Introduction and Kaappu

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OHM

Introduction

Ohm NamoRamanujaayaNama:

Ohm NamoNarayanayaNama:

Shri VenkatachalapathiThunai

Shri RenukadeviThunai

Shri Akkammadevi Thunai!



Goddess SHRI AKKAMMA DEVI, who is the deity of Kammavar Clan, ThaloorKothra andGaliyarpedigree is showering blessings & boons to her devotees. Her temple is situated in the serene ambience ofSengalipalayam, a village near Thudiyalur, in the Cotton City ofSouthIndia. Her History is briefed here.

KAAPPU

“Kannanennummannanthiruvadiullanthanilentrumkondidum

Vannamenathennamamainthidaarulvaanae!

UllanbudanUNpugalpaadidumennanthanaiadiyavankondunnai

Ennumpozhuthuenntrumennethirvaruvayae!

Unthanmugamkannutruakkanamennthanmanamninnaippadida

SanthamthannaiththanthittarulumThirumaalae!

UnmaithanaienntrumcooridumVanmaithanaiullampettrita

Enntrumunadhu innarulthanthiduPerumanae!

ChengaithThirupathiyinilurainthidumthankaiththirukkovililenntrum

Thaangidavaladiarvarkatkuenntrumarulvayae!

History of Galiyar Ancestors

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Nearly over 23 generations, there lived a couple named Thiravanai Naidu – AlarmeluMangamma belonging to Kammavar clan, Galiyar pedigree. They were unique in their fury, charity and piety. They were blessed to beget a male child by Lord Thirumaal and their deity RenukaDevi.

He was named as Venkatasamy Naidu and brought up with love and affection. As God Varuna was pleased, they had good rainfall which enhanced and enriched their prosperity. Besides being generous and charitable, they performed special poojas to live with utmost satisfaction. Their only beloved son was then fourteen years old.

One day they had set off to Thirupathi Temple with their son in order to give him an opportunity to see the impeccable incarnation of Lord Thirumaal. On their way, they stood sadly, since they could not get water anywhere to quench their son’s thirst. There came a young girl with split hair and sacred soil on her forehead. She had a pitcher of holy water on her head. She helped to quench the thirst of Venkatasamy Naidu.Thiravanai Naidu had a talk with her and understood that her name is Ellamma, descended from Kammavar Clan in KankallarPedigre. After drinking water, the couple with their son continued their journey towards Thirumala and worshipped Lord Venkataeshwara.After some days, they decided to arrange for their son’s marriage. When they said their proposal, he replied shyly that he had intended to marry Ellamma.

Then they went to Ellamma’s house with their son, proposed and got Consent from her parents. Their marriage went on well with pomp and pompous in OttraiPerumal temple at Thirupathi. Both the in – laws treated her with love and affection. Ellamma too put forth all her love and won their affection with her love, piety and respect. Though they lived happily for many years, they were not gifted with an heir.

Thiravanai Naidu couplestarted worrying and prayed deeply to Lord Elumalaiyan,Vinayaga and Goddess Renuka. There was also a draught due to the failure of rain. So, Thiruvanai Naidu planned to pray the Lord of Thirupathi to shower rain and bestow an heir to them.They left for Elumalai by walk and prayed the Lord for well-being. Alas! When they returned they found the coupleThiravanai Naidu and AlameluMangamma missing. Though they searched everywhere, they could not find them. So, the desperate coupleVenkatasamy Naidu and his wife prayed God with immense devotion. Delighted with their sincere prayer, Lord Thirumaal appeared and said that Thirupathi Naidu’s parents had reached his Lotus feet. Then he granted them a boon to beget a male child. When they returned to their native, they were much pleased to get an amazing fortune due to good rainfall. After 3 years, they got a male baby. Overwhelmed with joy, they thought off calling him with his grandfather’s name. As he was no more, the baby was named as Thirupathi Naidu and lived happily.

Being so particular in testing the piety and fidelity of his devotees Lord Parthasarathy put them in hardships. Their son remained dumb without any feeling for 7 years like our Nammalwar of Vaishnavaperungadal. Shocked with the dark future of their only son, they wept bitterly and mourned deeply. Pitied upon their plight some elderly people consoled Ellamma and asked her to perform special poojas for 21 days, to donate new stitched clothes to 21 Children and perform pooja to the Cow – God and arrange for a grand feast to the needy people.

The couple started performing Pooja without any blemish and prayed faithfully. After 21 days, the baby cried aloud mentioning “Govindha”! All were excited. They all surprised and worshipped with devotion.

Later on, Thirupathi Naidu was able to speak, feel and behaved like a normal child, before completing his 12th birthday. He was then hale and healthy with well build body. His parents were much pleased when he assisted them in their farm work. One day, they arranged for all kinds of charitable alms to the needy people willingly. Then they left for Thirupathi to pray Lord Thirumaal by walk. They reached Thirupathi temple, prayed earnestly. After the prayers they returned to their native and led a prosperous life.

History of Galiyar Shri Akkammadevi’s Parents

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When Thirupathi Naidu was 19 years old, his parents VenkitaRami Naidu and Ellamma decided to get him married. At that time the Kammavars of 9 villages unitedly arranged for a grand temple function to Goddess Renuka Devi, who had dwelt to the North of Galiyaar VenkitaRami Naidu’s village. In order to get her blessings for his son’s marriage, VenkitaRami Naidu went to the temple with his family. Both Thirupathi Naidu and his friend Chennar Kiddappa Naidu started their journey to the temple. They both rode on their horses back and saw a pious and beautiful maiden in split hair with scared soil on her forehead carrying a milk kalasam with mild smile. As soon as he saw her, Thirupathi Naidu fell in love with her and kept on seeing her. Having noticed his romantic look Kiddappa Naidu – a friend to him revealed Thirupathi Naidu’s love affair to his father sarcastically. Thirupathi naidu insisted that he is willing marry the same girl. After knowing the details about her, he set off to the village to enquire about her parentage. He was told that her name was Ellamma and she had only one brother Kuppanna Naidu, since their mother passed away. When VenkitaRami Naidu told their intension regarding his sister’s proposal, he could not believe his own eyes as his status was too low compared with the status of the land lord VenkitaRami Naidu

. But VenkitaRami Naidu asked him to give his sister as his daughter – in- law ignoring wealth and status. So, Kuppanna Naidu consented to the proposal after consulting with his wife. Then they arranged for their betrothal in the presence of Kamma kula eminent persons.

On an auspicious Friday in the month of Maasi, their wedding went on well with all the festivities in Thirupathi with the blessings of the Lord and Land lords. The couple lived happily with the immense blessings of God and the greetings of elders. Kuppanna Naidu with his wife frequently visited his sister and brother – in – law with all amazing seervarisais. Thirupathi Naidu and Ellamma couples got 4 Male children named Ramachandran, Narayanan, Muthannan and Narasimhan.

All the four sons were educated and taught with all other arts. Years rolled on and they started seeking alliance for their elder son Ramachandran. Having chosen Pathiviratha Ratinam – Ellamma as the bride- groom, the marriage took place blissfully. They had bumper yield and two sons were born to them. Suddenly a dreadful disease broke out in the village and many died including VenkitaRami Naidu couples. The villagers migrated to other places in gangs to get rid of from the disease. During the migration, Thirupathi Naidu’s family with some other families settled in Mittagiri pattinam. (Now Chinna Mettupalayam), in Kongu Nadu. When they were busy with their agriculture in Mittagiri pattinam, their second son Narannan got married with Ramakka. Their wedding pleased all.

As begetting a female child was their long cherished wish, the Thirupathi Naidu couples decided to go to Thirupathi in order to get a female child as a boon. On a Saturday of Purattasi month they set to left for Thirupathi along with their sons.They reached Govindaraja pattinam, prepared delicious food with dishes and gave alms to the poor, prayed Govindaraja perumal, bathed in all the holy waters and reached Thirupathi. After completing their pilgrimage to Thirupathi, they returned to their native.

As their third son Muthannan attained the age of marriage, they chose Gowriamma, and arranged for their marriage. Their marriage went on well to their entire satisfaction.

After sometime, `Narasimhan married Naramma, with the blessings of his parents and elders. After the marriage, Narasimman’s behavious became very worst. His parents and relatives advised him to change himself, but there was no change in Narasimman’s attitudes. So, Thirupathi Naidu made up his mind to end his life. To execute his decision he went to the river, and reached his lotus feet on a Thursday in the Tamil month of Thai.

At that time the baby in Ellamma’s womb was just four months old. Struck with grief all his four sons performed the ritual ceremonies and mourned deeply. Their inconsolable widowed mother- Ellamma called out her four sons and gave pieces of advice suppressing her worries. They all repented and lived united to appease their father’s departed soul. Days passed on; Naramma who was an expert in creating turmoil like Narathar poisoned the minds of the other three daughter-in-laws and made them rebuke their mother in law. The fourth daughter- in-law Rani Devi –Naramma questioned Ellamma “Who will look after your child in future?” As her ridiculous and insulting words hurt Ellamma very badly, she decided to end her life like her husband and went to the river. But she changed her mind and returned home as it would spoil her son’s name and fame and lead them to be the sinners of infanticide.

For the sake of her family prestige, she suppressed all her worries and remained alive like a tree struck with thunder. It was the month of Aani, she delivered a female child on Wednesday at the day dawn and in Anusha star. Of course! The baby is none but Annai Aathi parasakthi who lost her father when she was in her mother’s womb. She was like the Sun who dispersed the darkness of the world.

“Saevalum koova, Siru kiliyum solpaesap,

Poovandum paadida, ponmayilum aadidavae,

Thavathumaan nirkath, Thumbiyum reengarika

Kavil kalai kuyilum koovidum Kanamenach

Sevvanam minna, suriyameen, Karaithavap

Poovellam Mottavila Manamum thendraludan

Thavapakalon oliyum parapiiia.”

Having dwelt in her mother’s womb for ten months, she came out to the world as a lovable sister to her four brothers, at the day dawn- on hearing her divine brother Kannan’s sweet song in His flute. Though their father was no more when their sister was born, they were delighted like the crops to receive rain for which they are longing for a long time and the drunken bee that loitered everywhere unconsciously. On hearing her first voice, their eyes started piping like a spring. Her maternal uncle Kuppanna Naidu was extremely happy to hear the birth of his newly born daughter-in-law. It is quiet nature that happiness never comes alone. It is always followed by sorrow. Aadi ended Aavani started. The baby was three months old then. It was an auspicious day (Tuesday) in Aavani month, Ellamma with the divine daughter in her hand, called her sons who were like the four sons of king Dasaratha and told that they were gifted with a sister by Lord Thirumal to shower their love and affection and bring up with at most care. She then told, “Name her Akkamma to honour my late mother, Goddess Renukadevi will take care and protect her like an elderly sister and mother. If you cherish your baby sister by providing all seervarisais that she likes, your clan will flourish! Crops will give good yield! Goddess Lakshmi will favour you! You will be blessed with your divine brother Thirumal and sister Renugadevi; You and your clan will be cared by mother Ellamma and Parasuraman’s father like the eyelashes that protect eyes”. Saying so, he too left the world to join her husband in order to serve Lord Paranthaman.

Childhood Of Galiyar Shri Akkamma Devi

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As the divine baby Akkamma lost her father before birth and mother after birth, she started crying for her destiny. But her eldest brother Ramachandran took her in his palms and consoled,”oh! Thou art the wealth of our clan! Thou art like our eyes and pupil! Thou art sugar candy and Kavichuvai! If tear comes from your eyes, my heart will bleed! Thou art the apple of our eyes! Thine soul is ours!”

Then he pacified his three brothers, kept his mother’s body at the center of the house and sent the message to his maternal uncle. They all performed the rituals and cherished their beloved sister carefully.

Of course! Mother Earth was longing for her feet to step her; she was always seated either on their chest or on shoulders. They frequently kissed her golden feet.

[Oh! It is because of her unfulfilled wish motherland gave me place when I had a call from my mother].

Their maternal uncle Kuppanna Naidu with his wife visited daily and played with her happily. They Put forth all their love and affection and pleased her with seervarisai.

Galiyar Shri Akkammadevi’s Pilgrimage to Tirumalai

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All the four brothers of Akkamma decided to set off to Thirumalai, they all performed pooja to Renukadevi, gave freebies, chanted Sriram Narayanan’s name, got earnest alms and left their village with their maternal uncle, sister-in-laws , beloved children and lovable Akkama after praying Lord Vinayaka, the Lord of prosperity.
They reached Keel Thirupathi. At that time their divine baby stopped her four brothers and enquired the method of praying, the specialities of the Holy Theerthams which are in Thirumala. Wondered at her astonishing knowledge, they explained her in detail that they would be freed from sins and blessed if they had given freebies to the poor and the needy.When she asked for the detail of holy water, her maternal uncle tried to convince her. Since she was not convinced, they told that there were 364 holy water bodies in Thiruvenkadam and those who bathed in it with piety would get rid of sins, live with all the fortunes and obtain salvation.
The puranas say that all holy waters join with Pushkarini, on Dwathasi, the next day of Vaikunda Yekadasi, the day on which sakkarasnam happens in Swami Pushkarini. After briefing

Panchakarni, Pushpakarni, Dulakarni, Pabakarni,
Pashpakarni, Kokarni, Dumbukarni, Bisbakarni,
Erinkarni, Linkarni, Swarpakarni, Vishpakarni,
Byinkarni, Thungkarni, Nirankarni, Ungkarni,
Virupakarni, Pooshphakarni, Thalankarni, Karudakarni,
Sengkarni, Pathakarni, Vingkarni, Nangkarni .

They briefed about all the important Theerthams situated in Thirumala. Wondered at His blessings, they bathed in holy waters, reached Thirumalai, had bath in Pushpakarini and gifted with Lord Thirumalai’s Divine sight. Having prayed Him, they returned, provided food to the poor to their entire satisfaction, gave alms and reached Keel Thirupathi. Again they prayed Lord Govindaraja Perumal, reached Alarmelu mangammapuram, prayed her and returned to Mittakiripattinam happily. Having kept Thaniyakalasam, Theerthakalasam and Thirumankombu at home, they prayed and gave annathanam to all. Thus years passed happily.

Piety Of Galiyar Shri Akkamma Devi

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Akkamma was six years old then. Her brothers cherished her by fulfilling all her wishes. When she was called by her brothers simultaneously, she sat in the middle of them to avoid discrepancy and chatted with them happily.

One day all her four brothers asked her what jewel she liked the most as she never asked for anything. She replied that she was extremely happy and their love was more precious than any other jewel. Yet, she asked for a pavalamani malai with gold string.

Immediately they ordered for the pavalamani malai and adorned her neck with it, as she was their apple of eyes. They used to rush to their house directly from the farm house without spending even a single minute. They would be satisfied only after seeing her face and hearing her soft and sweet voice.

Amidst their happy life, Akkamma asked for a pooja house to her elder brother. As soon as she asked, Ramachandran – her elder brother called his three brothers happily, went to their farm, cut maize stalks and took home the maize bundles, kept four poles in the direction of sun rise, and built a Pooja room for her.

Akkamma went to a well in their village with a flagon, fetched holy water, poured to Lord Vianayaka, and prayed Him. Then she fetched one more flagon of holy water, kept in her Pooja room and prayed Lord Venkatachalapathi, Goddess Renuka Devi, Sadaiyongu muni Samathagini Maharishi, Ellamma devi, Boomadevi, Kannimars and her parents. She helped her four brothers as much as she could.

Black – an ill-omen to Galiyars

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Once the couple, Thiravanai Naidu-AlarmeluMangammawent to Thirupathiwith their family carrying a black umbrella and money in a black trunk. But they lost them on the way to temple. Likewise, when they returned to their native, their black cow which gave a pitcher full of milk was found missing. They searched for it, but all in vain they couldnot find it. What a wonder!They couldnot believe their eyes, when they saw it standing in front of their house, soon after their prayer.Their superstition made them donate it to Thirumalai temple. Henceforth they concluded that black was their inauspicious colour.

Later on,Akkamma asked for a poojaroom to her elder brother Ramachandran.As soon as she asked for the poojaroom, his elder brother happily called his three brothers,went to their farm, cut the maize stalks and searched for a rope to bundle the stalks.As it was not available, he untied the rope in the head of the black cow.Alas! He was hit by the black cow and became unconscious. When the other three brothers came in search of their elder brother with the maize stalks, they shocked to see their unconscious brother. Suspecting that he might be bitten by an alligator, they took him on their lap,sprinkled water on his face and gave some water to drink.Then Ramachandran briefed what happened to him showing the swelling.So they donated the black cow to the temple.Aftermath of this incident,they decided black is their inauspicious colour.

All these events were narrated by Shri Akkammadevi when she tookabode on her ardent devotees in many occasions.

A Chain of Sorrows In Shri Akkammadevi’s life

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Though Shri Akkammadevi led her life happily with her four brothers and their family,fate started playing in her life in the form of her Sisters-in-law. She faced and endured utmost all the tortures at her young age. Having seen their husband’s bounteous love and affection towards their sister, they were jealous of her and their jealousy turned them to be cruel and hurt her. In the absence of their husbands, they started torturing her more and more.

But flower like sweet divine girl did pooja everyday without fail. One day when she was returning home after praying Lord Vinayaka with a flagon of holy water, her Sisters-in-Law questioned her the reason for her delay, abused her, hit on her face, grabbed the flagon forcibly, poured the holy water on her head and broke the flagon. Everything happened in the absence of her brothers.

Without knowing the reason for their tortures, she suppressed all her worries and used to tell her brothers that her in-laws were so kind and considerable and treated her amicably. Forgetting her worries, she joined them in sharing their happiness. She offered her sincere and earnest prayer to her parents and Goddess.

When she was seven years old all her four brothers discussed and decided to do the Seervarisai that has to be done at that age. As it has to be done by her maternal uncle, they sent him the information through their farm servants.

When the servants went to their maternal uncle’s field, he was engaged in his farm work. They approached him,explained about the Seervarisai he has to do for his niece, he replied that he could not come as he had hectic work. Further, he asked them why he should do the Seervarisai as his sister and brother- in –law were no more. With that reply, he sent them back.

When the matter was informed to the four brothers and Shri Akkammadevi, she felt very bad and asked “Will it happen if my father or mother was alive?” Struck with grief she prayed Lord Yelumalaiyan and cursed her maternal uncle with mental agony. Her curse was that all the maize should be washed away to the pond even if there was a hand span of dark clouds in the sky. As per her curse, the hand span of clouds gave heavy rainfall and swept off the entire millets in the grain pit to the pond. Then the Seervarisai was done by her four brothers without their maternal uncle.

Days rolled on.One day all the four sisters-in-law called Shri Akkammadevi, gave one big basket of raw paddy and asked her to hand pound the paddy into raw rice. As Shri Akkammadevi could not lift her basket she prayed Yelumalaiyan, Ellamma Devi and Renuka Devi then lifted and tried to raise the pestle, what a pity! The pestle stood one yard above Shri Akkammadevi’s head. Suppressed her surplus sorrows, she started hand pounding the paddy. Her palms were full of blisters and later on liquid oozed out of it. Oh! Seeing her pathetic condition, her late parents would have come as blisters and their tears might have turned to the liquid that came out from the blisters. Without showing the mental agony, she spent her days by praying Gods.

She tried to forget her sorrows by praying twice a day. One day her tiredness made her have a sound sleep. On seeing her sound sleep, her sisters-in-law knocked at her cheeks and asked her how could it be possible for her to have a sound sleep? Thus they scolded her with abusing words.

In case if she happened to get up a little bit late in the morning, they hit on her face and teased her by asking how it could be possible to sleep for such a long time even after hearing the morning call of crows and sparrows. Enduring all such tortures she questioned herself whether it would happen to her if her parents were alive.

Due to their tortures her face started swelling. There were scratches on her face, swells and wounds in her head. There were many blisters on her palms and started letting out water and blood simultaneously. She endured all the pains for the sake of her brother’s bounteous love and affection.

One day when her brothers were talking to Shri Akkammadevi keeping her on their laps, they noticed the black spots on her face and the reddish palms, aghast at that, they asked for the reason. But for the sake of the unity of the joint family she did not reveal the fact. Despite, she said that the scratches and swelling are due to the impression of the rough hair in their beard and whisker when they kissed her frequently. Besides, she said that the Thilak on her forehead had fallen and spread over her palm like blood. She endured all the tortures of her sisters-in-law till she was 9 years old.

But on one day she had even thought of ending her life by falling into the river, as she couldn’t put up with their tortures. When she went and fetched the water in the flagon, she could notice the wounds on her face. Seeing the wounds in her face and palms she had come to the conclusion not to survive in the world.

That day was the 18th of Aadiperukku. All the children went and prayed Lord Vinayaka by enshrining coconut, banana, puffed rice with ground nut. She too prayed Lord Vinayaka and Virgins (Kannimar or Sapthamanthar) jumped into the brimming river; her divine body came up thrice from water and she became unconscious.

The Virgins, whom she prayed, saved her, brought her up, lay on the platform and brought back her conscious. They treated her courteously with love and affection. Then they fed her with all the enshrined things and refreshed her. When she was mentally happy, they all vanished.

Having realized that God doesn’t like her decision to end her life, she returned home after fetching holy water in the flagon. But, she tumbled down in the threshold and the flagon was broken. So, her in-law’s torture continued.

Pocketing all the insults, she saved all the coins given by her brothers, brought all the pooja things to be enshrined to Lord Vinayaka and Virgins and prayed regularly. Tenth year started and her in-laws torture also multiplied ; the more she suppressed the worries and sorrows, the more she lost her mental peace; Brooding over the insults and all the odd works she did in the absence of her brothers, she questioned herself, “ How long will my brothers take care of me and how will be my husband? If he is an irresponsible rogue how will be my future?” Thus she spent her days by lodging all her problems to her God and Goddess through prayer.

One day her brothers had their lunch, without calling her, as they were busy in harvesting millets. It was customary for them to eat with their sister whatever was the situation. In case, if she was entrusted with certain work by her in-laws, they would scold them, wait for her and then had the meals with her.

Their love and affection was the only solace to her mind. So, she could not accept and tolerate their negligence in sharing meal with her amidst their busy schedule. To think of their forgetfulness, her eyes started piping. Of course, she felt as if her heart was broken. She thought that there was no solution for her worries and sorrows.

The fourteenth day of the month Maarkali was Friday. She woke up before the day dawn, bathed in the holy river Ganga, fetched and poured one flagon of holy water over Lord Vinayaka, who removes obstacles and prayed for his patronage by prostrating. Then once again went to the river Ganga and returned home with one more flagon of holy water to do pooja. Seeing her with the kalasam, all her in-laws starred at her as if they were going to burn her with their eyes. Having broken the flagon of holy water on her head they asked, “What else is buried near the river Ganga?” Then they fired her with hot abusing words. There is no such word to describe and record the abusing words fired by the embodiment of tortures and the tigress of turmoil Naramma, her 4th in-law. Her words are worse than the tortures in the hell.

After hearing her stinging and firing words, Shri Akkammadevi thought that the only remedy for the tortures was to join Boomadevi. So, she prayed Boomadevi whole heartedly to accept her. Boomadevi too realized that it was the time for the divine child to reach her.

To release her from the woeful earthly life, she prayed all the Gods and Goddesses with bleeding heart.

End of Earthly life of divine child Galiyar Akkamma

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On 21st of Markali the next Friday,she got up before day dawn ,bathed in the holy river Ganga, went to Lord Vinayaka’s temple with split hair and a flagon of water offered it as the last offer, and prayed with tearful eyes. Then she fetched one more flagon of water in the holy river, went home, open the pooja room, kept the kalasam and thought of Yelumalaiyan. Ellamma, Renuka, the Goddess of kammakulam, Sadaiyongu muni Samathagni maharishi, Boomadevi and her parents in her mind. Then she prayed them earnestly to put an end to all the tortures and hardships that she underwent for the past 10 years and give her a place to join Boomadevi. Praying so, she stood at the middle of the pooja room forgetting her with broken heart.

Even the stone would bleed for her plight. Seeing her pathetic situation, Boomadevi pitied and made a fissure where she stood and blessed her. Then the Galiyaar Kulakkolunthu Akkamma stepped into the earth and held the flower feet of Boomadevi gratefully. On viewing that, Lord Thirumal stopped Akkamma’s head from being entered into the earth, gave her divine sight and convinced her “Oh! My beloved sister! We are much pleased and bounded with your piety! We have come over here to bless you. It is time for you to reach my Lotus feet; yet it won’t be fair on your part to join Boomadevi without the knowledge of your brothers who cherished and nourished you by pouring limitless love and affection. Besides spoiling their name, you will bring blemish to them. They will search for you in all the Forests, Valleys, Rivers, Ponds and other places. That is why I stopped your head from being going inside. Let them see you” saying so Lord Thirumal vanished.

Meanwhile, her in–laws were alarmed and started worrying how to pacify their husbands. Fear made them to search her everywhere. When they reached home by calling her name, they trembled and said with hesitation “Your sister Akkamma is missing. Though we search for her everywhere, we can’t find out. At the same time, we don’t know the reason”.

Hearing the shock news, her elder brother Ramachandran fired at her in-laws and shouted, “Oh! You, demons! Why did you scold and sent her out of home?” Then he started searching everywhere with his brothers. But, all in vain they could not find out her.

At last, he opened the pooja room door and shocked to see her head alone. As soon he saw her head, he swooned. By hearing that sound, the other three brothers rushed and struck with grief to see him. Regaining conscious, the elder brother sobbed “Oh! My brothers see, What our only sister has done?”. He then asked her in tears, “Oh my sister! How we cherished you” Is it possible for you to reach my hip or shoulder or talk to me? Don’t we bring up and feed you with milk and fruit by keeping on our chest and shoulders? Oh our Goddess Akkamma! How could it be possible to you to show only your head? Please, come out of the earth. Lamenting so, he cried bitterly. What a wonder! The God Yelumalaiyan who dwelt in their hearts appeared and said, “Due to your ancestors merits and the unparalleled piety of your parents, my lovable sister has born as your sister and her period to remain with you has come to an end. If your sister comes out of the earth, your clan will completely be destroyed. So, those who belong to your clan, have to consider her as their deity and worship by enshrining Pongal and red clothes. If you do so your clan will prosper! The cows will multiple! Crops will grow well! Luck will knock at your door and you will be gifted with all wealths!”

Then Akkamma’s head started going into the earth. At that time, Kaliyuga Varathan, Emperuman Sriman Narayanan looked at His sister and said, “Akkamma! As long as this Kaliyugam exists, the people of Galiyaar Vamsam will pray you as the deity of their clan. I will be always with you and protect your people and devotees. At the end of this Kaliyugam, you-my beloved sister will reach me”, and vanished.

As per His prediction, when her head was going into the earth, her elder brother Ramachandran tried to pull out her head in order to rescue her at any cost. But he could grab only a handful of Jadaparam of his sister. She mingled with Boomadevi.

Indeed- the Boomahal, who was longing for her feet to step on her, hugged her happily and kissed her affectionately. While her beloved brothers who cherished and nourished her as their apple of eyes, were weeping bitterly.

Piety of Galiyar Elders & Divine powers of Galiyar Shri Akkammadevi

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Since they lost their beloved sister, Shri Akkammadevi’s brothers were consoled by their kith and kin. Yet they starved for many days without sleep, became very thin and remained like a tree that was struck with thunder.

Seeing her brother’s deep woes and mourning, one day Shri Akkammadevi, the deity of Galiyar clan, appeared in her elder brother’s dream, consoled him by saying,”It is Lord Yelumalaiyan’s wish that I shall become the deity of your clan. As per his wish everything happens; you forget your worries. I will always be with you. You better tie my Jadaparam, keep it at the centre of my pooja room and pray regularly. Once in a year, keep pongal, offer it to me with red clothes and do poojas. If you do so, I will be satisfied and your clan will prosper forever”.

As per her prediction, they prayed the Jadaparam every year by keeping pongal and offer it with red clothes. Their prayer continued for one generation without any hinders. So, the Galiyar families lived hale and healthy.

But the next generation forgot her and stopped praying. Meanwhile, one day it started raining cats and dogs. The streets were flooded with water and there was tremor with mild earthquake. That night Shri Akkammadevi appeared to the elders of the Galiyar clan and asked why they did not remember their clan deity Shri Akkammadevi, who was with the Boomadevi. The elders who were in deep sleep woke up suddenly and trembled in fear. Then she showed her heavenly body and vanished. So, all the elders of the Galiyar clan assembled in a public place and discussed about the dream that they had in the previous day. At that time, the God Almighty sought abode in Raminaidu, an old man, pointed out an elevated place with a Neem tree. When they dug that spot, they saw one Jadaparam.

When he became conscious, they all decided to take and worship it. They kept pongal at that spot and took out the Jadaparam with piety, tied it with a golden thread and enshrined to their Deity Shri Akkammadevi with special pooja.

Now this place is in Mittakirippattinam alias Chinna mettupalayam, near Galiyar kulam where there is a Neem tree with a dais on which Lord Ulagalantha Perumal’s temple was erected and worshipped. The stage was nothing but the pooja room of Shri Akkammadevi into which she was accepted by Boomadevi to rescue her from the tortures of her in-laws.

The elders of Galiyar vamsam and Raminaidu performed pooja every year and prayed her for many years.

Nearly above nine generations, they invoked her to accompany and protect them while they happened to go through a lonely way , Valleys and bushes, Shri Akkammadevi told them,” I have neither Foxes nor Dogs except Power. If you call me whole heartedly, I will come and support you at any time”. Hearing her voice, they worshipped her with utmost piety. Once in a year, they took two kalasams, smeared Thiruman, filled one kalasam with the grains and the other with Theertham. Then they kept both the kalasams with Lord Perumal’s cane on which the Jadaparam was tied with golden thread. Keeping everything at the centre of the house with the red clothes, pongal and oblations they offered their sincere prayers to Shri Akkammadevi.

Her brothers built new houses in clayey soil, looked after their farms and lived happily by worshipping their sister (cum) Deity Shri Akkammadevi.

At that time, one day it rained heavily with thunder and storm and the heavy flood washed away all the houses and destroyed the wealth. So they were forced to migrate from Mittagiripattinam to lead their lives. They left Mittagiripattinam and went in three different directions, settled in East, West and South.

Those who went in West direction took the Jadaparam tied in golden string with them, prayed it and settled there. They kept the Jadaparam in a farm house which is “Peria Thottam” ( Sengalipalayam) and prayed regularly.

The people of Galiyar clan who toiled hard for the betterment of their clan, named the house where the Jadaparam was worshipped as “Thevar veedu’ (The House of Goddess), as it was carried away by the flood.

They kept pongal once in a year and enshrined it with a Big saree, Half saree and Red cloth to their deity Shri Akkammadevi and prayed her.

The brothers who belonged to Thevar veedu became rich land lords and lived happily by praying their clan Deity regularly with full veneration, piety and rituals. Thus their life went on well.

Due to a chain of untoward events, the family of Thevar veedu lost almost all their wealth.Even the farm workers turned deaf ears when they were called for. So the depressed elder brother Raminaidu of Thevar veedu family said, “All these happened because of our sincere prayer offered to our Deity Shri Akkammadevi”. Having concluded, he packed all the pooja things in a Thangaraippetti, closed it, kept on the rafter and tied it with a rope.

It is believed that if any one comes to Thevar house, which is considered a pooja house, he/she will be bitten by Renuka snake that dwells in it. Thus they threatened all by spreading rumors.

So, no one ventured to go to Thevar house to pray their clan Deity. Meanwhile the families of Galiyar clan especially the Thevar family began to lose their wealth day by day and even generation after generation.

An Appeal from the people of Galiyar Clan

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“I would attend the call of my devotees” said Lord kannan in Baghvad Geetha! His sister Shri Akkammadevi also follows his footsteps. Of course, the devotees who had real piety on her are considered her own brothers irrespective of their religion, caste and class.

She expects true love and piety from them. There is no discrimination between the rich and the poor in her life history. Indeed, she is a slave to true love, affection and piety.

The Hesperus of Galiyar clan dwells in Sengaipadhi Thirukovil and showers blessings on the devotees like Karpagatharu. The sadhus and saints are much pleased to see the installed idols, the method of prayers and the depth of the devotee’s piety. They predicted, “In future, this temple will be a heaven of earth and get historical fame. Definitely it will be one among the powerful temples in future. Goddess Shri Akkammadevi, the maiden deity of Galiyar clan, dwells in this temple with the patronage, love and affection of the gods and goddesses. Sriman Narayanan, the dhasavatharamoorthi, and her mother Annai Athiparasakthi Sri Renuka Devi, Sivabirummaha Sri Samathagni Maharishi, Ellamma, the protective Goddess of the world, the first and foremost God Siddhivinayakar, the powerful Kannimars, Sriman Narayanan, Renuka and the Thevars. We are astonished at her blissful appearance. Yes! Since she wants to get the continuous blessings of the gods who patronized her, she asked her idol to be installed in the middle as a child offering prayer by folding her hands. No doubt, we need thousands of eyes to see her blissful face”. Indeed our hearts are overwhelming with joy to hear their heartfelt remarks.

The number of pilgrims who assembled here on the day of Thaipoosam is innumerable. The Renuka Devi’s Puttru pooja, Paalattru pooja, Thirumanjana pooja and the magnanimous pongal poojas turn this temple into a paradise of the earth. The sky would be the limit of our joy to see the Anusha Nakshatra poojas in Aani month, the Kannimars poojas of Aadi Eighteenth (18th), the Thirumanjana poojas performed to Sriman Narayanan with the holy water of the river Ganga on the third Saturday of Purattashi month of Tamil calendar year, the Karthigai Deepam festival and the full moon day’s poojas of every month. Our mind and heart will always overflow with the flood of piety.

But her devotees are undergoing innumerable hardships. She refines all her devotees like impeccable gold by making them endure all the acid tests that pave the way to attain her lotus feet. Really, the tests are indescribable.

Yet, the number of devotees, who find pleasure in chanting her name with piety, is kept on increasing day by day. It is hair splitting to hear how she rescued her devotees from the dreadful dangers and hardships. We shed joyful tears to think of her immense blessings. Our heart is overflowing with brimming joy to think off immorality after death.

The only piece of advice given by her to the devotees of her clan and others is, “You better offer your prayer to your clan deity before praying me”.

It is highly impossible to describe her immense power and fame within the short span of our life; we can quench our thirst in our rebirths. “Oh! My mother goddess Shri Akkammadevi thou art an ocean of blessings! Shri Akkammadevi Devi! Whoever gives Billions of wealth to me, it will not be on a par to your feet that are the wealth of wealth. Please, grant me a boon to remember you throughout my life! I pray thee once again to grant it!”

“Please bless me with the bounteous piety to chant thine glory even if I were cut into pieces!” Praying so, you all come to her temple to appease your mind by chanting her glory whole heartedly. We once again welcome you all to Sengaipadhi to drench in the pool of piety.



—–By, The elders & the devotees of the Kammakulam and Galiyar Pedigree.