Palayankottai Ayiraththamman Temple

Exploring the vibrant city of Mysore sparks memories of various facets, with the grand Dusshera festival standing out prominently. Yet, delve a bit deeper into Dusshera celebrations, and Kulasekharapattinam emerges as a significant association. Following this thread of festivity, Palayankottai takes center stage as the city that magnificently hosts Dusshera after Mysuru and Kulasekharapattinam. At the heart of these celebrations lies the Ayiraththamman temple.

Ayiraththamman, where 'Ayiram' signifies one thousand in Tamil, carries a captivating legend. In the Samadanapuram locality, Pattalaththu Thidal, a vast ground known for its connection to the army, holds a tale of fervent worship. The name "Pattalaththu Thidal" stems from the presence of soldiers, and a humble temple within, where the locals sought solace from the menace of a small fox that plagued Palayankottai.

In an unexpected turn, an English officer, infuriated by the soldiers' inability to attend duty due to the fox-related illnesses in their families, resorted to shooting the icon of Amman in the temple with his gun. The repercussions were swift; that night, his own family members fell prey to the same small fox affliction. Realizing the potency of the goddess's influence, the officer humbly paid tribute at the temple, and miraculously, his family members were cured.

The Ayiraththamman earned her name from the devotion of a thousand soldiers. In response to this worship, the locals embarked on constructing a majestic temple for Ayiraththamman, complete with a new icon. Intriguingly, Amman appeared in the dreams of the locals and guided them to reinstall the original icon in the new temple. The newly crafted icon found its place in the Tripuranteeswarar temple in Palayankottai. To this day, the Samadanapuram ground boasts a small icon of Ayiraththamman, rendering Palayankottai home to three icons of Ayiraththamman, all rooted in a captivating tale of devotion and divine intervention.

The newly constructed temple, dating back to the 19th century, proudly stands on the western car street of the Tripuranteeswara temple in Palayankottai. The focal point of devotion within is Ayiraththamman, portrayed with eight arms wielding an array of weapons. Notably, Betal (Vedalam) replaces the traditional vahana and faces the main shrine, while Sudalai Madan takes the form of a distinctive triangular pillar, positioned in reverence to the deity.

Within the Maha mandapa, a sacred space unfolds with the presence of various village deities like Pechi, Karuppasami, Madasami, Vayiravan, and Bhairava. Notably, a sizable icon of Bhootatalwar resides in a separate shrine, contributing to the temple's rich spiritual tapestry. Pechi and Karuppasami, represented symbolically rather than in human form, add unique dimensions to the spiritual ambiance. Kanni Moola Ganapati is honored with a dedicated shrine, further enriching the temple's diverse pantheon.

During the grand Dusshera festivities, a 25-day celebration unfolds, marking a period of profound devotion and communal revelry. Eleven goddesses from Palayankottai journey to the temple, each arriving in their distinctive vehicles. Under the leadership of Ayiraththamman, they traverse the eight car streets, creating a spectacle of divine presence and spiritual unity. Culminating on the auspicious day of Dusshera, Ayiraththamman, at the helm of the divine entourage, leads the procession to the sacred ground where the symbolic slaying of Mahisasuramardini takes place, embodying the triumph of good over evil in a vibrant display of religious fervor.

Happy travelling.