Selva Lalithambikai Temple

Overview

The name “Chellapiratti” originates from its initial name Selvapiratti meaning this area or the village is very rich and people who have lived here were rich. The specialty here is the Lalitha Selvambigai temple. The main god of the temple is said to be very old (nearly 60,000yrs). This deity has survived from a lot of natural disasters of the past. The god is in the form of rectangular rock of 6 feet height which changes its color in five forms. A lot of evidence has been discovered by ASI( Indian archeology) regarding this temple and ancientness of this village. This village is surrounded by mountains which creates unique scenery.

About the Temple

There are temples, where Mothers Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi are together in individual form. But here the features of all the three godessess are combined in a single deity. The devotees coming to the temple are blessed by Sri Siddhi Vinayaka. Representing the Chola architecture, it has a five tier Rajagopuram and a Vimana in the sanctum sanctorum. In the prakara, there are Shiva Shakti, Vishnu Shakti and Brahmma Shakti with shrines for Lord Maha Ganapathi and Lord Subramania-Muruga. In this temple, Maharshi Rishya Shrunga had worshipped Devi.

About the Deity

The main deity is Selva Lalithambikai who graces with Her eight hands with a crescent moon on forehead, holding a trident and a five headed serpent above the head. She is seated with Her right leg hanging and folding the left in a smiling (Shanta) form. Ambica’s right hand gives protection to devotees (Abhaya Hastha), while the left shows Her feet, an asylum to devotees. Also, she is seen as holding an Akshamala and Kamandala attributed to Mother Saraswathi, discus and conch attributed to Mother Mahalakshmi and the rope-Pasa and Ankusa related to Mother Parvathi. Eight Shakti temples are around this temple. They are, Sri Kanchi Kamakshi towards the north, Mylapore Sri Kolavizhi Amman towards northeast, Sri Kadumbadi Amman towards east, Sri Tiruvakkarai Vakrakali towards southeast, Sri Samayapuram Mariamman towards south, Sri Gingee Kamalakanni towards southwest, Sri Melmalayanur Angala Parameswari towards west and Padavedu Renuka Parameswari towards northwest. Selva Lalithambiga is the central god surrounded by these eight Shaktis.

Legend and Stories

Maharsi Rishya Shrunga, who was the presiding priest in the conducting the Puthrakameshti Yagna by Emperor Dasatha, seeking child boon, and who was the son of Maharshi Vipandaka, had a stone plate which he considered as Ambica. It is said that stone plate had come here which tells that the antiquity of the temple goes back to a millennium. Later, this plate is installed with an Ambica idol. It is believed, when Sri Adi Sankara was travelling to Kancheepuram, Ambica guided the route to him. In the temple, there is an idol of Maharshi Rishya Shringa.

In the plate in this temple, Mother Selva Lalithambika is personified. There was a time when powerful mantras were inscribed on plates and worshipped as God or Goddess, which is followed even now in the form of Yantras. The stone plate is four feet tall, with twelve squares containing letters of the Beejakshara Mantras (beej means seed, Akshara means letters in Sanskrit) of Parashakti. At the central point, there is a trident. While Sun is in the right top of the plate, Moon is in the left. The presiding deity-Selva Lalithambia- is beautifully painted in the plate. A three feet Ambica idol is installed below the stone plate, with due regard to tradition.

Festivals

Navarathri in September-October is grandly celebrated in the temple.

Rituls

The devotees derive the benefit of worshipping Mothers Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi simultaneously. While meditating from the Dhyna Mandap, one can also experience the sound of Ohm

Thanks giving

Devotees offer sari and perform abishek to Mother Selva Lalithambikai.

Significance

While worshipping Mother Selva Lalithambika, the devotee derives the benefit of worshipping Mothers Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi at the same time.

Nearby Place To Visit

Aadhi Tiruvarangam Perumal
Sivalokanathar
Swarnakadeswarar
Atulya Nadeswarar
Maha Kaleswarar
Veeratteswarar

Accessibility

Road

Gingee is 38 km from Villupuram. Chellapiratti Koottu Road is 5 km from Gingee. Buses to Arani pass through this place. The temple is half a kilo metre far from this bus stop.

Railways

Dindivanam

Airport

Chennai

Temple Address

Sri Selva Lalithambikai Temple,
Chellapiratti,
Gingee,
Villupuram district
Pincode -604 210