Melmaruvathur Temple

Introduction to Melmaruvathur Temple

Melmaruvathur Temple is located in Melmaruvathur, Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu. It lies 92 km away from Chennai. Maruvathur Amman Temple, Adhi Parasakthi Temple, and Om Shakthi Temple are the other names of the temple. It has another name called 'Siddhar Peetam.' In Tamil, the 'Siddhar' means 'saint', and 'Peetam' means 'throne'. Thus, it means 'the throne of the Siddhars' souls'.

The temple's devotees call Arul Thiru Bangaru Adigalar 'Amma' (Mother). The Melmaruvathur Temple is administered under the guidance of 'Amma,' a divine administration.

Legend of Melmaruvathur Temple

In the 1960s, there was a Neem tree in this place. It produced a sweet nectar (milk) which surprised many. Hearing the news, people tasted the nectar from the Neem tree. After consuming it, many people got relief from their illnesses. So, they treated it as a medical tree and protected it from grazing cattle and woodcutters.

A severe storm uprooted the Neem tree in 1966 and exposed the Swayambu to the villagers for the first time. The Swayambu was like an oval-shaped object carved of rock. People built a small hut above the Swayambu and conducted Poojas, prayers, and rituals. This is known as Siddhar Peetam, where 21 Siddhars are laid in Jeeva Samadhi.

The Architecture of Melmaruvathur Temple

People worshipped only the Swayambu for many years. On November 25, 1977, the Adi Parasakthi idol was installed in the sanctum sanctorum. The idol is three feet high and sits on a thousand-petal lotus base. She sits with her right leg folded, while the left leg rests on the lotus-shaped phallus. In this form, the deity holds a lotus bud in her right hand, signifying Gnana (wisdom), the Chin Mudra in her left, and her hair plait is knotted upwards like a crown indicating high wisdom.

Devotees can worship the Swayambu in front of the Adi Parasakthi statue. Every day, lady priests perform Abishekam and Archanas to the deity. The sanctum sanctorum is only a 10X10 feet room.

Sri Ganapati Sthapathi, the Principal of Mahabalipuram Sculpture College, sculpted the idol of Goddess Adi Parasakthi. It is the only temple where women perform Pooja in the sanctum sanctorum. Women perform all rituals inside the temple, even during their menstrual time.
In front of the Siddhar Peetam, devotees can see the Om Sakthi podium with the Trident in its center. Since Adi Parasakthi is the Mother of all deities, there is no specific Navagraha temple here. Devotees circumambulate the Om Sakthi podium to reduce or nullify the evil effects.

In Putrumandapam, the Mother blesses her people at all times. Her devotees believe strongly that Adi Parasakthi dwells in the snake pit as a cobra. Bangaru Adigalar during transmigration as 'Amma' gives arul vaaku (oracle) here.

Saptha Kanniyar Temple, Naga Peetam, Arut Koodam, and Atharvana Bhadrakali Temple are the other places for worship in the Melmaruvathur Temple.

Festivals in Melmaruvathur Temple

Aadi Pooram, Thaipusam, Bangaru Adigalar's birthday (March 3), and Navratri are the major festivals celebrated here. Also, in Aadi month, taking Aadi porridge for the deity Maruvathur Amman is very well celebrated. People from all regions wear red clothes and come to Melmaruvathur Temple to worship.

Every day around 11.00 am, Annadaanam is offered to all the devotees. Notably, on the new moon and full moon days, Sri Adigalar visits the temple, and Annadaanam is done on a large scale under his supervision.

Benefits of Worshipping at Melmaruvathur Temple

Devotees who come to Melmaruvathur Temple wear garlands and keep fast. Those who wear red clothes are believed to get all the riches. Atharvana Bhadrakali temple is specially set up here to help victims of witchcraft.

Devotees offer Shakti Mala garlands and carry Irumudi as followed in the Ayappan temple. They do the Angapradakshinam - rolling around the Prakaram.