Vannarpettai Theepachi Amman Temple – Thirunelveli

Address

Vannarpettai Theepachi Amman Temple – Thirunelveli

Vannarpettai,

Thirunelveli district,

Tamil Nadu– 627 003

 Phone: +91 – 462 – 250 0344 / 250 0744

Amman

Theepachi Amman

Introduction

• The Theepachi Amman Temple is located near the Vannarpettai bus stand in Thirunelveli Town, Thirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu.
• The temple is associated with the story of Kannagi, the celebrated Tamil woman who proved the power of her chastity before the Pandya king in Madurai.
• The temple is easily accessible from the Vannarpettai bus stop on the Thirunelveli – Palayamkottai road.

Puranic Significance

• India is known for honoring women renowned for their chastity, and Tamil Nadu celebrates such women as goddesses.
• The Theepachi Amman Temple is dedicated to Akkammal, a woman from Ettayapuram, who displayed unmatched devotion and chastity.
• Akkammal’s husband died while she was working in the field. Despite being urged by her relatives to return home, Akkammal calmly predicted her husband’s death and then decided to accompany him in death.
• She requested her husband’s cremation on the banks of the Tambiraparani river, where she joined him on the pyre, along with her friend Lakshmi, who could not bear the separation.
• The people praised Akkammal’s chastity and built a temple in her honor. Akkammal, who sprang into the fire, came to be known as “Thee Paintha Ambal,” which later became “Theepachi Amman.”

Beliefs

• Women visit the temple seeking a good life partner.
• Devotees perform special pujas and offer vastras (clothes) to the deity.
• It is believed that worshipping Theepachi Amman on the last Tuesday and last Friday of the Aadi month (July-August) brings immense benefits.

Special Features

• The presiding deity, Theepachi Amman, is accompanied in the temple by her husband in the sanctum sanctorum.
• There is also a shrine for Akkammal’s childhood friend Lakshmi, along with her husband and children.
• Couples wishing for a lifelong union pray to Theepachi Amman, and devotees also pray on Shivarathri and Panguni Uthiram.
• The temple is believed to be more than 1,000 years old and reflects the legend of Kannagi, embodying the strength of chastity.

Festivals

• Masi Shivarathri (February-March)
• Panguni Uthiram (March-April)

Century/Period

1000 Years Old

Managed By

Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE)

Nearest Bus Station

Madurai

Nearest Railway Station

Thirunelveli

Nearest Airport

Madurai

Location on Map

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