Sri Devi Karumari Amman – Thiruverkadu, Chennai

History Of Devikarumari 

Ambigai who blessed the Sun

      According to the legend,  one day Devikarumari took the image of old nomadic lady and went to Sun to forecast his future. Without realising her as Devikarumari, He simply neglected her. Devikarumari immediately vanished. Sun has lost it's brightness and its glory started declining. Realising his mistake He begged Devikarumari to forgive and excuse him. Sun  also requested Devikarumari to celebrate Sunday as the day of Devikarumari. Devikarumari also accepted it. He also got permission from Her to pour on her sun rays twice in a year in the month of Panguni and Purattasi.

So Sunday is celebrated as the day of Karumari . We can happily witness the scene of sun rays falling on the head of Devikarumari twice in a year.

Devikarumari made Narayanan preside there

     Once upon a time Lord Thirumal came to Thiruverkadu to witness the grace rule of Umadevi. When Thirumal personally met his sister Karumari,  she requested him "to seat there as Srinivasan of Thirumurai and assist Her and bless the devotees who worship Navagraham and stand towards southern direction". He was happy and promised Her, that He would sit by her side and protect the position of Nine planets.

     Veda Vyasar was extremely happy to see Annai Parasakthi and Lord Venkatesan together.

 

Lord Vinayagar often used to perform abhishekam to his sacred mother to express his affection, considering this mother placed his exactly in front of her, so devotees who visit temple always start with Vinayagar sannidhi. Thaipoosam, Aadi peruku, Theppa thiruvilla are more interesting events. The construction of temple started in 1943 and it was expanded in 1964. The kumbabishekam was conducted in 1975. The temple offers many services like marriage to poor people, free medical and annadanam for devotees. The temple has its own educational organisation that offers education to many poor children with less expense. The temple is covered more powerful on a Tamil month Aadi and numerous people visit temple on that specific month and offer many services to temple.

In ancient days, this place was a forest filled with VeLvela trees (வெள்வேல மரம்) and hence was called as Velankaadu (வேலங்காடு), which later turned to get its present name. It is also said that Lord Muruga, before His battle with the demon king Surapadhman, got His weapon ‘Vel’ (வேல்) from Sri Karumaari Amman here and so the place was called as Velankaadu.
It is said that Sri Vinayagar (Lord Ganesha) worshipped the Goddess here by performing Abhishegam using Valampuri Sanghu (Conch). The Goddess got pleased with His worship and blessed Him that the poojas at the temple will first be performed to Sri Vinayagar and then to Her. Sri Vinayagar can be seen present in the temple just as we enter the temple near the Dhwajasthambham. While entering the temple, one has to pray Him and then go further to worship Sri Karumaari Amman.
Once, when the Asuras gave troubles to Devas, they came and worshipped Lord Shiva at Thiruverkaadu, to save them. Lord Shiva called His Devi Sri Verkanni and directed Her to look after His duties till He is back from Devaloka. Lord Shiva gave her the holy ashes from His body and blessed Her. The Goddess asked Sage Agasthiyar to look for a holy place where she can perform the heavenly duties assigned by Lord Shiva. When Sage Agasthiyar was thinking of such place, he heard an Asareeri (அசரீரி – a holy voice) saying that the place where he was standing itself is a holy place. Goddess took abode here as Sri Karumaari Amman and also blessed the place that one will be removed of all the sins by worshipping Her at Thiruverkaadu.
Thiruverkaadu is the place where all 3 Gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva have worshipped the Goddess. Hence She is called as Sri Karumaari here. Ka means Brahma, Ru means Rudhra or Shiva, and Ma means Vishnu.
The temple here is facing east. There is a beautiful Rajagopuram to enter the temple. Once we enter Sri Vinayagar is seen on an elevated shrine under a tree.
After crossing Sri Vinayagar, the sanctum of Goddess Sri Karumaari Amman is seen. The Goddess is facing east. It is said that originally the Goddess evolved from an ant hill. Amman is so beautiful with a smiling face and decorated well with lots of flowers.
Sri Subramanyar is found at the praakaaram around the sanctum. Navagrahas are found at the north eastern side of the temple. Sri Brahma is found on one of the walls facing north.
There is another small shrine adjacent to this temple, where a huge ant hill is found under a Peepul tree. Devotees offer milk and eggs for the snakes in this ant hill. Camphors are also lit here to offer worship. The entire ant hill is yellow in color as devotees have applied turmeric powder on it.
The temple pond is found in front of the temple which is so beautiful with a small Mandapam in the middle.
A tall and beautiful temple Chariot is parked in a separate Mandapam adjacent to the temple.
Thiruverkaadu attracts thousands of devotees and tourists everyday from various parts of the country. Sri Ambaal here is believed to be so powerful granting the wishes of the devotees worshipping her.

 

The Karumaariamman temple at Tiruverkadu near Chennai is one of the most revered and visited temples in the vicinity of Chennai. It enshrines an image of Karumaariamma, discovered in an anthill.
This shrine was enlarged and rebuilt in the middle of the 20th century. There are shrnies here to Vinayakar, Subramanyar, Surya, Chandran, Maduraiveeran, Vaattavaraayan, the navagrahams and Perumaal.

An image of Renuka Parameswari, is also enshrined in the sanctum, in front of Devi Karumaari Amman. A tank is located in front of the temple entrance. The stalavriksham here is the neem tree, or the Veppa maram.

The temple has been designed so that the rays of the sun illuminte the sanctum in the months of Thai and Aadi. The Aadi Utsavam, Thai Poosam, and Chitra Pournami are the festivals celebrated here.

Tiruverkaadu is also home to the Tevaara Paadal Petra Stalam Tiruverkadu - glorified by the hymns of the Nayanmars, enshriningVedapureeswarar.

 

Festival:

Aipasi Annabishek is performed to Mother Devi Karumariamman in October-November. Aadi Festival in July-August is very famous. Maximum duration of festivals goes up to 15 days. Rarely in some Shakti temples, festivals run upto 48 days also. In this temple, the festival that begins in the month of Aadi (July-August) continues for 12 weeks ending with Purattasi month-September-October. On Sundays, abishek is performed with 108 pots of milk followed by procession. On the 9th Sunday, Mother Devi Karumariamman is taken in procession in a palanquin decorated with flowers. On Masi Magam day in February-March, Amman is taken to Bay of Bengal for sea bath. Other festivals include Thai Brahmmotsavam in January-February, Chitra Poornima in April-May, Vaikasi Visakam in May-June, big festivals in Aadi (July-August) Navarathri in September-October, Skanda Sashti in October-November and Panguni Uthiram in March-April.

Temple's Speciality:

There is a shrine for Karumariamman with an idol made of wood. Devotees call Her wooden idol Amman – Marachilai Amman. Devotees believe that this Ambica would ensure all security to their houses and families. With this prayer in mind, people use to worship Her with a lock near the hundi.

 

General Information:

Procession Ambica graces from the corridor-prakara sitting on a moving plank called Unjal. In front of the temple, Lord Vinayaka graces sitting under the Peepal tree called Arasamaram in Tamil. Mother Ambica looks young on Her Lion vehicle. On the new moon day, a yaga is performed with red chillies. There are shrines for Navagrahas the nine planets, Lord Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai, Srinivasa-Padmavathi and Sri Anjaneya. On Vaikasi Visakam festival in May-June, Lord Srinivasa graces darshan on Garuda with Mother Padmavathi. There are also shrines of Lord Dakshinamurthy, Angala Parameswari, Uchishta Ganapathi, Gayatri, Mahalakshmi, Rajarajeswari, Savithri, and Mother Durga.

 

Greatness Of Temple:

Mother Karumari Amman is a swayambu in the sanctum sanctorum under the golden vimana – tower above the sanctum- in a graceful form with all Parasakthi features. There is also an Ambica idol behind the presiding deity as Mahakali with fire, sword, skull, trident and a drum called Damarukam.

Gowpuja (Puja to cow) is performed daily in the morning. Kumkum archana is performed to Ambica in the evening between 4.30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. called Pradosha time.

There is a deepa (lamp) in Ambica shrine, called Pathi Vilakku, surrounded by Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga and Sun and Moon opposite to each other. There are also peacock, serpent, and lion vehicles of the Gods. This lamp is ever burning. It is believed that worshipping Ambica and this lamp would keep their families wealthy.

There is tank outside the temple known as ‘sacred ash tank’. The flag post-kodimaram is in front of Ambica shrine. Festivals begin in Ambica temples with Kappu Kattu (announcing the beginning of festival) ceremony. Here, festivals begin by hoisting the flag. Ash of cow dung is offered as Prasad in the temple. We have seen Lord Vinayaka in temple with His tusk in the right hand and Modhaga-the sweet pudding ball- in the left. Here, He blesses the devotees with the right hand and keeps the left assuring them – Abhaya hastha. This is a different style. It is said those worshipping Mother Devi Karumariamman should worship in this shrine too.

There is a separate shrine for Sage Agasthya. The sage had to come to south to balance the earth as Mount Kailash went down due to the heavy weight of a huge gathering of Sages when the wedding of Shiva-Parvathi took place there. Lord Shiva granted the wedding darshan to the Sage here. Also, the shrine of Mother Verkanni who granted darshan to the sage is here.

 

Mahamari gave holy turmeric

Two sisters by name Sundari and Sarathai were in the snake world. They were having enticing beauty and they could not get suitable bridegroom . To redress this grievance they performed pooja for Kali. Narathar came there and told them the time is ripe now; so go to Thiruverkadu pray Karumari and get Her blessings.
Devikarumari appeared before these sisters and instructed them "Children ! Take bath in the Sambar Poigai and drink turmeric water for one mandalam and pray Sakthi. Your grievances will be redressed and you will lead happy life".
As per instructions of Devi Karumari, both the sisters performed the pooja. At the end of one mandalam princess Sambu and Balan came there and saw Sundari and Sarathai. They fell in love with each other. Sundari married Sambu and Sarathai married Balan and they lived happily for long time.
Even now the turmeric of Devi Karumari blesses unmarried girls with bridegrooms and child for those who are not having children. Patients are relieved of their disease.

Poorani - Emerged as Neem

Neem is capable of putting a fight against god of death ( Yeman). Neem leaves are slogans! They are diplomatic ! They cure many diseases !. They drive away many evils ! Devi Karumari has said "I am living in the neem leaves and it will give life".
People are getting neem leaves from Devi Karumari piously. Mantras uttered With neem leaves and cane drive away bad evils and the devotees get cured.

Kumbhamaari

Honouring the request of Lord Siva, Karumari merged all the five elements in a kumbam and made Ganga to come out of it and sat with neem leaves. That pose can even be seen today while she blesses her devotees.

Nagamaari

Devi Karumari told "If you pray snake idol kept under Neem or white neem tree, Karumari will bless you. If you pour milk in snake anthill you will get uplift in life and the bad effect of Ragu and Kethu will be removed ". During Adi festival, pouring of milk in snake anthill is celebrated as a special event. She gave boon to five elements, made them as five headed snake and wear it on her head.

Simhavahini

Lord Siva decided only Lion Mount was most suitable for Karumari to go around the world to bless Her devotees. So mayai, "tharagan" of Lord Muruga became lion and reached Thiurverkadu. Devi Karumari was giving pose sitting on it. All are extremely happy to witness that scene on Sunday, Full moon and poosam in the month of Thai.

Devi Karumari - Symbol of Wisdom

There is reference about Thiruverkadu in Kandapuranam. The history about this sacred place has taken place in the Theertha kaadhai, Kalika kandam, Sanath Kumara shemshithai in Kandapuranam. There is very high reputed history about this sacred place in the Theertha kaadhai of Kaligakandam.
There are references about this holy place in the myth written by the great saint Veda Viyasar. This information can be seen as details given by the Soothaga Munivar to the saints assembled in the Naimi saranyam. Apart from the mythic history many great saints came to this holy place worshipped the deity and praised the glory of lord with their songs.
Arunagirinathar and Sambandar composed many poems about this place. Sekilar Peruman in his Periya Puranam has sung about this holy place and about Moorkka Nayanar. Apart from what was mentioned in the mythics and the songs composed by the Siva saints, poor lay men every day came to this place and prayed god in their own language and style. if we compile them then the whole world will be filled with the praising words about this place, the glory of Devi Karumari and nobility of Vedapuresswarar with Balambiga.

Holy lamp is the image of Adi Sakthi, the Mother of all mothers.If you lit the lamp you will have Prosperity. you should clean the lamp neatly, put the wick, pour oil, put garland and sing the song sitting before it.
Then whatever you pray can be achieved. In Devi Karumari Amman Temple each and every Full moon day 108 married women will perform pooja for 108 lamps.

Vinayagar Peruman:

Once upon a time Vinayagar performed Abisekam (pouring holy water) on Devi Karumari using Valampuri Conch which made Karumari extremely happy. So She blessed him when poojas were performed the first pooja would be done to Him only.That is why only after offering prayer to Vinayagar at the left side of flag staff we should go round the temple corridor.
Verkanni Amman:

After worshipping the divine feet of Devi Karumari, who showers blessings all over the world, if you move to the right you can see the Agasthiar Sannidhi. Once there stood white Neam tree in the place of Verkanni. In due course it withered away. Now you can see a hole in the upper roof of the building as an evidence of it

 

New year celebration :

The temple will be opened till the mid night on 31st December to welcome the New year where ceremonial & ritual poojas will be performed. Special and Free darshans are available for the convenience of the devotees. Bus facilities and distribution of prasathams are also arranged.

 

Brahmmotchavam :

Since 1995 this ceremonial festival is performed for 19 days during the month of Thai(Tamil month). Beautifully decorated Goddess Devi Karumariammn is taken on different mounts for procession through streets. Last 3 days are the very auspicious days in which Theppa Utchavam (Tank Festival) is held. The ardent devotees of Devi Karumariamman participate in these festivals and offer their donations.

Thaipoosa Latcharchana and Poornima Latcharchana

Yega Thina Latcharchana is performed on the day of Thaipoosam every year. Latcharchana is performed for three days during Chitra Poornima (Full Moon Day in the month of Chitrai) in which the devotees take part very actively and get the blessings of Goddess Devi Karumariamman.

Masi Magam :

Beautifully decorated Devi Karumariamman is taken with rituals to Chennai beach where she takes sea bath. From there she will offer blessings to her devotees. The scene of darshan is simply marvelous to look at. The Goddess will be taken back to temple in the evening

Tamil New Year Eve :

Devi Karumariamman will Bless her devotees on the eve of Tamil New Year . The Goddess will be decorated with flowers and golden ornaments..

Garuda Seva :

On the eve of Vaigasi Visagam at the sannidhi of Lord Srinivasa Perumal, Garuda Seva will be performed in a beautiful manner. Lord Perumal will be taken for procession through streets.

Aadi Festival :

Aadi Festival (Aadi Peruvizha) will be celebrated continuously for 12 weeks from last Sunday of Aani month(Tamil Month) in a grand manner in which Classical Music, Bharathnatyam, Devotional speeches are organized. On the 9th Sunday Devi Karumariamman will be taken out by way of Car festival.

Navarathiri Festival :

On the day of each Poornima and during the Navarathiri days Kuthuvizhakku Pooja will be performed by 108 sumangalies (married women). In all the nine days the Goddess will be giving Dharshan to her devotees with different costumes.

 

Kanda Sashti Festival :

During the month of Karthigai (Tamil Month) the Kanda Sashti festival will be celebrated in a grand manner for six days, wherein special poojas and bajans will be taking place. On the seventh day Soorasamharam (destruction of Soora, a historic event) will be performed. On the Eighth day of the Kanda Sashti festival Thirukalyana Utsavam (ceremonial wedding function of Lord Muruga) will be performed.

 

Dhanur Month Pooja :

As poojas are performed in other temples during the month of Margazhi (Tamil Month) even in this temple special poojas are being done in the early mornings of Margazhi.

Temple History:

According to the legend, there was an ant-hill in this place long ago. People were worshipping this as Mother Ambica. Mother appeared in the dream of a devotee and asked him to build a temple for Her in that spot. When people demolished the ant-hill, they found Ambica as a swayambu and built the temple here. As She was not in the womb of a Mother, she is praised as one not from the womb (Karuvil Illadha Karumari).