Mahalakshmi temple is situated in Mahadanapuram,23 Kms. from Karur town. This temple is in a remote village and very few vehicles ply on the road. The motorable road is well canopied on either side by coconut trees. when we reached the temple , it was closed as the priest had taken French leave. But the kind lady sitting outside, allowed us inside the temple and that helped me to get over the disappointment.
This temple is about 800 years old and this temple becomes a beehive of activity during the Aadi (Tamil calender month) festival. Devotees participate in a bizarre festival of breaking coconuts on their heads in return for fulfillment of their wishes. The priest of the temple breaks the coconut on the heads of devotees. This ritual has drawn a lot of flak from many agencies but devotees in the name of faith do not deter from this.
Check the video of the ritual .Click here. for the video
My clicks of the temple
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipMaSks_aX1MPg79fzdMZkH92YCal8ZaNXDF0r3u
How to reach- Karur town is well connected by rail and road, the nearest airport is at Trichy
Accommodation- There are good hotels in Karur town.
But one may have to hire a cab to reach this temple as it is in a very remote place.
This temple is about 800 years old and this temple becomes a beehive of activity during the Aadi (Tamil calender month) festival. Devotees participate in a bizarre festival of breaking coconuts on their heads in return for fulfillment of their wishes. The priest of the temple breaks the coconut on the heads of devotees. This ritual has drawn a lot of flak from many agencies but devotees in the name of faith do not deter from this.
Check the video of the ritual .Click here. for the video
My clicks of the temple
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipMaSks_aX1MPg79fzdMZkH92YCal8ZaNXDF0r3u
How to reach- Karur town is well connected by rail and road, the nearest airport is at Trichy
Accommodation- There are good hotels in Karur town.
But one may have to hire a cab to reach this temple as it is in a very remote place.
33 comments:
Oh! I have seen that coconut-breaking ritual. Bizarre! No offense but its scary. I didnt know it was this temple.
As usual, informative post chitra.
Bindu, very true, really scary, I don't think I will be able to witness that in person.
Thts really a very good post ..beautiful pictures every time I visit ur space I do get an opportunity to c the temple:)
The place looks magical to me. Intense spiritaul atmosphere.
Beautiful pictures Chitra, well composed all of them.
Very interesting Chitra.
The coconut breaking ritual sounds terrific..I guess there are very few temples dedicated specifically to Goddess Mahalaxmi and this is one of them
Sushma, thanks a lot.
Martina, thanks.
?, thank you.
EC, thank you.
Beautiful pics Chitra.
As for ritual the idea behind it is lost on me. But then who am I to question such things ;)
It's faith Bhagya. These rituals would go on.... Why nobody knows.
The coconut thing sounds rather brutal but not any more so than the group of devotees who believe in the use of self flagellation.
Nice to read the temple history.
Prabha Kamath.
8oo year old temple - there would be so much to absorb about it, isn't it? Coconut breaking tradition is popular in the south than in the north, wonder why.
Lovely and colorful temple .
PW, thanks but I am scared to see such things.
Thanks Prabhakka.
TGS, thanks
Sanand, Long time....
South we have more coconut farms. It's available in abundance and hence used for various rituals.
800 years old
good to know about more
pics are nice
mahadanapuram is a place i've gone to but never visited the temple.
nice temple but bizzarre offereing really. This time on my way from siruvacchur to neyveli, i found devotees of a temple(perhaps murugan) piercing 5 feet tall and a thin wire of single piece (it's called alagu) pierced on their either side of their mouth.
I had goosebumps seeing those.
Beautiful write up and photos..
I never knew there is a ritual like breaking coconuts on your head.
We do break coconuts in front of the temple normally smashing it on a rock kept in front of the temple...
sm, thanks.
Asha, As I live near Palani, I have seen devotees piercing tongue with Vel as big as 6-7 feet.
Stranger, This is the first time I am also seeing such a ritual. Long time since we visited each other. Nice you made it a point to come here and comment. thanks, shall be visiting you soon. At present I am travelling.
Great pics and amazing temple, southern India is filled with such gems.
Thanks for sharing this Chitra, have a wonderful week ahead:)
It is nice to know about the history n tradition of different places ~ great learning through your post n pics! Beautiful serene temple!
US Masala
800 years old and people breaking coconuts on head..interesting.
Very nice picture though only 12.
Simply Speaking "A" Simple Blogger
I liked seeing the very well captured pictures Chitra..! I have been kind of busy with office these days and my blog visits have dwindled. But I make it a point not to miss nice posts like these..!
I am planning to be on Amarnath yatra during Jul 8 - 20th. So will be missing from here for a while now..!
On there heads OUCH that hurts ...
Bikram's
Hi Chitra, welcome back! Hope you've had a wonderful time - can't wait to see your new pictures here soon! xox
Bikram, yes, it would hurt..
Martina, yes, enjoyed. thanks for the visit.
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