Kaumari, one of the Sapta Matrikas, worshiped Lord Shiva, to absolve of her sins committed during the war with the daityas.
Description of Kaumari: She is the shakti of Lord Subramanya, also known as Kumaraswami. She is also addressed as Shasthi Devi and Devasena. She manifested from Parashakti.
She has six faces, 12 eyes and 12 hands. She has a light red complexion. She has a peacock on her flag. And her mount is a peacock. She represents great valor and she is very bold. She was responsible for the victory of Lord Subramanya over the asura. The six Krittika maidens served her. She carries trishul, sphear in two hands and has abhaya and varada mudra. Sometimes she has a rooster as her symbol on the flag. She bestows child boon and is believed to be a protector of children.
Mulavar: Panchavatishwarar, Jataanadar
Devi: Brihnnayaki, Kalyanasundari
Place: Anandtandav puram, district Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu
Timing: 6 to 10 am and 5 to 8 pm
About the temple:
This is a very small but beautiful temple. A sacred pond (Teertha) is at the front of the temple. It has one parikrama. There is no rajagopuram but we have the idols of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati at the top of the entrance. Besides this, we have smaller shrines of Kaumari, Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanya around this temple. Besides this, we come across the idols of Anandamuni, Sage Bharadwaj, Nalvar. In a further article, we will give details of the other murtis in the temple.
Kshetra Puran:
Lord Shiva performed Ananda Tandav for Sage Anand Muni. Hence the place got the name Ananda Tandav Puram.
Heeding to the request and prayers of Sage Bharadwaj, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati gave darshan in their bridal attire at this place. Hence, Goddess Parvati is addressed here as Kalyanasundari. She is housed in a separate shrine. The shiva linga is a swayambhu linga. Devi Brihannayaki is housed in a separate shrine.
One of the 63 Nayanmars, Manakanjar was a great devotee and worshiper of Lord Shiva. He was chief of the King's army. He served the Lord along with his wife with greatest devotion. He had no child. He used to pray and request Lord Shiva for child boon. Pleased with their devotion, Lord Shiva granted their boon. A female child was born on an auspicious day at an auspicious time for his wife. The child was named as Punyavardhini. When she grew up, she was very beautiful with long thick black hair. Manakanjar arranged the marriage of his daughter with a young man who was also a great devotee of Lord Shiva. One day prior to the marriage a Shiva Muni came to their house. He was wearing saffron cloth with garlands of rudraksha around his neck. He had parted his matted hair into five parts. And wearing it as a sacred thread (hence Lord Shiva is known as at this palace as Jataanadar and Panchavatishwarar). In those days this was a habit of some Shaiva saints and Shaiva muni. The Shiva Muni saw the hair of Punyavardhini, he smiled and told Manakanjar that her hair was Panchavati (sacred thread) for him. Immediately Manakanjar cut the hair of his daughter and offered it to Shiva Muni. He felt that this was a great opportunity for him as his daughter's hair was going to be used as a panchavati for Shiva Muni. People who had come for the marriage were all struck. They felt that this act was not according to the shastras and felt very bad. At that very instance Lord Shiva appeared in his original form and blessed Manakanjar, his wife and daughter. He restored the hair of the bride and disappeared. When the bridegroom came to know about this, he came running to the place and started lamenting. He was crying and stated that he would cut his hair as well as his wife’s hair and give it to Lord Shiva.. He felt very sad as he did not get the darshan of Lord Shiva. Later on, he also became one of the 63 Nayanmars and is known as Kalikama Nayanar.
Main puja and festival:
Pradosha puja every month and Shiva Ratri besides regular puja, abhishek, prayers etc
People pray here for the removal of marriage obstacles.
For attaining peace and prosperity, vastra is offered to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and abhishek is performed.
There is another temple where Kaumari performed worship of Lord Shiva during Navaratri along with Goddess Parvati namely KeertiVageeshwarar temple and Shoolamangai on Papanasham-Ayyampettai-Thanjavur road.
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