#AithiyaMaala #KumaranalloorKarthiayani

Kumaranalloor Karthiayani Devi kshetrams is considered one of the most important ones to worship the almighty mother. There is an interesting connection to Madurai Meenakshi and why it got the name Kumaranalloor.

PC: Wiki
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Madurai Meenakshi amman is renowned for her beauty and the gems & silks adorning her. She is the family deity of Pandya Kings whose capital was Madurai.

During their reign, the temple had reached glorious heights and was renowned all around

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One day, when the priest opened the temple in the morning, he found that the diamond nose ring missing. He informed the temple authorities and soon it reached the king's ears.

No one doubt the priest, but the king was apprehensive. He gave an ultimatum to the priest

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King said: I will give you 40 days and if you don't produce the nose ring, you will beheaded.

The priest in temple was changed and the poor chap who was accused searched all around, but to no avail. 39 days had passed and only one more day was left.

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That day, the priest stayed in the temple, chanted all hymns, didn't take water also and slept in the temple.

In the night, he hears a soft voice advising him to run as the king's soldiers are asleep. When he wakes up, he doesn't find anyone around

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Convinced it was Bhagwathy, he starts to walk fast. After some distance, he observes he is being followed and finds that it's indeed Madurai Meenakshi amman.

When he asks why she was following him, she replies : You have served me with utmost devotion....

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If you are leaving this place, even I don't want to stay"

Saying thus, she leads the way with the sparkle of diamonds acting as a marker to the priest. After a long distance, she disappeared into darkness.

The priest drags himself into a place and falls asleep.

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When he wakes up in the morning, he finds he is in a new temple. When he checks inside, he finds Bhagwathy in her majestic form with all her diamonds and full regale.

This village belonged to a Chera King, who incidentally was passing by that time

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He comes and asks the outsider, who are you. The priest explains everything.

The king is angry and says, "I have constructed this temple for Kumara (Subramanya Swamy). I don't see anyone in the garbha griha.. What are you saying.."

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The priest says, "Touch me and see inside"

When the king does the same, he is blessed with a majestic vision of Madurai Meenakshi Amman.

The king says "Your devi is arrogant. I will not give anything to her. She has to fend for herself. I am going to....

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Udayanapuram to consecrate the idol of Kumara".

Saying thus he proceeded towards his destination. A little ahead, the entire party was engulfed in a thick fog which made their travel impossible.

Someone reminded the king that it could be Devi Prakoopa

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The King prays "If my path is cleared, I will accept her as my family deity & bestow with a lot of wealth"

Lo ! the mist cleared magically as it was created. The King comes back to the devi temple and apologizes for his earlier behavior

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However, there is still a problem. There is no murthy of Bhagwathy to consecrate. It would take 41 days to create one from panchaloha.

That night the King has a dream where a soft voice advises him to go to a hill 2 kms away towards East.

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There is a suitable idol in a ruined well there. It would serve the purpose.

When the king opens his eyes, he realizes the divine intervention and immediately sets out on the task. The idol is found and consecration is performed as planned

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The priest from Madurai is appointed as the chief priest. They are known as Madurai Namboothiris.

The place comes to be known as Kumaranalloor as originally it was destined to be a kumara kshetram.

Bhagwathy is called Kumaranallor Karthiayani Devi

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Kumaraswamy was consecrated at Udayanapuram.

The kshetrakriti is pretty famous one "Sri Kumara Nagaralaye" composed by Maharaja Swati Thirunal.

May that Bhagwathy's blessings be upon all

@threadreaderapp compile please