Thaayamangalam Muthumariamman Temple-Thayamangalam, Ilayangudi, Sivagangai,T.N.
The ThaayaMangalam Muthumariamman Temple is located in the Thaayamangalam village in the Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu.
The temple has a Maavilakku Mandapam, Valipeedam and a three tiered Raja Gopuram. The Mahamandapam has its own Valipeedam, Kadimaram and Simma Vaahanam. As one does the customary circling of the main deities, enclaves for Karupanna Swamy, Aadhi Muthumaari Amman, Vinayagar , Subramaniyar and Bhairavar are also seen. Next to the Mahamandapam there is an Artha Mandapam , and outside the main deity there is a shrine to Ganesha and Muruga in the left and right respectively. The Amman idol itself is depicted as standing with an Agni Kireedom on the head and with four arms, each holding a different item. The idolâ€™s upper right and lower light hands hold an Udukkai and a Knife while the left hands hold a Soolam and a Vessel.
Muthumariamman is worshipped as virgin deity as She is still a child. Those seeking marriage boon offer a pearl of gold at Her feet instead of the traditional offer of a mangal sutra.
A popular legend talks about how the famed Kumara Gurubarar invoked the blessings of Goddess Meenakshi in the avatar of a child when singing her praises. The templeâ€™s pays homage to this legend and many devotees state their own experiences of a similar vein when visiting the temple. The temple’s humble beginnings were due to a devout Shiva follower who would conduct his business in Madurai and often visit the Meenakshi and Sokkanathar temple for prayers before returning home. On one such occasion while passing through an area known as Chinna Kannanur, the man happened across an abandoned 3 year old crying child. Unable to find the parents or anyone to take care of the child and being a childless person, he decided to adopt the child as his own. On his way back to his hometown the man stopped to quickly bathe in the waters of a nearby lake, leaving the child on the bank. On his return however he found the child to be missing. His frantic search was fruitless and the man returned home dejected. The same night the child appeared in the man’s dream revealing the fact that the child he encountered was the Kanni Deivam. The child then proceeded to tell the man to go to a place called Kaathaazan Kaadu and build a temple in the name of Muthu Maari Amman. Buoyed by this fantastic dream, the man set out to the appointed place and to his astonishment came across the Amman’s footprints at the site. Banding together a group of fellow devotees he built a small temple around which a village soon emerged which eventually became the temple as we know it today. The name Thaayamnagalam was denoted the fact that the Amman goddess nurtured and protected the local villagers like a mother. The original devotees who constructed the temple went on to lead prosperous lives. With such a vivid history it’s not surprising to note that this temple is considered as the Kula Deivam to many from not just India but from devotees all over the world.
Kappu Kattudhal (this may be called an announcing or inauguration ceremony. Till the conclusion of the festival, the residents would not leave the place.) Procession with milk pots, theerthavari, pookuzhi or fire pit festival, Navarathri in September-October, abishek with 108 pots of milk and special pujas in the month of Aadi (July-August) and Thai (January-February) are importantly celebrated in the temple.
The temple is said to famous for banishing doshams and granting boons relating to Marriages and Children. It isn’t surprising to find devotees offering Mangala Sutras to the hundials and cradles tied to branches of the Vilvam tree at the temple. Praying and lighting a lamp at this temple is also said to cure stomach ailments. By offerings eyes made of silver or gold to the Amman idol eye related ailments have also said to disappear and Chicken pox is said to be cured by carrying a fiery pot. The nearby Mariamman Theppakulam is also an often frequented spot for devotees, the waters of which are used for Abishegams and Theertham at the temple.
The nearest airport and rail head is at Madurai.
The temple is 22 km from Manamadurai, Paramakudi. Buses from these places to Thayamangalam are available only at specific hours.
7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.