Chennai: Though there are numerous alankarams for Goddess, which all bring out the divinity and evoke a sense of spontaneous veneration and appreciation among devotees, the one alankaram (decoration) that had shocked devotees is depicting Goddess Abhayambikai of the renowned Sri Mayuranathaswamy temple in Mayiladuthurai in Nagapattinam district in the state, in ‘churidar.’
Devotees who visited the temple for darshan of the Goddess who is also by numerous names: Abhayapradhambikai, Abhayambikai, Anjalanayaki and Anjalai, on the auspicious ‘Thai’ Friday found to their disbelief that She was decorated in a churidar.
The temple priests Kalyanasundaram gurukal and his son Raja gurukal who had portrayed the goddess which did not appear to be traditional, had evoked the ire of the devotees. They had even taken photos of the goddess and uploaded them on WhatsApp, it was said.
The furious devotees complained to the temple administration and following enquiry Aadheenam Ambalavana Pandara Sannidhi removed the two priests from service.
The presiding deity of the temple is a Suyambhu Lingam and is known as Mayuranathar as He was worshipped by His Consort Goddess Parvathy at that place in the form of Mayura (peahen). This ancient temple is among the six shrines on Cauvery river bank which are regarded equivalent to Kasi.
On the new moon falling in the Tamil month of Aippasi (November–December), the Hindus take a ceremonial bath in the temple tank as it is believed that this would cleanse them from the sins.
