Bannari Amman Temple

Bannari Amman Temple entrance

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 was called “Bannari”. This name Bannari for this great historical place originated 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.

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.

Getting There

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.

Kundam Festival

Kundam Festival[1] is celebrated in the Tamil Month of Panguni (March - April). This 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.

Poojas

  1. Kalasanthi (5.30 A.M)
  2. Uchikalam (11.30 A.M)
  3. Sayaratchai (5.30 P.M)
  4. Arthasamam (11.30 P.M)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kundam Festival 2009". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2009-04-15.

External links

Coordinates: 11°33′10″N 77°08′22″E / 11.552847°N 77.139363°E