Karaikal Ammayar Temple
Encyclopedia
Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple is a Hindu
Tamil
temple dedicated to the goddess Punithavathi
. It is located on Barathiar Street, in the center of Karaikal
. Pondicherry, India
.
. There is also a sanctum for Vinayaka inside this temple.
of Aani (June–July) on the full moon
day. The belief is that Karaikal Ammaiyar gave Annam (food) to Bhikshatanar during his tour around the world begging alms. Since she gave him with curd rice and mangoes, those items are distributed on the festival day, in a big hall adjacent to the temple.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
temple dedicated to the goddess Punithavathi
Karaikkal Ammeiyar
Karaikkal Ammaiyar , one of the three women amongst the sixty three Nayanmars, is one of the greatest figures of early Tamil literature. Her birth name was Punithavati. She was born at Karaikkal, South India, and probably lived during the 6th century...
. It is located on Barathiar Street, in the center of Karaikal
Karaikal
Karaikal is a major port city of east coast of India and a municipality in Karaikal district in the Union Territory of Pondicherry, India. Several explanations are offered for the word 'Karaikal'. The imperial Gazetteer gives it the meaning 'fish pass'. According to Julien vinson the town is said...
. Pondicherry, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
History
The temple was constructed by Malaiperumal Pillai in 1929. The main goddess is Punithavati, also known as Karaikkal AmmeiyarKaraikkal Ammeiyar
Karaikkal Ammaiyar , one of the three women amongst the sixty three Nayanmars, is one of the greatest figures of early Tamil literature. Her birth name was Punithavati. She was born at Karaikkal, South India, and probably lived during the 6th century...
. There is also a sanctum for Vinayaka inside this temple.
Festival
The Mangani Tirunal festival (the festival of the mango fruit) is observed in the Tamil monthTamil calendar
The Tamil calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Tamil Nadu. It is also used in Pondicherry , and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. It is also used by Telugu speaking people in Tamil Nadu...
of Aani (June–July) on the full moon
Full moon
Full moon lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. More precisely, a full moon occurs when the geocentric apparent longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180 degrees; the Moon is then in opposition with the Sun.Lunar eclipses can only occur at...
day. The belief is that Karaikal Ammaiyar gave Annam (food) to Bhikshatanar during his tour around the world begging alms. Since she gave him with curd rice and mangoes, those items are distributed on the festival day, in a big hall adjacent to the temple.