VELANGUDI TEMPLE - A CLAN TEMPLE

 

Velangudi is the smallest clan temple connected to the Chettiar community. It’s in the Sivaganga district, close to Karaikudi. The temple is known as a “Vaippu Sthalam,” which means it was mentioned in a song by the saint Appar.

There’s a story about King Pari, who was out hunting. He saw a hare run into a hole, which was unusual. Curious, he told his men to dig there. As they dug, they heard a metallic sound and found a statue of a goddess. She was named Kamatchi Amman. Another god, Sandeeswarar, was later brought from a place called Pallathur and placed in the temple.

The Velangudi temple is known for its detailed carvings, statues, and a tall temple tower called a gopuram. In most Shiva temples, five idols (called Pancha Moorthis) are taken out during processions: Shiva, Parvathi, Vinayagar, Murugan, and Chandikeswarar. But in Velangudi, Bairava is used instead of Chandikeswarar, because Bairava is more important to the people there.

One special thing about this clan is that its population has stayed around 200 people for the past 100 years.

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