Periyapalayam Sri Bhavani Amman Temple

Overview

Bhavani Amman Temple is a popular temple located in Periyapalayam near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Sri Bhavani Amman (Goddess Shakthi) is the chief deity of this temple. Devotees throng this renowned temple in huge numbers on weekends and during the auspicious tamil months of Aadi and Avani. The town of Periyapalayam is located about 45kms from Chennai in the Chennai-Kolkata highway, near Red Hills. Devotees who visit this temple, seek the divine blessings of Sri Bhavani Amman. The temple is busy throughout the year, more so on the weekends.

About The Temple

According to Hindu Mythology, King Kamsa got his beloved sister Devaki married to Vasudeva. Driving the chariot back home along with the newly wed couple, he heard a oracle stating that the eighth baby born to his sister will be the cause of his death.

The evil Kamsa grew furious immediately and decided to kill his sister instantly. Vasudeva pleaded Kamsa not to kill his wife and instead promised to handover all his children to him immediately after birth. Despite Vasudev’s promise, Kamsa got the couple arrested and put them in a prison. As time passed, Vasudeva handed over every baby born to Devaki to Kamsa. Kamsa is said to have killed six babies of Devaki, the seventh one being Balarama who was transferred to Rohini’s womb without Kamsa’s knowledge. Rohini was another wife of Sri Vasudeva. Kamsa was anxiously waiting for the birth of Devaki’s eighth baby. Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Krishna and was born to Devaki as her eighth child. Lord Vishnu himself ordered Vasudeva to place Krishna by the side of Nandagopan’s wife Yashodha in Brindhavan and to bring back her girl child Mayadevi to prison along with him. He is said to have explained the purpose of his birth which was to kill the evil king Kamsa. He also informed them that he would be growing up as Nandagopan and Yashodha’s son in Brindhavan while their daughter Mayadevi would be brought back to the prison on the night of the birth, to make Kamsa believe that it was Devaki’s child. On knowing about the birth of Devaki’s eight child, Kamsa came to the prison wanting to kill his messenger of death. When Kamsa tried to kill Mayadevi, considering her to be the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudeva, Goddess Mayadevi is said to have kicked Kamsa’s chest and flew to the skies. She also warned him that his messenger of death was already born and will reach him on the right time to bring his end.

The angry Kamsa sent many demons in search of lord Krishna who was growing up with Yasoda in Brindhavan. One among them was the evil Boodagi, who came with pretext to breast feed baby Krishna. The divine Lord eliminated Boodhagi and the subsequent demons Sakatasura and Trunavartha who were sent by Kamsa to kill him. Lord Krishna grew up to become a naughty boy in Brindhavan who stole butter along with his friends, from the villager’s house. He also ate mud as a little boy and stunned Mother Yashodha when he showed the entire universe on his little mouth.

It was this Mayadevi who graces here as Goddess Bhavani. The benevolent goddess is believed to have manifested herself on this earth to relieve human beings of distress and spread happiness and prosperity to the entire world.

Festivals

The first Friday in the auspicious Tamil month of Aadi, is grandly celebrated here. Every year on the 4th week of Aadi, the oonjaal sevai for the Urchava moorthi is performed. Thousand and eight sagsra Naama Archanai is performed on every Friday morning during the auspicious month of Aadi.

How To Reach Sri Bhavani Amman Temple

Road

The nearest bus stop is the Periyapalayam bus station.

Railways

The nearest railhead is the Thiruvallur railway station.

Airport

The closest Airport is the Chennai Airport.

Temple Address

Sri Bhavani Amman Temple,
Thiruvallur, Periyapalayam,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 601102.