Sri Madura Kali Amman Temple - Siruvachur

Sri Madhurambhika


Sri Madura Kali amman Temple is situated in Siruvachur Village off Trichy-Chennai Higway 15 kms. south of Perambalur and 48 kms from Trichy. The temple is open during Monday and Friday only as on other days it is beleived that the Goddess guards the village from the hills nearby along with her guards - Sri.Selliamman and Sri Karuppanna swamy. The Goddess is known as Sri  Madhurambhika.

This small temple is built at the foothills of Madhira malai, hence the name Madurakali Amman. Many popular legends have been associated with this deity which does not have any written records so far. The history of temple and the goddess has been established through oral history and from stone edicts discovered in Trichy district.

The temple is believed to have been built during early Chola period by Dharma Varman. The issueless king prayed to Goddess Kaliamman and a son was born to him. In gratitude to the goddess he had the temple at the foot hills built. 300 years later Srila Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamigal installed the "Sri Chakra" in the Sanctum Sanctorum and consecrated it.

According to legends Goddess Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva came down to earth in the form of Kali to destroy the asura Charukan, who had been terrorizing the innocent and helpless living in these hills. After Kali destroyed him, Lord Shiva appeared and cooled her anger. He blessed Kali and asked her to stay as the guardian and benefactor of the people in the hills.

Another legend regarding the goddess' name is attributed to the story of five rishis. The five Rishis- 'Mudavar, Panthagar, Boumar, Arunar and Sigandeesar' were performing penance in the hills. Each day of the week except on Monday's and Friday's each rishi used to take turns to perform various rituals to Goddess Kali. The goddess appeared before each of them and showered her blessings on them. Overwhelmed by the Goddess's visit, the rishis requested her to make home under the Kumkumam tree, so that they could visit and pay obeisance. The Goddess granted their wish. Each day when one of the rishi's prayed to her, honey dropped from a beehive above the Goddess and fall on their lips. This honey drops was regarded as divine nectar, hence the Goddess was called "Madhura Kaliamman", Madura meaning divine nectar.

Perumaruda malai the hill behind Madhira malai is now known as Periasamy malai. A legend regarding this hill is the story of three Siddars - 'Notchindar, Neminadar, Sambu' who lived here. One day they came across an abandoned child and brought him up. He grew up as Boodhar and was educated by the siddhars. On completion of their earthy duties, the siddhars were transformed into honey bees, a curse of their previous birth when as shepherds they stole honey from a saint. The saint cursed them to become honey bees in their next birth to atone their sins.

The siddhars as honey bees made their home in the beehive of the tree at Madhira Malai. These honey bees made honey which fed the rishis when they came to pray Goddess Kali. This feeding of devotees through hard work absolved them of past sins. Boodhar who had come to pay respects to his teachers saw the rishis praying to the Goddess. He realised his true self and fell at the feet of Goddess Kali.She recognized him as the incarnation of Lord Narada and blessed him. Boodhar requested his teachers to pray to Kali to get back their human forms. The Goddess, pleased with their devotion blessed them and transformed them to their human form. Boodhar requested the Goddess that he should always think of her and pray to her.

Kali granted his wish by giving him permission to perform rituals on Mondays and Fridays as the other days of the week rituals were performed by the rishis. Hence the practice of performing pujas to Madurakali Amman only on Monday's and Fridays came into practise and is followed even today.

Another popular legend regarding her descent from the hills to the foothills revolves around the great Saint Adi Shankara.One day Adi Shankara was passing through the foothills of Madhira malai and rested under a tree. As he was concentrating on the Goddess, she appeared before him as a spring to quench his thirst. She showed her true form to Adi Sankara, blessed him and become an idol. Adi Sankara then consecrated this idol which is now worshipped as Madurakali Amman.

Donations to the temple trust are exempt under Sec.80G of the Income Tax Act. Donations by the way of Cheque or Demand Draft drawn in favour of Sri Madurakaliamman Charitable Trust, No.95, Gandhiadigal Salai, Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu, India.

Sri Madura Kali Amman Temple is situated in Siruvachur Village off Trichy-Chennai Higway 15 kms. south of Perambalur and 48 kms from Trichy. The temple is open during Monday and Friday only as on other days it is beleived that the Goddess guards the village from the hills nearby along with her guards - Sri.Selliamman and Sri Karuppanna swamy. The Goddess is known as Sri  Madhurambhika.

This small temple is built at the foothills of Madhira malai, hence the name Madurakali Amman. Many popular legends have been associated with this deity which does not have any written records so far. The history of temple and the goddess has been established through oral history and from stone edicts discovered in Trichy district.

The temple is believed to have been built during early Chola period by Dharma Varman. The issueless king prayed to Goddess Kaliamman and a son was born to him. In gratitude to the goddess he had the temple at the foot hills built. 300 years later Srila Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamigal installed the "Sri Chakra" in the Sanctum Sanctorum and consecrated it.

According to legends Goddess Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva came down to earth in the form of Kali to destroy the asura Charukan, who had been terrorizing the innocent and helpless living in these hills. After Kali destroyed him, Lord Shiva appeared and cooled her anger. He blessed Kali and asked her to stay as the guardian and benefactor of the people in the hills.
Another legend regarding the goddess' name is attributed to the story of five rishis. The five Rishis- 'Mudavar, Panthagar, Boumar, Arunar and Sigandeesar' were performing penance in the hills. Each day of the week except on Monday's and Friday's each rishi used to take turns to perform various rituals to Goddess Kali. The goddess appeared before each of them and showered her blessings on them. Overwhelmed by the Goddess's visit, the rishis requested her to make home under the Kumkumam tree, so that they could visit and pay obeisance. The Goddess granted their wish. Each day when one of the rishi's prayed to her, honey dropped from a beehive above the Goddess and fall on their lips. This honey drops was regarded as divine nectar, hence the Goddess was called "Madhura Kaliamman", Madura meaning divine nectar.

Perumaruda malai the hill behind Madhira malai is now known as Periasamy malai. A legend regarding this hill is the story of three Siddars - 'Notchindar, Neminadar, Sambu' who lived here. One day they came across an abandoned child and brought him up. He grew up as Boodhar and was educated by the siddhars. On completion of their earthy duties, the siddhars were transformed into honey bees, a curse of their previous birth when as shepherds they stole honey from a saint. The saint cursed them to become honey bees in their next birth to atone their sins.

The siddhars as honey bees made their home in the beehive of the tree at Madhira Malai. These honey bees made honey which fed the rishis when they came to pray Goddess Kali. This feeding of devotees through hard work absolved them of past sins. Boodhar who had come to pay respects to his teachers saw the rishis praying to the Goddess. He realised his true self and fell at the feet of Goddess Kali.She recognized him as the incarnation of Lord Narada and blessed him. Boodhar requested his teachers to pray to Kali to get back their human forms. The Goddess, pleased with their devotion blessed them and transformed them to their human form. Boodhar requested the Goddess that he should always think of her and pray to her.Kali granted his wish by giving him permission to perform rituals on Mondays and Fridays as the other days of the week rituals were performed by the rishis. Hence the practice of performing pujas to Madurakali Amman only on Monday's and Fridays came into practise and is followed even today.

Another popular legend regarding her descent from the hills to the foothills revolves around the great Saint Adi Shankara.One day Adi Shankara was passing through the foothills of Madhira malai and rested under a tree. As he was concentrating on the Goddess, she appeared before him as a spring to quench his thirst. She showed her true form to Adi Sankara, blessed him and become an idol. Adi Sankara then consecrated this idol which is now worshipped as Madurakali Amman.