Koppudaiya Nayaki Amman Temple / Koppudaiy Amman Temple / Koppudai Amman Temple / Koppudai Nayaki Amman Temple at Karaikudi in Sivaganga District – Oldest and Famous Goddess Amman Temple in Karaikudi, Chettinadu – Temple Timings, Visit, Travel Guide
– the guardian deity goddess of karaikudi
Koppudaiya Nayaki Amman Temple (கொப்புடைய நாயகி அம்மன் கோவில்) / Koppudai Amman Temple is one of the oldest and the most famous temple located at the center of Karaikudi town, Chettinadu region. Koppudaiya Nayaki Amman Temple is known as the guardian deity of Karaikudi.
Once this entire locality was a forest with overgrown “Karai / காரை” trees and when a new habitat was created around this area which is called the “Kudiyetram” in the Tamil language. As it was from the Karai forest, the place was named and called “Karai Kudiyetram / குடி”, which later transformed this place’s name into Karaikudi – காரைக்குடி.
Koppudai Amman is blessing the devotees from the east. At the KoppudaiNayaki Amman temple, the main deity – the urchavar and Moolavar – the presiding deity are the same, which is similar to the Chidambaram Lord Shiva temple and Karaikudi, the Moola Vigraham is taken out in procession.
At the entrance, the temple stands with the royal towers of three levels. The temple has great inner architecture and a peaceful ambiance for its devotees. At this temple on the left are the separate shrines for Lord Ganesha shrine and Lord Karupannaswamy, the Guardian of this temple who is seen riding a horse. On the right, Lord Murugan is blessing us as Lord Dhandayuthapani. Lord Kannimoola Ganapati, Lord Kasi Viswanathar, Goddess Kasi Visalachchi, Lord Anjaneyar (Hanuman), Lord Dhatsinamoorthy, Lord Chandikeswarar, and Lord Byravar has their separate shrines.
The murti of Amman is made from Panchaloha – the five metal alloys, which have numerous healing properties, the Goddess’s anointment milk is said to have medicinal properties.
Koppudaiya Nayaki Amman blesses us in a standing posture with four hands with a Jwala Kreedam or burning fire like a crown, her hands hold trident, rope, and skull. One hand is in Abhaya’s posture, blessing her devotees with Sowbhagyam, and prosperity in life. Koppudai Amman is a goddess who believed that praying at the temple can help solve your problems. Devotees who come to the temple with complete faith will have his/her prayers granted.
Most of the shop owners nearby the Karaikudi keep their shop keys at the feet of the Koppudaiya Nayaki Amman Temple goddess to get blessed before opening their shops in the morning.
This temple is under the control of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department but is run and well maintained by Chettiar Trustees.
History of Koppudai Amman Temple / Koppudai Nayaki Amman Temple:
Goddess Kattamman and the Goddess Koppudai Nayaki Amman Sisters:
Once the Kattamman temple in Senchai Sankarapuram, located at a distance of 4 km from Karaikudi. Goddess Kattamman and the Goddess Koppudai Nayaki Amman are sisters. Goddess Kattamman had seven children whereas Koppudai Nayaki has no children. Goddess Koppudai Nayaki treated her sister’s kids as her own.
Goddess Koppudai Nayaki used to visit her sister to see her children, by making rice flour puddings – Kollukattai / கொழுக்கட்டை. But Goddess Kattamman in the thought of intellectual did not want her sister to come often to see her children. So she hides her children behind from the vision of Goddess Koppudai Nayaki. Realizing this, Goddess Koppudai Nayaki returned angrily. This made Goddess Kattamman realized her mistake. Goddess Koppudai Nayaki reached Karaikudi and observed severe penance and reached God. The location of this temple is the place of the Goddess Koppudai Nayaki temple where she forgave her sister.
Another history about Goddess Koppudaiy Amman, that Goddess Kattamma is none other than Goddess Koppudaiyamman. During the early period a king who worshipped Goddess Kattamma hide the diety in a neem tree, because of the Mughal invasion nearby this area. After many years, a cowherd found the idol and worshiped it under a Magizham tree. After the clearance of forest area and when people started to live here raised temple for her in the present-day temple location.
Adi Shankara’s Sri Chakra at the Koppudaiya Nayaki Amman Temple :
It was historically known that Adi Shankara, the greatest Hindu philosopher, and theologian, kept his Sri Chakra to pacify Koppudaiyamman and worshipped her. Because of that, we can still feel the gravitational positive ambiance as we approach inside this temple.
Koppudai Amman / Ambal seated on the Sri Chakram in the Garba Griham emanating powerful spiritual vibrations enhancing the sanctity of the temple and blessing the devotees who pray at this temple. Amman gracing on chakra is believed to have immense power. The Koppudai Nayaki gracing here faces east promising prosperity, education, and courage.
This temple is one of the key and famous travel attractions for people visiting the Karaikudi / Chettinadu region.
Famous Festivals at Koppudai Amman Temple / Koppudai Nayaki Amman Temple:
The most famous festival at Koppudaiya Nayaki Amman temple is the Chariot / Thaer festival. Only during this ten days Chariot / Thaer festival the Deity Koppudaiya Nayaki Amman moves out of town. The Chariot / Thaer – ratham of this temple is made up of the palm tree and held together with Thayilan Kodi fiber.
Koppudai Nayaki arrives in this chariot on the eighth day to visit her sister Kattamma’s temple, which is located beyond the canal. since the procession must cross a canal. As a result, the chariot is made with Palm Tree construction.
The Sevvai Perum Tiruvizha is grandly celebrated in the temple in Chithirai – April to May month till the Vaikasi – May to June month.
During the Chithirai month, Poochorithal Thiruvizha – Flower’s sprinkling is celebrated grandly, which is pouring flowers on Koppudai Nayaki. Poochoridhal is celebrated in almost most of all the temples around the Chettinadu region. The devotees come with a big bunch of flowers offering in a procession and the Koppudai Nayaki is completely covered with flowers.
Other famous festivals celebrated at this temple include – Tamil new year, Navarathiri festival, Aadi Month festival, Margazhi thirupalli ezhuchi festival, Panguni Tarabhishekam.
Travel Tips for Visiting Koppudaiya Nayaki Amman Temple / Koppudai Nayaki Amman Temple, in Karaikudi, Chettinadu
Address: Karaikudi, Koppudai Nayaki Amman temple, Koppudai Nayaki Amman Temple,
Karaikudi 630 001, Sivaganga district. Tamil Nadu
Phone Number: +91 -4565 2438 861, 9942823907
Timings: Morning 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM / Evening 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free
How To Reach Koppudaiya Nayaki Amman Temple / Koppudaiy Amman Temple in Karaikudi :
On-Road: Kunnakudi is 10 km from Karaikudi and 12 km from Thiruppathur, Plenty of buses are available from Karaikudi, Thirupathur, Madurai, Tirchy.
Nearest Airport: 83km towards Tiruchirappalli International Airport (Code: TRZ) and 97km towards Madurai International Airport ( Code IXM).
Nearest Railway station: Karaikkudi Junction railway station (station code KKDI).
Check out and enjoy the photo captures of Koppudaiya Nayaki Amman Temple / Koppudai Amman Temple in Karaikudi, Chettinadu.
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Thiruppakkottai Village & Temple Festival Trip at Sivaganga District Visit, Travel Guide
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