Thottainur Ajaykali Devi Temple, Erode

Address

Thottianur village,

Erode District,

Tamil Nadu – 638312.

Moolavar

Ajayaraman

Amman

Ajayakali Devi

Introduction

Thottainur Ajaykali Devi Temple is an Amman Temple, located in the Thottainur village, in Erode district, Tamil Nadu. This Devi is blessed with a temple of lord Rama and Devi Kali in the same complex. Ajaya means that no one can conquer. It is special that the epithet Ajaya is added before the names of Sri Rama and Kali in this site. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old.

Puranic Significance

An incident from the Ramayana is said to be the reason for the two being together here. Rama prayed to Maha Kali to rescue Sita devi from Ravana. Then Mahakali appeared and blessed Rama with an invincible arrow. It is said that the same Kaliyamman is located in this temple as an aspect of Kali and that Mother Durga, Mahalakshmi and Saraswati are all one aspect. After destroying Ravana and rescuing Sita, Rama presents Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman as Ajayaraman in the shrine. In front of the Mahakali temple is the mandapam, the artha mandapam, the sanctum sanctorum, and the vimana. Trident, altar and lion are found in the hall. Outside the sanctum sanctorum, there are guardian deities on both sides, Gajalakshmi, Ganesha and Kalaimala in the form of Limestone sculptures in front of the temple. Ajayakali has woken up in the womb meekly.

Beliefs

Turmeric water is known as turmeric milk in the temple. It is believed that if you anoint the goddess with turmeric milk on the famous Tuesdays, marriage obstacles will be removed and you will get good luck.

It is said that those who sit in the Maha Mandapam and read Jayamadurashtaka, which is very auspicious to Goddess Ajaya Kali, will get success in their life.

Special Features

A woman in Brahmadesa near Andhiyur was an ardent devotee of Ajayakali. Every Friday he used to walk to the temple and worship the Goddess. One day on Thursday night she appeared in his dream and tomorrow there is heavy rain so don’t bother coming here to visit me. So she said I will come early today and give you darshan. As she said, it rained heavily the next day.

Only flowers from the Nandavan around this temple are used for the puja, flowers and fruits brought from outside are not accepted for the puja. In this temple Murugan graces the standing posture facing east. A six-foot high stone statue of Narayana Perumal is situated outside the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Rama. In Rameswaram, nine pillars are set up in the water as Navagrahas and kept for worship like Navagraha in the sea. Neem tree is the main plants.

Festivals

Chitra Poornima in April-May; Vaikasi Visakam in May-June; Aadi Pooram in July-August; Vinayaka Chathurthi in August-September; Navarathri in September-October; Special pujas are performed on Sri Rama and Hanuman Jayanti Vaikunda Ekadasi days.