This place is about 15 Kms from Coimbatore on the Coimbatore-Mettupalayam road.
Vettaikkaransamy Temple
This temple is located at the base of the Sanjeevi hill.
Legend – The story behind the temple is said to have taken place many hundred years ago. The Valanadu area was once gifted by the Chola king to Kozhatta Gownder who got built many ponds and lakes in the place. This increased the availability of water and thus agriculture flourished very well giving the whole area a green look. He had one son Nelliangodan who was by nature very soft spoken, with a calm face and simple at heart – a person who will not think ill of others. He was lovingly called Machasamy by everyone. As the parents became old, they started having doubts whether their son would be able to manage the huge property. So, Kozhatta Gownder gave the responsibility of his son and property to his younger brother Chellatha Gownder. He also decried that once Nelliangodan attains the right age he would be married to the girl Tamarai Nachi and all the property would be given back to him.
However, when Kozhatta Gownder died, his younger borther took control of the whole property and started treating Nelliangodan as a servant. One day Chellatha beat Nelliangodan mercilessly with stick after making false allegations. Severe injuries lead to bleeding. Unable to bear the pain, Nelliangodan left the house and started wandering aimlessly. He was shunned by all the relatives.
He finally reached Chetti Palayam where he started working with a Chettiar, looking after his cows. Under his care and love, the cows started giving more milk which made the Chettiar to have a special affection for him. He prospered while working here. One day he decided that he would go to his Mama’s (mother’s brother) place and ask him for his daughter Tamarai Nachi’s hand in marriage. Though his mama refused, he meets the daughter Tamarai Nachi who agrees and both of them get married despite the family opposition. The angry mama asks both of them to leave his house at once.
The insulted Nelliangodan tells his mama that his yet to be born two sons will take revenge from mama for the insult. Taking along his wife, he goes to the Chola king at Uraiyur and complains to him about his relatives who had usurped his property. The king grants him some pieces of waste dry land where nothing grew.
Nelliangodan worked hard on the waste land and was rewarded with good yields. With time, he accumulated weath and became prosperous thus earning the tile Kundrudaiyan i.e. a person in posession of Kundrus (small hillocks). Still he was not blessed with children. Both husband and wife decided to go to Chidambaram to pray to Lord Natarajar for a child. Before leaving, he entrusted all his wealth to a tribal king for safe keeping. However, the tribal king also cheats his of all his wealth.
On praying to Lord Natarajar at Chidambaram, the couple get the boon that they will be blessed with three children, 2 boys and one girl, who will become famous with their work. Accordingly, 3 children were born to them, though the first one was not a normal delivery. The eldest boy was named Ponnar, the 2nd boy was named Shankar and the last born girl was named Arukkani. With time both boys learnt and became experts in traditional skills like sword fights, bow & arrow, war games, etc. Both loved their sister very dearly and were lovingly called Annanmar by her. This title spread and everybody started calling them as Annanmar.
The brothers returned to Valanadu and built a fort there. Tamarai Nachi told her sons about how their relatives and the tribal king had cheated them of their properties. The brave sons went to Puliyur and captured all the wealth that had been lost to the relatives. Thus, started their reign over the Valanadu area. However, both their parents died at this time on the same day.
The tribal king at that time Talaiyur Kali was causing lot of hardship to the common people at that time. He was into committing robberies and kidnapping young girls. Hearing this, the Chola king gave the responsibility for maintaining the security of the area to the two brothers. Around this time, both the brothers also get married.
Talaiyur Kali makes a plan to kill both the brothers after separating them. Through a known person, allegations were made against Ponnar that he had cheated many people of their jwellary. Ponnar decides to refute the allegations by taking a vow while being under water in a pond. While this was going on, the soldiers of Kali started showering bows on Shankar standing alone. One such bow hits Shankar on his face, splitting the head in two pieces. Shankar dies instantly. This angers Ponnar who wages a fierce battle with the tribals ultimately killing all of them and their king Talaiyur Kali.
Upon hearing the news about the death of her brother, Arukkani also comes to the place. The funeral pyre is lit to burn Shankar’s body. Both Ponnar and Arukkani are overcome with grief and decide to burn themselves also along with Shankar. Arukkani’s soul becomes one with the Saptha kannis while Ponnar and Shankar attain the status of God.
Temple – On entering the temple, we seen two Bhairava idols holding long swords. In front, facing the sanctum are two dark horses. Nearby is the Nayarsamy with one bent leg resting on a lion. In another side we see rows of arrows, spears and swords. Near this is the Chellandi Amman. Idols of the three main dieties – Annan (elder brother i.e. Ponnar), Thambi (younger brother i.e. Shankar) and Thangai (younger sister i.e. Arukkani) are inside the sanctum. Together they are called Annanmarsamy. Locals also refer to them as Kundrudaiyan or Vettaikkaransamy.
Prayers and festivals – Mahashivaratri is an important festival when all the three deities are taken out in a procession. On this occasion, the temple priest, while wearing a wooden shoe with nails, walks over women lying on the ground face down. The belief is that such childless women will be blessed with a son. Before this have to go through a 7 days ritual.
Every nine years, pig and goat are sacrificed while offering pongal to the deities. It is believed that if there is any fight between brothers and sisters, this will get resolved if they participate in this festival. The deities also go around the temple during Adi Nonbu.
Legend – The story behind the temple is said to have taken place many hundred years ago. The Valanadu area was once gifted by the Chola king to Kozhatta Gownder who got built many ponds and lakes in the place. This increased the availability of water and thus agriculture flourished very well giving the whole area a green look. He had one son Nelliangodan who was by nature very soft spoken, with a calm face and simple at heart – a person who will not think ill of others. He was lovingly called Machasamy by everyone. As the parents became old, they started having doubts whether their son would be able to manage the huge property. So, Kozhatta Gownder gave the responsibility of his son and property to his younger brother Chellatha Gownder. He also decried that once Nelliangodan attains the right age he would be married to the girl Tamarai Nachi and all the property would be given back to him.
However, when Kozhatta Gownder died, his younger borther took control of the whole property and started treating Nelliangodan as a servant. One day Chellatha beat Nelliangodan mercilessly with stick after making false allegations. Severe injuries lead to bleeding. Unable to bear the pain, Nelliangodan left the house and started wandering aimlessly. He was shunned by all the relatives.
He finally reached Chetti Palayam where he started working with a Chettiar, looking after his cows. Under his care and love, the cows started giving more milk which made the Chettiar to have a special affection for him. He prospered while working here. One day he decided that he would go to his Mama’s (mother’s brother) place and ask him for his daughter Tamarai Nachi’s hand in marriage. Though his mama refused, he meets the daughter Tamarai Nachi who agrees and both of them get married despite the family opposition. The angry mama asks both of them to leave his house at once.
The insulted Nelliangodan tells his mama that his yet to be born two sons will take revenge from mama for the insult. Taking along his wife, he goes to the Chola king at Uraiyur and complains to him about his relatives who had usurped his property. The king grants him some pieces of waste dry land where nothing grew.
Nelliangodan worked hard on the waste land and was rewarded with good yields. With time, he accumulated weath and became prosperous thus earning the tile Kundrudaiyan i.e. a person in posession of Kundrus (small hillocks). Still he was not blessed with children. Both husband and wife decided to go to Chidambaram to pray to Lord Natarajar for a child. Before leaving, he entrusted all his wealth to a tribal king for safe keeping. However, the tribal king also cheats his of all his wealth.
On praying to Lord Natarajar at Chidambaram, the couple get the boon that they will be blessed with three children, 2 boys and one girl, who will become famous with their work. Accordingly, 3 children were born to them, though the first one was not a normal delivery. The eldest boy was named Ponnar, the 2nd boy was named Shankar and the last born girl was named Arukkani. With time both boys learnt and became experts in traditional skills like sword fights, bow & arrow, war games, etc. Both loved their sister very dearly and were lovingly called Annanmar by her. This title spread and everybody started calling them as Annanmar.
The brothers returned to Valanadu and built a fort there. Tamarai Nachi told her sons about how their relatives and the tribal king had cheated them of their properties. The brave sons went to Puliyur and captured all the wealth that had been lost to the relatives. Thus, started their reign over the Valanadu area. However, both their parents died at this time on the same day.
The tribal king at that time Talaiyur Kali was causing lot of hardship to the common people at that time. He was into committing robberies and kidnapping young girls. Hearing this, the Chola king gave the responsibility for maintaining the security of the area to the two brothers. Around this time, both the brothers also get married.
Talaiyur Kali makes a plan to kill both the brothers after separating them. Through a known person, allegations were made against Ponnar that he had cheated many people of their jwellary. Ponnar decides to refute the allegations by taking a vow while being under water in a pond. While this was going on, the soldiers of Kali started showering bows on Shankar standing alone. One such bow hits Shankar on his face, splitting the head in two pieces. Shankar dies instantly. This angers Ponnar who wages a fierce battle with the tribals ultimately killing all of them and their king Talaiyur Kali.
Upon hearing the news about the death of her brother, Arukkani also comes to the place. The funeral pyre is lit to burn Shankar’s body. Both Ponnar and Arukkani are overcome with grief and decide to burn themselves also along with Shankar. Arukkani’s soul becomes one with the Saptha kannis while Ponnar and Shankar attain the status of God.
Temple – On entering the temple, we seen two Bhairava idols holding long swords. In front, facing the sanctum are two dark horses. Nearby is the Nayarsamy with one bent leg resting on a lion. In another side we see rows of arrows, spears and swords. Near this is the Chellandi Amman. Idols of the three main dieties – Annan (elder brother i.e. Ponnar), Thambi (younger brother i.e. Shankar) and Thangai (younger sister i.e. Arukkani) are inside the sanctum. Together they are called Annanmarsamy. Locals also refer to them as Kundrudaiyan or Vettaikkaransamy.
Prayers and festivals – Mahashivaratri is an important festival when all the three deities are taken out in a procession. On this occasion, the temple priest, while wearing a wooden shoe with nails, walks over women lying on the ground face down. The belief is that such childless women will be blessed with a son. Before this have to go through a 7 days ritual.
Every nine years, pig and goat are sacrificed while offering pongal to the deities. It is believed that if there is any fight between brothers and sisters, this will get resolved if they participate in this festival. The deities also go around the temple during Adi Nonbu.
Timings - On normal days, the prayers are complete by 7.30 AM in the morning. Only during the Margazhi month, the temple opens both mornings and evenings.
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