Sindhur Puja at Melmaruvathur Amman Temple *Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam
Arulmigu Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam is situated at Melmaruvathur, 92 km from Chennai (Formerly known as Madras) in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India. This is the place where 21 Siddhars (saints) men as well as women from different religion, had their Jeeva-Samadhis (meaning, where the Siddhars left their human forms behind, while they are still alive as holy spirits). Here in Melmaruvathur Adiparashakti Siddhar Peetam, the divine mother Adhi para sakthi transmigrates into Arulthiru Bangaru Adigalar thereby promoting spirituality and devotion.
Melmaruvathur (Tamil: மேல்மருவத்தூர்) is a town situated on busy GST Road or NH45 between Chennai and Villupuram. It is 92 kilometres (57 mi) south-west of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India.
Where the current temple's sanctum sanctorum stands today, there was only a neem tree in 1960's. Unlike every other neem tree, which bear bitter tasting fruit, this tree secreted and dripped a sweet nectar. Residents of that village found that they had an urge in their mind to taste this nectar whenever they passed by this tree. Since many passers reported of curing their illness and diseases after tasting this nectar, the word spread swiftly to entire village and its neighborhood. So it became a customary for these villagers to take a drop of this nectar to ailing friends and relatives.
In 1966, a severe storm uprooted this neem tree, which exposed the Swayambu underneath to the villagers for the first time. Swayambu means A self emerging, naturally formed oval shaped object (carved of rock).
This place is known as Siddhar Peetam (Siddhar in Tamil language means enlightened or evolved souls. Peetam means throne. Thus Siddhar Peetam means The Throne of Evolved Souls or Great Spiritual Masters/Gurus) where 21 Siddhars are laid in Jeeva Samaadhi.
The idol of Mother Adhi para sakthi was installed later in the sanctum sanctorum on November 25, 1977. The idol of beautiful Mother is three feet tall, seated on thousand-petal lotus seat, with her right leg folded and the left leg resting on the lotus petals. The thousand petal lotus has significance in meditation. In this idol form, She holds the bud of a lotus in her right hand, the mudhra (sign) of knowledge in her left hand and with her hair plait and knotted upwards like a crown.
The basic tenet of Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam is One Mother, One Humanity, means the whole human race is one and all the human beings who inhibit this vast earth are children of Mother Goddess and therefore there is no distinction amongst the human beings on any basis, be it religion, race, creed, community, caste or even gender at any Siddhar peetam. Amma has revolutionized the concept of spirituality by letting everybody irrespective of caste, creed, religion, language, nationality, social status, gender, education, etc., to enter the sanctum sanctorum and perform the daily rituals and prayers to the Mother AdhiParaSakthi. Women can enter the temple even during their menstrual cycle (which is prohibited in Hindu Temples) after taking bathe.
Here in Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam, during the transmigration Adigalar (AMMA) tells Arulvakku (oracle). Through the Arulvakku (oracle) Adhi parasakthi herself speaks to her devotees, this is the unique specialty of this Siddhar Peetam. Hearing the Goddess Adhiparasakthi's oracle is a great spiritual experience, this miracle takes place at Siddhar peetam.
Only at Melmaruvathur, women are permitted to perform poojas in the sanctum sanctorum.
Saptha Kanniyar Kovil (The Temple of Seven Virgins) to the right of putrumandapam. To ascertain the fact that all are her children and that She doesn't differentiate between any of us, the Mother ordained the local Harijans (considered to be low caste people in India) to construct the Saptha Kanniyar (Saptha means seven and Kanni means virgin. Kanniyar is plural for virgins) worship center within the Temple.
In 1974, the Saptha (Seven) Kanni (Virgin Angels) Sannidhi (Temple) was consecrated in Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam, Tamil Nadu, India.
In all Hindu scripts and Devi Mahatmyam, one will note that Saptha Kannikas are mentioned as Parivaara Devataas of Aadhi paraa shakti. Among the millions of Parivaara Devataas, these Seven Virgin Mothers carry special place in Aadhi para shakti as depicted in Sri Yantra (Sri Chakra). The seven nodes in the middle line of the First Enclosure (Prathama Aavaranaa) are occupied by the Saptha Kannikas, namely Brahmi, Mahe'shwari, Kowmaari, Vaishnavi, Vaaraahi, Indraani, and Chaamundi . The eighth node is occupied by Mahalakshmi.These shrines are often called Kanni Kovil meaning Virgin Temples.
The people who serve in the Siddhar Peetam are normally the devotees clad in red dress.
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