PRATYANGIRA DEVI TEMPLE, AYYAVADI
Pratyangira Devi is an avatar of Parvati Devi. She is also a form of Adi Parashakti and is the consort of Sharabeswarar, a form of Lord Shiva, who took the avatar to pacify Lord Narasimha. She contains lion’s face and human body and contains the combined power of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. She was created in order to protect the good ones from the evil forces. Pratyangira is also worshipped as Kali and Narasimhi by the devotees. According to the ancient Vedas, she is mentioned as the lion goddess with great protective and destructive powers.
Prathyangira Devi Temple is located at Ayyavadi in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. The temple is dedicated to the powerful goddess Ma Pratyangira. In this temple, there are idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswathi placed nearby the idol of Goddess Pratyangira. Goddess Lakshmi is standing in her Pratyangira form and also in her normal form. This is one of the most powerful Maa Prathyangira Devi Temples in India. Ayyavadi is closer to Kumbakonam and the temple is situated in a serene atmosphere.
The temple is more than 1000 years old and is associated with legends of the Mahabharata. The idol of Prathyangira Devi is flanked by those of Lakshmi and Saraswati.
Located 6 kms from Kumbakonam, in the village of Ayyavadi, the famous Pratyangira Devi Temple is enshrined by Goddess Pratyangira – an incarnation of Goddess Kali. Believed to be at least 1000 years old, the shrine is related to the times of the Mahabharata. The idol of the presiding deity Pratyangira is flanked by those of Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. Situated at a distance of 500 metres from the Uppiliappan Temple, the shrine is highly revered by the Hindus and is a popular pilgrimage spot.
Goddess Kali is installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and is known as Pratyangira Devi. The Devi has a face of a lion and is seated on a huge chariot, has eight hands and four lions. It is believed that worshipping at Pratayangira Devi temple can ward off evil spirits, and can solve the unsolvable problems in the lives of the devotees. A special yagna is conducted every new moon day from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM and red chillies are offered to the goddess. A sacred Banyan tree is also present in the premises.
Relatively smaller in size, the temple has one praharam; the entrance gate has a metal shed and has metal wire lined railings. Pratyangira Devi is portrayed in her fierce Goddess Kali form and is believed to cure people of black magic, voodoo and can ward off evil spirits. The vimana of the temple has been built in a North Indian style of architecture; the idol of the presiding Devi faces north.
Some of the popular songs written in praise of Ma Pratyangira Devi Amman are as follows: –
Hey Holy Mother, Hey golden mother,
Hey Kali, Hey Koumari, Hey goddess of medicine,
Hey dutiful wife of Lord Shiva,
Hey lover of flowers, Hey lover of garments and ornaments,
Hey goddess of Vedas, Hey broad eyed pretty goddess,
Hey Holy Mother Meenakshi of Madurai with fish eyes,
Hey goddess of powerful fire flames.
Hey Bhuvaneswari, who rules the Bhuvanam( entire universe),
Hey Parameshwari, Parabrahmamayi(The ultimate mother),
Hey Maheswari, Mahishasuramardini( the one who destroyed demon Mahishasura),
Hey Sarveshwari, Sarvalankari(the beautiful goddess, who looks like the full moon adorned with precious ornaments and fragrant flowers),
Hey Kaleeswari, who removes the evil effects of Kali Purusha),
Hey Jyotheeswari, who is so bright equivalent to millions and millions of suns,
Hey Jagadeeswari, Jaganmatha, Jagatrakshambika, please give me an opportunity to serve under your lotus feet.
I consider you as my divine mother, you are the only saviour for me,
To whom else shall I complain?
When you are my mother,
Is it proper to consider some one as my divine mother?
Please come soon to remove my tears, Oh, my Holy mother,
Is it proper to make me to wait? Oh, the wonderful consort of Lord Shiva, turn your bright face to me, oh, my worshipful mother,
please make me to smile happily, peacefully and comfortably.
My eyes should only see you,
My legs should march only to your temple,
My tongue should sing songs only about you,
My two hands should bow only before you,
My thoughts should be filled only with your name,
My all belongings should only become yours,
My entire body is owned only by you.
Please stay on my soul forever,
Whenever I write about something, it should be only about you, whenever I hesitate you, you should compel me to worship you, whenever I forgets about you, you should bring into my memory about your significance. You are protecting me like the eyelids, I am the calf, and you are the cow, who removes my hunger and quenches my thirst daily, daily?
I want to become a permanent slave to you,
My ears should open only for hearing your praises,
I should not interfere in dirty things,
My mind should never concentrate on silly things,
I should like to live only for worshipping you,
I should want to see you always.
To worship you, I need at least a thousand arms,
To call you, I need at least one hundred tongues,
To believe in you, I need a sound mind,
For walking towards your temples, I need at least hundred legs,
I need at least one thousand eyes, to witness your dazzling, astonishing and admiring divine beauty,
Hey, Ma Pratyangiri Devi Karumariamma, there are no other words to praise and praise you.
You are the goddess of goddesses,
You are the precious emerald stone, you are the beautiful holy Ganges River, you are the affectionate mother of Lord Vinayaka and Muruga, you are the holy mother ADIPARASHAKTI DEVI, and you are very dear to me.
“OM SHAKTI PRITYANGIRA DEVI KARUMARIAMMA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR