Shivaratri Utsavam at Erode Angalamman Temple… Ankalamma is considered to be one among the “Seven Divine Mothers”, and she is also considered to be a form of Ma Kali.
There are several temples for Mata Angala Parameswari Amman. Among that, one famous and ancient temple is situated in Keerakara Street, Erode-638001. She is a very powerful goddess, and fulfils the wishes of her devotees. Along with the main Amman shrine, shrines of various other gods, goddesses and demi gods are found inside the temple premises. This temple is situated a few kilometres away from the Erode Bus Stand, and a few lodges and hotels are also situated just within half a kilometre from the temple.
Every year during Shiva Rathri Festival day, grand puja would be performed to Amman, and Amman’s Urchava idol would be decorated with flowers and flower garlands, and she would be seated in the Lion’s Vehicle, and grand procession would take place. People from nearby areas and from all parts of Tamil Nadu, would visit this holy temple, and participate in the festival celebration, and the festival would start on Shiva Rathiri Day, and the festival would be celebrated for a week. Devotees especially used to do Coconut Water and Milk Abhishekham, along with other Abhishekham, and Archanai to Amman, in order to get relieved from their mind related and health related problems and to live a happy, prosperous and a blessed life.
Devotees would give donation in the form of cash/cheque or as food grains to the temple authorities, and free food is also provided during the festival days. Apart from the Shiva Rathri festival, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays are considered as most auspicious days for worshipping Mata Angala Parameswari Devi.
Maha Shivaratri is a festival which is celebrated once in a year, in order to honour Lord Shiva. As per legend, it is believed that during the time of Maha Shivaratri, Lord Shiva would dance at his abode Holy Kailash, in order to bring peace and prosperity to the entire universe. Apart from the annual Shivaratri, monthly Shivaratri is also celebrated in the temples, and during that auspicious day, special pujas would takes place.
It is considered as the main festival of Hindus, and especially by the devotees of Lord Shiva, since by celebrating the Maha Shivaratri festival, the darkness in our minds would be removed, and our life would be filled with full of peace and happiness. During the day of this festival, fasting would be observed by the devotees either in their homes or in the Shiva Temples, and chanting of Shiva Mantras such as “OM NAMAH SHIVAYA” also would be done, in order to remember Lord Shiva on that auspicious occasion.
“OM SRI SHIVANGALAMMA NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR