness upon realizing Shiva is beneath her, leading to her tongue being stuck out in humiliation.
  • The idol’s hands display various mudras:
    • Upper left hand holds a bloodied sword;
    • Lower left hand clutches a severed head;
    • Upper right hand in abhaya mudra signifies “Fear not”;
    • Lower right hand in Dakshina mudra signifies the granting of boons.
  • She wears a garland of 52 skulls and a skirt made of dismembered arms, symbolizing the transcendence of the ego and the temporary nature of the physical body.
  • Her black or dark blue skin represents the unmanifest womb of creation, embodying the pure energy of Adishakti.
• Additional Idols: The temple also houses idols of Sri Vinayagar, Sri Murugar, Sri Anjaneyar, Sri Muneeswarar, Sri Naagar, Navagrahams, and Sri Bairavar.

Festivals

• Major Celebrations:
  • Shivarathri
  • Aadi Pooram
  • Navaratri
    These festivals are celebrated grandly, attracting numerous devotees.

Century/Period/Age

500-1000 years old.

Managed By

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE)

Nearest Bus Station

Senthamangalam

Nearest Railway Station

Thiruvarur

Nearest Airport

Trichy

lightuptemple