Tiruverkadu Arulmigu Devi Karumariamman Temple 22nd Brahmotsava Festival Invitation
Moolavar : Devi Karumariamman
Thala Virutcham : Karuvela tree
Theertham : Velayudha theertham
Agamam / Pooja : Kameekam
Old year : 500-1000 years old
Historical Name : Velangadu
City : Tiruverkadu
District : Tiruvallur
State : Tamil Nadu
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.
Opening Time:
The temple is open from 5.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. without any break.
Address:
Sri Devi Karumariamman Temple, Tiruverkadu, Tiruvallur Dist.
Phone:
+91-44-2680 0430, 2680 0487, 2680 1686.
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.
Prayers
Majority of the devotees believe that prayer to Ambica would set aside obstacles in wedding efforts in the family.
Thanks giving:
Devotees carry fire pots, roll around the prakara (angapradakshina) and perform abishek with milk.
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.
Gopuja (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.
Temple History:
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).