Bannari Amman temple (Tamil: பண்ணாரி அம்மன் கோயில்)

[N.Jambunathan]

Bannari Amman temple (Tamil: பண்ணாரி அம்மன் கோயில்) is one of the most famous Amman temples in Tamil nadu and it is in Bannari on NH 209, near Sathyamangalam, Erode district.

 

History

People of past had witnessed the wonderful sight of tigers and cows quenching their thirst at the same spot of the river. Cowherds used to drive the cattle to the fields jeer for grazing. The cows fed on the grass found in plenty here. These cows were driven back to the stables at dusk. The cowherds used to extract milk form the udder of each cow and hand over the collected Milk to the owners of the cows. One particular cow did not allow the cowherd to get milk, nor did it allow its calf to go near it.

 

Around 300 years ago, the dana Nayakkan or Dhandanyakkan forest you all know now its been called as “BANNARI”. This name Bannari for this great historical place origined because of the great temple “Bannari Amman Temple”.

 

The cowherd has his own doubts about that particular cow and he decided to have an eye on it. He allowed the other cows to graze and pursued that particular cow secretly. It went alone near a Vengai tree and stood beneath it. Milk began to flow from its udder automatically. He wondered at such a strangle sight and told about it to the other cowherds.

 

The news spread like wildfire to the villagers. Next day they were on the spot to witness the wonder. They found the cow repeating the same behavior. Milk cozed out of the teats of its udder on the particular spot amidst the grass.They removed the thickly grown grass and shrubs there and, to their surprise, they found a sand-hill and s Swayambu Linga near it. Linga is a special of divinity and so they felt that the spot beneath the Vengai tree should have a celestical significance. They prayed to the Linga with fold hands. Among the devotees who were there, one got into a trance. As a spokesman of the Deity he began to pass on the divine message to everybody. According to his words, it was understood that the deity safeguarded the traders from Tamil Nadu who passed by that way to Mysore to sell their goods carried by cows on their back.

It was understood that Goddess Bannari Amman, safeguarded the traders from Kerala who passed by that way to Mysore to sell their goods carried by cows on their back. She had been impressed by the picturesque beauty of that place and had decided to stay on there to bless and protect the pilgrims. Moreover, she wanted a temple to be constructed there so that the people in and around that place would pray to Her in the name of Bannari Mariamman. Thus Bannari became the permanent abode of the goddess.

 

The deity was enamoured of the picturesque beauty of that place and she decided to stay on there to bless and protect the pilgrims. Moreover, she wanted a temple to be constructed there so that the people in and around that place would pray to Her in the name of Bannari Mariamman. Thus Bannari became the permanent abode of the goddess.

 

The above history has been represented by a set of paintings on the temple wall.

How to Reach

By Road

There are lot of buses from Sathyamangalam(15 km), Bhavanisagar, Thalavadi and Chamarajanagar (60 km) to reach Bannari. The buses from Coimbatore and Erode to Mysore, Chamarajanagar and Kollegal on NH 209 also passes through Bannari. One can also get the buses from Bhavanisagar and reach the temple via Kothamangalam, but this is a long route to reach Bannari. And on every Sunday, Monday, Friday and new moon days there are special buses to the temple from Sathyamangalam, Erode, Gobichettipalayam and Coimbatore.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is Mettupalayam, the other near railways stations are Coimbatore and Chamarajanagar.

By Air

The nearest airport is the one at Coimbatore for reaching Bannari.

Bannari Amman

Goddess Bannari Amman is believed by worshippers and devotees to protect them from all evil things and bless them with happiness and prosperity in life. It is a popular belief that Goddess Bannari Amman has protected innumerable people while crossing the forest zone for carrying out trade activities for hundreds of years and Goddess Bannari is worshipped by devotees all over the world to overcome the evil and prosper inlife.

Puja Timings:

Darshan(public) hours are from 5.30 a.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Daily Puja Timings:

Kalasanthi 5.30 A.M

Uchikalam 11.30 A.M

Sayaratchai 5.30 P.M

Arthasaman 11.30 P.M

 

Festivals

Golden Rath

A golden rath of 9.8’ height is designed for Goddess Bannari Amman and from 1st may 2006 the rath is used for veethi ula. For this golden rath the temple has given about 7.77 kgs of gold.

 

Kundam Festival

Kundam Festival, which is celebrated in the Tamil Month of Panguni, is the most famous annual festival. Thousands of devotees from different directions throng the temple in this month which is marked by festivity and gaiety. The festival begins on Monday succeeding the New Moon day in the Tamil month of Panguni. The festival days are animated by concerts organized by the temple authority in which eminent musicians participate. Special poojas are performed to the goddess Next day the idol of the goddess is placed on a Chapram, a structure like palanquin. The procession passes slowly down the streets of the nearby villages. Drums are played by the devotees during the procession. People pray to the goddess with coconuts, plantains and camphor during the procession. The chapram is carried back to the temple on the eighth day which falls on Monday. Various rituals pertaining to the festival are performed continuously. On the fourteenth day of the festival which falls on Sunday devout pilgrims have their head tonsured as a sort of offering to the goddess.

On the fifteenth day the priest and the devotees tread in the kundam after Midnight. It has been kept ready with burning logs of wood in the narrow pit, in front of the temple. Treading takes place on the succeeding day too, those who have been observing penance can only participate in the festival, finally, animals also tread in the kundam. It is witnessed by countless number of devotees.

 

Manjal(Turmeric) Pooja:

On Thursday they will do pooja with turmeric water and the people belonging to temple will donate food for needy. The same day they do special Abhishegam and pooja for God.

Thiruvilakku Pooja:

On Friday evening Thiruvilakku pooja (pooja done to light lamps) will be done.

Maru Pooja:

On Monday, the 8th day of Kundam festival Maru pooja festival will be conducted. Sunday night itself they will decorate God as they decorated on the first day with golden kavasam (a metal that covers the entire body), ornaments and flower garlands.Then special Abhishegams will be done.

 

source: bannariammantemple.org, wikipedia.org

 

N Jambunathan - A1, Sonex Samyuktha -Appartments, - 15, Karnan Street, Rengarajapuram, Koddambakkam, - Chennai 600 024. Hand Phone - 09176159004.