Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari Temple is a famous temple located in Melmalayanur which is 32 km from Gingee, Viluppuram, district of Tamil Nadu. The temple is built in honour of Goddess Angala Parameswari, an avatar of Goddess Mother Parvathi, wife of God Shiva. She is said to be the protector of the Universe and took this form to help Shiva remove a particular sin he did and also offered endowments to people in Kaliyug. The temple celebrates the protective grace and power of Goddess Angala Parameswari. Read below to learn about the significance and history of the Melmalgayur Angala Parameswari Temple.
Architecture Of Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari Temple
The Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari Temple is a beautiful temple with Dravidian architecture. It has a compounded wall made of granite stone and all the shrines have this compounded wall. There is a flag post of a Dwajastambam opposite the entrance of the shrine. In the shrine, the Goddess Parameswari idol is in a seated position and graces her devotees with blessings.
Before you read about the legend associated with this temple, read to know the significance of Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari Temple.
Significance of Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari Temple
Goddess Angala Parameswari is a form of Goddess Parvati known as the cosmic creator and maker. She is considered a divinity and the main energy of power. She is a main part of the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara and performs actions like creation, sustenance and destruction. She is a fusion of female and male personalities. She is depicted with a female counterpart on the right and a male counterpart on the left. This combination of energies and powers aids in creating the universe.
It is said that those who offer prayers to Amman with a sincere heart and pious mind will bless them with eternal happiness and prosperity.
The Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari temple has great positive energy as the Goddess is formed by the Holy Trinity. Worshipping her is highly advantageous for people who want to get married, have children or have a harmonious family relationship. It is believed that women who want stability and prosperity in their married lives can get blessed with it if they offer sincere prayers to the Goddess. She helps her devotees in many ways and whoever prays to her in Melmalayur Angala Parameswari Temple regularly can get all the benefits as she endows all the happiness and prosperity in their lives.
Festivals Conducted In Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari Temple
There are many festivals conducted in Melmalayur Angala Parmeswari Temple. But the most important among them is the Simimasana Kollai Festival. This is more of a ritual than a festival and is done between February and March. In this ritual, food is cooked in large quantities by devotees and placed on the burning ground. This festival is also called Mayana Kollai in some areas.
Visiting the Melmalayur Angala Parameswari temple on New Moon day or Amavasai of Krishna Paksha is said to be auspicious to get the blessings of the Angala Parameswari. On this day, small deepam or lamps are decorated on the premises of the temple. One hundred thousand lamps or deepams are lit around the temple on this day and is a festive occasion for the devotees.
Masi car festival is another auspicious event that is celebrated in the Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari Temple where the deity is taken out in procession in the decorated temple chariot. Besides these festivals, the other festivals conducted with great grandeur are the Thai Pongal, Deepavali, Shiva Ratri, and Navaratri.
Legends Of Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari Temple
It is said that the Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari Temple is miraculous and powerful. But do you know the history behind it and why it is considered an auspicious place to visit? The story of this temple is peculiar and unique. It is said that Lord Shiva beheaded Lord Brahma at the insistence of Goddess Parvati. This angered Goddess Saraswati who was the wife of Lord Brahma. The reason for Lord Shiva doing this act was because Goddess Parvati was confused about the five heads of Brahma and Parvati mistook Brahma for Shiva and touched his feet, thinking it was Shiva. When she found that it was Brahma she got angry and hence asked her husband, Shiva to cut them. Lord Brahma’s cut head got fixed into Shiva’s hands. Goddess Saraswati seeing this cursed him to become homeless, sleepless and hungry.
The result of this curse was that Lord Shiva had to stay in graveyards, and whatever food he laid his hands on was eaten by Lord Brahma’s head which was affixed to Shiva’s hand. That left Shiva hungry and thirsty. On the other hand, Parvati lost her beauty to Saraswati’s curse and all her assistants became demons. To redeem herself and her husband the only way was to be reborn as a serpent and take a holy dip in the tank of Melmalayanur temple. Parvati took a dip in the tank and thus saved herself and her assistants from Saraswati’s curse. Goddess Parvati was very happy with the potent qualities of the water and the temple and blessed the temple with her avatar. It is also said that she blesses the temple and the devotees who visit the Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari Temple.
How To Reach Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari Temple?
You can reach this temple using various modes of transport.
MelmalayanurAngala Parameswari Temple TimingsThe temple is open all seven days a week. The temple is closed between 12:30 PM and 4:30 PM. It is open between 6 AM to 12: 30 PM and from 4:30 to 8: 30 PM. The timings may vary if there is a festival or other important occasions.
