Badrakali Amman Temple

Share:

Overview

The temple of Badrakali Amman is situated in Madapuram a small village, on the banks of the river Vaigai. The village is located in Thirupoovanam, in Sivaganga district. The temple is close to Tirupoovanathar Temple extolled in Thevaram hymns. Ayyanar is the guardian deity of the place. Lord Vinayaka is praised as Vinai Theerkum Vinayaka – Vinayaka who releases devotees from their Karmas.

About The Temple

Madapuram kali is considered as one of the Kaval deivams of Madurai Pandyan king. Around 2300 years back, Madapuram was hemmed by thick thorn forest.

The pedestal on which Mother Shakti stands is long and wide. Adorning a crown of fire and holding her weapon, the trident facing the earth, Mother Badrakali appears as a deity of annihilation of evils. The trident symbolises the destruction of evil. The fire on the head prevents the recurrence of the evil and reduces them to ashes and her standing posture shows that she is waiting to protect the devotees.

Ayyaanar is the guardian deity of the temple. He is considered as the ruler of the place by the people. While Sri Ayyanar is shown astride a horse in other places, he is seen here in a standing posture in this temple. This is a very ancient temple of this region, located northeast of the Tirupoovanathar temple amidst a pleasant and green environs. It is a strong belief amongst the devotees that the very name of Madapuram Kali would shake the miscreants. This is a very famous temple in the district.

Legend and Stories

During that period, Lord Shiva, Brahma and Vishu along with Goddess Gowri went hunting. Lord Shiva told Parvathy not to accompany them. As Parvathy did not want to be left alone, Lord Shiva created a child named "Ayyanar” to be with her. Parvathy wished Lord Shiva to sanctify this place as a holy one and Lord Shiva accepted her wish and sanctified this place by proclaiming that taking bath in the Vaigai river within 3 kms from this place is equivalent to taking a dip in Kasi.

Goddess Parvathy remained here as KALI and when a devotee wanted to make an offering to her, she ordered him to provide a horse-shaped roof for her. Lifting his two legs, he provided shade and from that day onwards, Goddess Kali blessed the devotees in this form.

During the pralaya, Madurai was flooded by water and vanished. Mother Meenakshi prayed to Lord Shiva to identify the borders of Madurai. Lord Shiva took of the Adisesha from his neck and rounded off Madurai. He created the borders with Tiruvedagam in the west, Tiruparankundram in South, Tirumalirunjolai in north and Madapuram in the south, thus joining the tail and face of the divine serpent. Mother swallowed the venom of the snake and became furious. Ayyanar offered His horse to Ambica to give Her a cool shade. Hence Ayyanar is extolled as Adikalam Katha Ayyanar. Mother Badrakali in this temple is taking care of the welfare of Her devotees.

Festivals

Every Friday is a festival day in the temple drawing huge numbers of devotees. Poornima puja (new moon day) Milk Abishek, 1008 lamp puja on the first Tuesday of each Tamil month are very devotionally celebrated in the temple.

How To Reach Badrakali Amman Temple

Road

Bus facilities are available to Madapuram from Madurai and Sivaganga. The place is 19 km from Madurai and 30 km from Sivaganga.

Railways

The Nearest railhead is Madurai and Manamadurai railway station.

Airport

The Nearest Airport is Madurai airport.

Temple Address