ARULMIGU RAKKACHIMANNAN

LOCATION

Arulmigu Rakkachiamman temple is now situated in Chozhapuram village, between Keelaeeral and Eppothumvendran on Tuticorin-Madurai highway. It is just 1KM from main highway on the bank of a small canal filled with water during heavy rains. Mostly a very dry area.

HOW TO REACH

One can reach the temple from Tuticorin by road or from Kovilpatti by road. It is about 25km from Kovilpatti and 35km from Tuticorin on Tuticorin-Madurai High way. From main road take right turn if come from Kovilpatti or left turn from Tuticorin and drive for 1km and reach the village. Inside the village if ask anybody you can find the temple. Cars cannot go near temple. We have to park the vehicle just 100m away and go by walk. The front portion of the temple is shown in photo

TEMPLE HISTORY

The main deity of RAKKACHIAMMAN. This is a family deity temple. Not worshipped by all. It is a private property of one sect. It is the family deity of a small sect. of Saiva Vellala group people called Karkatha Vellalar. Among the Karkatha Vellalar the people living in around Ettayapuram Zamin worshipped the Rakkachiamman. The exact history of this temple is not clearly known since the older people are no more and got the story from the elderly as far as possible. It is told that the deity is a very powerful. She was in Ettayapuram and blessing the people. People worshipped with much respect and fear. On hearing the power of deity the son of Ettayapuram Zamindar wanted to test it by himself. So one day he wrapped his legs with a cloth and told Amman to cure his wound. The Amman got furious and his legs were burnt and seen like crushed in an accident and the Zamindar suffered with heavy pain on the next day. The Zamindar knowing this asked his Diwan to shift the deity to outer most of Ettayapuram and install in a remote place. So the family who are worshipping the deity installed the deity in Chozhapuram village on the outskirts of the village. From the day onwards the people are worshipping the deity. They go to the temple once on year on the day of MahaSivarathiri and to naming the newly born child. It is also a custom among the families they first take the newborn child to Chozhapuram Amman temple, name the child and worship other temples. . Also it is custom among the families the first male child will be named as RAKKAPPAN. The female child will be named as RAKKACHI. But female children are rarely called by this name. Just name her in the temple and call with some other name they like. But most of male children are called by Rakkappan only. By seeing this name one can identify his family history. Still today this habit is in force. Also the married female children of the family who are worshiping this deity are barred from coming to this temple. No outsiders are allowed, even other relatives of the family members. It is not known how this practice came into. It is heard that the temple is located in Chozhapuram some 200years back. There was no proper archakar at that time. One village Poojari will do the pooja once the families go there. There was no permanent building. The idol was placed on a pedestal and small shed was installed. The area was having desert look. Surrounding is cultivated lands. So we have to wait on open sun and perform the pooja. People will go there in Bullock carts from surrounding villages and perform pooja and return in the evening.

KUMBABISHEKAM

In 1967 one of the family memberThiru.Rakkappan (alias) Sekar done Kumbabishekam with the help ofThiru S.Rakkappa Pillai and other members by

constructed one concrete room and installed a new stature in the room. . No shelter for people to stay. They have to perform poojas under open sun. Also no regular archakar One Village poojari done the ritual without any sloka or other customaries. After that in 2007 mahakumbabhishekam was performed with the donation collected from all the families who are worshipping the Amman. A rajagopuram was built with closed hall to accommodate some 50 persons to witness the pooja. One borewell was erected with motor. The kumbabishekam was done at the initiative of Thiru. Rakkappan and Thiru. Vellaisamy and collections from all. The temple is managed by Thiru.M.Muthukrishnan, Ettayapuram. At the entrance of the temple one Vinayakar statue was installed. Also a statue of Murugar with Valli and Deivanai was installed by Dr.M.Balasubramaniam family. From that day on kumbabhishekam one poojari is doing pooja regularly. He is staying near the temple and do the poojas regularly. Now if anybody goes to temple at any time they can perform pooja. If we want we can engage a Brahmin archakar for performing pooja on our own.

TEMPLE FRONT VIEW WITH VINAYAGAR AND LORD MURUGA

VALLI DEIVANAI UDANURAI LORD MURUGA

IDOL ON LEFT SIDE

TEMPLE FRONT VIEW

REGULAR MAINTENANCE

The regular maintenance of the temple, managing the account, collecting subscriptions, liaison work is being carried out by Thiru.M.Muthukrishnan, Ettayapuram for the past 40 years honourarily.

FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS

Now it is being tried to put a pucca road leading to temple from the road. Also it is decided to construct one compound wall around the temple with one more hall in front and shelter for Lord Muruga and Vinayaga idols. Now the list of families who are worshipping the deity is being collected. So if you are worshipping Rakkachiamman as family deity please contact the following person with your name, address and contact phone number. It will help to increase our base and construct a pucca temple and have a regular darshan and get the blessings of Amma. Also please donate liberally for better amenities. For donations please contact the following person.

For Donations:

Thriu.M.MuthukrishnanKottai Vadakku StreetEttayapuram.Ph.04632-271393For other Details

Thiru. RakkappanThiru.VellaisamyThiru.R.Jagatheesan