Periya Kandi Amman Temple is located at Veerapur which is around
14 km from Manapparai in Trichy District in Tamil Nadu. Legend has it that a
five-headed snake did penance at Veerapur to get Goddess Parvati has daughter.
Goddess Parvati was pleased with the penance and she was born as Periya Kandi
Amman.
It is said that Periya Kandi Amman was a eunuch. Periya Kandi
Amman then did penance to get rid of the form and appear as female. Shiva then
appeared before her and told that two brothers will be killed in the region and
when their sister appears before her she will get back her female form.
Long time later the area was ruled by Ponnar and Shankar. A
neighboring ruler named Thalayur Kali was jealous of the brothers. He used
various trick to create fight between the brothers. Finally he succeeded in
killing one of the brothers. The other brother hearing about the news of the
death of his brother killed himself.
The sister of the brothers came crying to Periya Kandi Amman
temple. On witnessing her, Periya Kandi Amman shed her eunuch form.
People in the lineage of Ponnar and Shankar are the worshippers of
Goddess Periya Kandi Amman.
It is believed that she blesses her devotees with Peace and
Prosperity.
The Goddess also protects people from enemies. She also blesses
childless couples with healthy children.
Periya Kandi Amman murti is housed in a separate temple as her
puja is strictly vegetarian.
Around half a kilometer from the Periya Kandi Amman Temple there
are temples dedicated to Ponnar, Shankar, their sister, Thangal, and the six
maids of Amman facing north. In another temple facing east, Karuppannachami is
consecrated. There two temples without roof or walls to Mahamuni and Veeramaha
Muni, who are both guardian Gods.
The most
important festival in the temple is held in Maasi Month.
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