Masaniamman
Temple
Masaniamman Temple is situated at a distance of 15 miles away from
Pollachi. This sanctified shrine attract large number of devotees.
The
idol of Masaniamman is very powerful one and offer blessing to
all devotees who have a stunt belief in her. Devotees also expect
that Goddess will respond their prayer within three weeks. There
is a stone image in the temple representing as a Goddess of Justice
with the body of serpent.
Merchants
meeting loss in their business, people hassled by enemies, women
or men who lost their belongings take bath, sport holy ashes of
the shrine, grind red chillies in stone grinder of the temple,
smear the paste on stone of Justice called ‘Neethi Kal’.
In
the sanctum, the extensive image of Masaniamman lying on her back
measures about 15 feet long from head to foot. The gigantic image
of Masaniamman is painted with flashy colours.
Here, one can see Goddess Masaniamman in the lying posture. The
idol has four hands, two hands placed on the ground, two hands
raised above. While the top left hands hold a skull and snake
and other two hands holding drum and a trident.
On Tuesdays and Fridays devotees rush to this temple, during Krithigai
and New Moon day they undergo special pooja.
There
is a historical background for the configuration of this powerful
temple. Anaimalai, a place near Pollachi was ruled earlier by
the king called Nanan. He treated their people very badly. During
his reign he had a very big mango tree in his farm on the riverside
of Aaliyar, which was very special to him. He was so particular
that nobody was permitted to use neither mangoes nor its leaves.
Once,a
gang of girls went to river to take bath they noticed a mango
floating on the river which belongs to Nanan's tree, one of the
girl picked up and ate the fruit. Even after several pleadings
made by her father, instead of excusing her the king sentenced
her to death.
After
some time villagers in that area formed a female statue in lying
posture using sand in graveyard with the remembrance of innocent
girl and worshipped as ‘Masani’. Later Kozhinkhosargal
defeated king Nanan and destroyed the mango tree.
It
is also believed that Lord Rama on his way in search of Seetha
was attracted by this powerful temple and made meditation over
here which adds glory to this temple. So, once you visit Pollachi
don’t miss to worship Masaniamman.