It is very rare to find a temple’s main deity in the form of a natural anthill. But one can see this amazing sight in the Putlur Angala Parameswari Amman Temple near Chennai.
The Putru or anthill resembles a woman. It has a lovely face, benign eyes, parted lips, curved eyebrows, hands, legs, etc. But the most unique feature is the pregnant belly.
This temple is popularly known as the Putlur Amman temple. The temple is in Ramapuram, Putlur, a village on the outskirts of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. Putlur is a village in Tiruvallur district, around 38 km west of Chennai. It is 850 meters away from the Putlur railway station. The village got its name from the temple. “Putlur” means “the town of anthill” (the Tamil word ‘putru’ means “anthill”).
Who is Angala Parameshwari?
Angala Parameswari is a form of Goddess Shakti. She is worshipped in this form mainly in Melmaruvathur and Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu. She is the daughter of Parvatharajan (the lord of mountains), whom the inland fisherman in Tamil Nadu regard as their ancestor.
She is supposedly Adi Shakti who created the entire universe and Hindu Trinity, as well as the wife of Shiva. She manifests on earth to destroy Adharma.
As per legend, it was she who got rid of the skull or Kapala from the palm of Shiva. The Kapala was actually the fifth head of Brahma, which Shiva had chopped off.
The Goddess’ preferred spot is the cremation ground. A temporary image of the Goddess is fashioned on the cremation ground, using ashes, bones, and mud on the occasion of festivals. Permanent structures made of cement and stone are also found in places where she has a large following.
In some temples, there is a murti or idol of the Goddess. In this form, she holds a trident, sword, kapala (skull) and damaru (drum). Worshipping her can bring progeny blessings and also cure mental and physical illnesses.
Features of the Putlur Amman Temple
Locals believe that Goddess Angala Parameshwari, an incarnation of Parvati, took the form of a large anthill resembling a pregnant woman. The main deity of the Putlur Amman Temple is also called Poongavanathu Amman. The Goddess resembles a woman going through labor, lying supine with her mouth open. As Shiva is present inside the sanctum sanctorum, an idol of Nandi is also found in front of the sanctum instead of a lion, which is the Goddess’ mount and is usually found in a Devi temple.
One can also find shrines to Nataraja, Ganesha, and the philosopher-saint Valluvar near the sanctum sanctorum. Nataraja has the name Thandavarayan. The Sthala Vriksha of the Putlur Amman Temple is a neem tree that stands in the outer corridor. Other shrines in the outer corridor include those of Goddess Karumari, Ganesha, and the Nagadevas (snake gods) under the sacred tree. There is also a sacred anthill as well. Devotees come here seeking progeny blessings mostly. But it is also said that the Goddess will grant all the wishes of her devotees.
The Legend behind Putlur Amman Temple
Once, a poor villager by the name of Ponmeni, who had borrowed money from a moneylender called Mahisuran, was unable to repay it. Mahisuran said he would kill Ponmeni unless he tilled the rocky land of Poonkavanam in one night and made it fit for cultivation. In those days, Poongavanam was a jungle in those days and was infested with evil spirits. Ponmeni had no choice, so he began to till the land, praying to Goddess Angala Parameshwari all the while.
As he was tilling, a man and a pregnant woman approached him and asked for some water. But, by the time he returned with some water, the couple had vanished. The farmer continued to till the land when he noticed blood oozing from the ground. Suddenly, he heard a divine oracle saying that the couple were actually Shiva and Amman and that the latter would be present there permanently in the form of an anthill. To his surprise, an anthill emerged from the ground. Amman blessed Ponmeni with immense wealth, as he was responsible for revealing her presence.
Locals believe that Goddess Angala Parameshwari, an incarnation of Parvati, took the form of a large anthill resembling a pregnant woman. The main deity is also called Poongavanathu Amman. The Goddess resembles a woman in the throes of labor, lying supine with her mouth open. As Shiva is present inside the sanctum sanctorum, an idol of Nandi is also found in front of the sanctum instead of a lion, which is the Goddess’ mount and is usually found in a Devi temple.
One can also find shrines to Nataraja, Ganesha, and the philosopher-saint Valluvar near the sanctum sanctorum of the Putlur Amman Temple. Nataraja here has the name Thandavarayan. The Sthala Vriksha here is a Neem tree that stands in the outer corridor. Other shrines in the outer corridor include those of Goddess Karumari, Ganesha, and the Nagadevas (snake gods) under the sacred tree. There is also a sacred anthill as well. Many devotees come to the Putlur Amman Temple seeking progeny blessings mostly. But the Goddess supposedly grants all the wishes of her devotees.
Another legend claims that Shiva and his consort Goddess Shakthi were going towards Ramapuram (now Putlur), which was a dense forest full of Neem trees. It was then known as Poongavanam.
Feeling tired, the Goddess sat down to rest and asked Shiva to fetch her some water. As it was raining heavily, Shiva could not return immediately.
So, the Goddess settled down on the ground, and slowly, an anthill grew over her. Later, when Shiva returned with the water, he found her in the anthill form. Hence, he decided to stay by her side in the name of Thandavarayan. He got this name because when he could not find Amman at the place where he had left her, he was upset and performed Thandavam.
Female devotees who visit the Putlur Amman Temple to pray for progeny blessings buy 5 lemons and bangles from the shops outside the temple. One lemon is used by old ladies in the temple complex for removing the evil eye, and 3 lemons are impaled on the Trishul or trident inside the temple. The devotee also ties a piece of cloth to it. Yet another lemon is given to the priest, who smears it with kumkum and places it at the feet of the Goddess, along with the bangles.
When the lemon rolls down, the priest offers it to the devotee as Prasad, and she takes it home. The bangles are given to other worshippers as Prasad. Devotees who conceive often come here to perform the Seemantham (bangle ceremony for pregnant Hindu women during the 7th month of pregnancy). After childbirth, devotees also offer saris, bangles, jadai (hair braids), lemon, and many kinds of rice and Pongal to Amman.
Hordes of women devotees visit the Putlur Amman Temple daily to pray for childbirth as well as other wishes. Once their wishes are granted, they tie their saree pallu or a miniature cradle near the anthill or offer bananas/jaggery, weighing the same as their children.
The overnight Pooja at the Putlur Amman Temple on Full moon days is very famous. Important festivals at the temple include Shivarathri, Masi Magam, Aadi Velli (Fridays in the Tamil month of Aadi), and new moon days. The annual festival here takes place in Aadi month (July-Aug). There is a special event called Iruttu Kumbam during this time, when all lights in the Putlur Amman Temple are turned off at night, leaving it in total darkness.