Vellore is famous for its historical monuments, temples and colorful festivals. But do you know which is the most celebrated festive occasion here? Yes, it is the Gangai Amman Thiruvizha of Gudiyatham.
Gudiyatham is an ancient city in the Vellore district situated on the banks of the Koundinya River. It is famous for the brilliant Gangai Amman Thiruvizha, which attracts people from various parts of India. An estimated half a million people attend the festival every year.
This blog will take you through the legends of the temple and show you how picturesque the festival is, so you can plan the next visit during the Gangai Amman Thiruvizha. Stay tuned.
In This Blog
- The story of the temple
- The Tale of Gangai Amman
- Major attractions of Gangai Amman festival
- The beauty of the festival
- Celebration of communal harmony
The Story of the Temple
The temple of Gangai Amman is situated at the spot where Koundinya Maharshi, the disciple of Sage Vasishta, prayed to remove all his sins. It is from him that the Koundinya River got its name.
He was a true devotee of Lord Shiva. Watching his steadfastness and austerity, the Lord Shiva became gratified in him. At that moment, the Ganga River started flowing through the city to free him from all the impurities.
The temple has four shrines inside it, dedicated to Koundinya Maharshi, Renuka Devi, Ganga Devi and Vinayaka. People from different parts of the country come here to take blessings from them.Gangai Amman grants the wishes of her devotees and protects them from harmful diseases and water scarcity. People who are suffering from illness come here and pray to her, offering salt and pepper to cure their disease.
The Tale of Gangai Amman
Even though the temple and Utsav are famous in the name of Gangai Amman, the legend of both is about Renuka Devi, wife of sage Jamadagni and the mother of sage Parasuram. She was famous for her chastity.
Forbidden Desire
Renuka Devi fetches water for her husband, sage Jamadagni, every day while he is on Tapas in the woods. The legend says she possessed the ability to mend pots from sand and collect water in it. One day when she was getting water, she saw the reflection of a beautiful Gandharva in the river and felt attracted to him.
The Price of Temptation
This act made her lose her chastity and the ability to mend pots with sand. Jamadagni became furious knowing this and ordered his son Parasuram to cut off her head. Renuka Devi ran into Chandal’s house and hid there. When Chandal’s wife tried to protect her, Parasuram got angry and chopped both their heads off.
Redemption and Rebirth
Being pleased with the brave act of the son Parasuram, Sage Jamadagni offered to grant a wish for him. Parasuram asked to resurrect his mother. For this, Jamadagni ordered to reattach the severed head of Renuka Devi to the body. But unfortunately, Parasuram joined his mother’s head with the trunk of the chandal’s wife.
The Spirit of the Celebration
Renuka Devi came back to life in the torso of Chandal’s wife with her head. The ‘Sirasu’ festival symbolizes Renuka Devi’s head reuniting with her own body. This day is a local holiday in Gudiyatham and is celebrated with grand ceremonies. Let’s go deep into the festivities in the coming sections.
Major Attractions of the Gangai Amman Festival
The four-day Gangai Amman Utsav starts on the first day of the Tamil month Vaikasi, which falls on the English month of May. On the day of celebration, a procession moves to the temple with the head of Gangai Amman.
The head of the deity will be made by a washerman’s family and will be carried on their heads to where the body of the Gangai Amman awaits to be rejoined. The parade moves 3 km to reach the temple. This part is the main highlight of Sirasu.
At the end of the day, the head is taken out of the body and carried out in another grand gathering, to be immersed in the water and dissolved. This symbolizes she’s returning to her mother after the celebration.The Gangai Amman festival is a 400-year-old tradition that ends with the body of the deity being carried out in a chariot filled with flowers, called Pushpa Pallaku. This is another significant part of the festival.
The Charm of Gangai Amman Thiruvizha
Folk songs and art forms like Silambu, Karagam, Puli Vesham, and other martial arts will be performed in her sight during the Sirasu procession. This signifies her happiness of reuniting with the body.
The path to the temple will be flooded with coconut water since breaking coconuts in front of her is a way of worship. Thousands and lakhs of coconuts will be sold in Gudiyatham that day to break before her.
It is believed that by offering her a flower garland with an intention in mind, the deity will fulfill the wish of the devotee. So you can see thousands of people with beautiful flower garlands throughout the way.Another interesting fact about this celebration is the Vaana Vedikkai, the show of fireworks for 3 hours in the late evening. The night sky will be filled with sparkling lights like the hearts of the people who are enjoying the carnival.
A Celebration of Communal Harmony
The residents of Gudiyatham honor this special day by offering food items like ragi porridge, buttermilk, and water to the visiting pilgrims. They welcome people from various parts of the country with this grand gesture, disregarding gender, caste, and the barriers of religion.
When you go to Vellore during this time, you can see people standing outside their houses and distributing something nice to the travelers. These factors make Gangai Amman Thiruvizha a celebration of social unity and harmony.
Practical Tips for Visitors
- Arrange accommodation and transport
- Wear comfortable and modest clothes.
- Use sunscreen.
- Respect the traditions and other pilgrims.
- Don’t take pics without permission.
- Be prepared for the procession.
- Secure your valuables.
How to Reach the Temple
Gudiyatham is only 32 km distant from Vellore. From Vellore, you can board a bus or book a cab to reach the temple without any difficulty.
- From Katpadi Railway Station: 28.2 km (41 min)
- From Bangalore International Airport: 185 km (3.30 hours)
- From Chennai International Airport: 154 km (3.20 hours)
Key Points Covered
- The history of Gangai Amman Thiruvizha and the temple
- Traditions of the festival
- Gangai Amman Thiruvizha celebrates unity
- Tips to make the trip enjoyable
Conclusion
Gangai Amman Temple is as old as history, and its story goes back to ancient times. Millions come and visit her every year to find spiritual strength and to get cured of ailments. Here, she blesses her people with good health and natural resources and fulfills their wishes.
Are you a person of interesting cultures and celebrations? Then, you’ll certainly enjoy Gangai Amman Thiruvizha and sharing the joy of coming back to life in her own body. Start scheduling your visit today itself if you don’t want to miss the chance.
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