Kodiyamman

Thamizh Month Aadi

17^th of July, began the divinely important Thamizh Month Aadi. It’s also known as Aashada month and this is the perfect time to worship the Shakti form or the women goddess in the Hindu Mythology.

To go with the flow, today 19^th July, is the first Aadi Friday of the Thamizh month Aadi this year, I’m writing about Kodiyamman, her avatar, her temple and her connection to Thanjavur, Thanjapureeshwarar temple and Brihadheeshwarar temple.

As I said, Aadi month is a perfect month for spiritual worship of deities. Every Fridays’ during the Aadi month is so special to worship women deities, the form of Shakti. 18^th and 28^th day of Aadi month, River Cauvery is worshipped and welcomed into our state for flowing untiringly and helping lakhs of families for earning their livelihood through agriculture.

People worship various forms of Goddess Shakti in every Thamizh month. Kaalarathri is the goddess and form of Shakti worshipped in Thamizh month Aadi. She looks like Batrakaali but is a different form of Shakti. Special offering of this Aadi month to Kaalarathri is Guava fruit. Worshipping Kaalarathri helps to forget all the sorrows of life and stabilizes happiness in one’s life.

Kodiyamman Temple, Thanjavur

Kodiyamman temple is located near Palliagrahaaram, Thanjavur. She is one of the guardian deity of Thanjavur. By roadways, if one wants to leave or enter Thanjavur, they have to come across her and shall have dharshan of Kodiyamman just sitting in their vehicle. Every vehicle that passes by this temple, is compulsorily stopped their, worships Kodiyamman and then people continue their journey.

Kodiyamman Temple

History of Ambal Kodiyamman dates back 2000 years old, 1000 years older than the Thanjavur Brihadheeshwarar temple. The main deity in the Garbhagriha is made up of wood carvings and lime material. The main deity Kodiyamman is facing northeast, whereas the Anandavalli ambal faces southwest direction, consort of Thanjapureeshwarar, a temple located nearby. The connection between these two temples is given in the below story.

This Kodiyamman comprises powers of both Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. That’s why the vehicle of Kodiyamman is Nandi. Generally women deities’ vehicle is lion, as Kodiyamman comprised herself with the power of Lord Shiva here, Nandi is the vehicle for Goddess. It’s because of the demons Thanjan and Tharan, who got boons from the trinity and were stronger than any other deity. 

During that time the places around these temple were used by devas’ to conduct yagnya and meditate towards Gods.

The great Parasara Muni (Sage) who was doing yagnya, there was no water at all. He prayed to Goddess Parvathi, in turn she creates the river Vadavar, tributary of River Cauvery by throwing the pearl chain around her neck. This river Vadavar back in those times was also known as Mani Mutharu.

Thanjan and Tharan

Sages and saints were conducting yagnya who might gain some knowledge and powers, as Thanjan and Tharan wanted no one to be powerful as them, they disturbed all thos sacred happenings. They disturbs the saints in the form of rain and air in order to cool down the fire in thee Yagnya. All the saints and Devas’ requesting all the trinity but trinity failed to protect them as they don’t harm their devotee. When these Devas’ approach Goddess Parvathi, she incarnates into a peaceful form of Kaali, who is green in color, in Kaalimedu (Now known as Kalimedu, near Srinivasapuram, Thanjavur). Kodiyamman becomes the last avatar of Anandavalli Amman of Thanjapureeshwarar temple. That’s why Kodiyamman faces Anandavalli Amman, in northeast and southwest direction. In those days, one Aarthi was offered to both the women deities, where the light of the aarthi shown to Kodiyamman falls on Anandavalli Amman.

Kodiyamman 

To escape from Goddess Parvathi, Thanjan and Tharan cloned themselves in crores of numbers, Goddess Parvathi too cloned herself into crores to destroy the demon. When she destroys all the clones of demons, her face turned into red color, color of coral, signifies the anger.

Thanjan requests Kodiyamman to rename the place where he was destroyed after him, so Goddess renames this place to Thanjai + Aavur = Thanjavur. Earlier this place was known as Alagapuri.

Important Festivals and Poojas

• One important festival of this temple is Pacha Kaali – Pavala kaali aatam, happens in the Thamizh month of Maasi. Where Kodiyamman starts from the temple and stays in Kalimedu for a day as it is her birthplace, then comes to her ‘in-laws’ house at West main street of Thanjavur.
• Aadi Fridays’ are special, as it’s an auspicious day for worshipping women deities.
• Special prayers are offered to lift up the black magic sufferings, marriage barriers and poojas for new vehicles as she is one of the guardian deity. Pournami (Full moon) Poojas are another important occasions.

Marriage play of Kodiyamman

The Marriage story of Kodiyamman is a small play by Lord Shiva himself, who comes in a normal human form and asks out Kodiyamman to marry him. She warns the man not to play with her, but the man is firm in his idea to marry her. When she gets married to the man, she curses the family of the man to carry no lineage in future. Later finds out that the man is none other than the Supreme Lord Shiva himself. Kodiyamman then shares the solution for the curse.

Chozhas Connections to Kodiyamman

Vijayalaya Chozhan, great grandfather of Raja Raja Chozhan, worshipped different Kaalis’ as their guardian deities. Even for guarding their territories as well as their families. Even before the times of Vijayalaya Chozhan, each and every decisions regarding country’s welfare, personal family decisions were made only after praying and considering Kodiyamman.

Kodiyamman, Brihadheeshwara temple and Raja Raja Chozhan

So when Raja Raja Chozhan wanted to construct such huge temple for Lord Shiva, having doubts on his capabilities and worried about the blessings from Lord Shiva, he asked Kodiyamman about all his worries regarding the temple. Raja Raja Chozhan geared up the work for the temple only after getting permission granted from Kodiyamman. After this they’ve constructed an underground pathway from the Brihadheeshwara temple to Kodiyamman temple. They have proof of this in the palm leaves.

This fact was even surprising for me. Raja Raja Chozhan is undoubtedly a great king of Chozha dynasty. I know that he’s an ardent devotee of Goddess Kaali. Seeking permission or blessings from Kodiyamman is a surprising fact.

That’s how Kodiyamman is connected to Brihadheeshwarar temple and Thanjapureeshwarar temple and also the main reason behind the city got its name after a demon.

Also feel free to contact priest Selvaraj of Kodiyamman temple for any offerings and Poojas in 9367182045.

Stay tuned for such Aadi special posts. I’m planning to come up with more such Amman temples around Thanjavur for this Aadi month.

Yours East Gaterr.