Decades ago, it was quite usual that the people of the Kongu region sought recovery from diseases by worshipping Gods. The people of Coimbatore even christened the deity Mariamman as ‘Plague’ Mariamman after the deadly disease took a heavy toll on human lives here several decades ago. Also, with the reported rise in Covid-19 deaths day by day, it is no wonder that posterity may worship even a new deity by the name ‘Corona Mariamman’.
Decades ago, it was quite usual that the people of the Kongu region sought recovery from diseases by worshipping Gods. The people of Coimbatore even christened the deity Mariamman as ‘Plague’ Mariamman after the deadly disease took a heavy toll on human lives here several decades ago. Also, with the reported rise in Covid-19 deaths day by day, it is no wonder that posterity may worship even a new deity by the name ‘Corona Mariamman’.
But, here is a hitherto unknown Kongu deity, who was named after epilepsy!
Though the Goddess was earlier called Kottravai and later Durgai, she became Valipur Amman, after the king, Vikrama Chozhan expressed his gratitude to Her following his daughter Mykuzhalal’s recovery from epilepsy at Vanavancheri, a village in the present-day Tirupur district. With the Tamil term Valippu meaning epilepsy, the king named the deity Valipur Amman, which has now corrupted to Valupur Amman,
The villagers believe that princess Mykuzhalal experienced an epileptic seizure at Vanavancheri when she accompanied her father on a tour to visit the temples of Kongunadu. A tale, which has been handed down through generations at Vanavancheri, has recorded that the king worried as even healers of fame could not provide the cure for the princess. But, the people of Vanavancheri informed him that a Vetkovar (Potter) from Oothalur (Now Oothukuzhi) named Kongathu Thiruneelakandar had expertise in curing the disease.
Nevertheless, as the treatment for the disease was branding on various parts of the body with a hot iron, it was unthinkable to allow a man, though he was a healer, to see the princess naked. Hence, Neelakandar, who was also a skilled potter, made the princess lie straight on the ground and hid her with a transparent screen. Then, sitting beside the screen, he made a clay image of hers and branded it on a total of 48 spots! The people of Vanavancheri believe that this was how the Chozha princess recovered from epilepsy. And the king, who was thankful to the local deity, christened Her appropriately as Valipur Amman.
It is said that he also presented Neelakandar as many as 12 villages including Karattankanni, Amukkayam, and Oothalur as gifts and made him a ruler to them with the title ‘Vetkova Mandradiyar’ (Potter chieftain)
Besides being an oral tale for ages, the incident also finds mention in a copper plate, whose copy is with Kongu history enthusiast Velusamy of Palladam.
“The copper plate, which dates back to the early 17th century A.D, was given to the descendants of Neelakandar by a Vijayanagara king after he heard about the healer. Most historians know that the ancient Kongu region had different divisions like Pongalurka Nadu, Kavadikka Nadu, and so on. But, the copper plate, while pointing out the villages given as gifts to Neelakandar, mentions them together as ‘Valipurka Nadu’ which is hardly found in any book on Kongu history” explains Velusamy.
But, here is a hitherto unknown Kongu deity, who was named after epilepsy!
Though the Goddess was earlier called Kottravai and later Durgai, she became Valipur Amman, after the king, Vikrama Chozhan expressed his gratitude to Her following his daughter Mykuzhalal’s recovery from epilepsy at Vanavancheri, a village in the present-day Tirupur district. With the Tamil term Valippu meaning epilepsy, the king named the deity Valipur Amman, which has now corrupted to Valupur Amman,
The villagers believe that princess Mykuzhalal experienced an epileptic seizure at Vanavancheri when she accompanied her father on a tour to visit the temples of Kongunadu. A tale, which has been handed down through generations at Vanavancheri, has recorded that the king worried as even healers of fame could not provide the cure for the princess. But, the people of Vanavancheri informed him that a Vetkovar (Potter) from Oothalur (Now Oothukuzhi) named Kongathu Thiruneelakandar had expertise in curing the disease.
Nevertheless, as the treatment for the disease was branding on various parts of the body with a hot iron, it was unthinkable to allow a man, though he was a healer, to see the princess naked. Hence, Neelakandar, who was also a skilled potter, made the princess lie straight on the ground and hid her with a transparent screen. Then, sitting beside the screen, he made a clay image of hers and branded it on a total of 48 spots! The people of Vanavancheri believe that this was how the Chozha princess recovered from epilepsy. And the king, who was thankful to the local deity, christened Her appropriately as Valipur Amman.
It is said that he also presented Neelakandar as many as 12 villages including Karattankanni, Amukkayam, and Oothalur as gifts and made him a ruler to them with the title ‘Vetkova Mandradiyar’ (Potter chieftain)
Besides being an oral tale for ages, the incident also finds mention in a copper plate, whose copy is with Kongu history enthusiast Velusamy of Palladam.
“The copper plate, which dates back to the early 17th century A.D, was given to the descendants of Neelakandar by a Vijayanagara king after he heard about the healer. Most historians know that the ancient Kongu region had different divisions like Pongalurka Nadu, Kavadikka Nadu, and so on. But, the copper plate, while pointing out the villages given as gifts to Neelakandar, mentions them together as ‘Valipurka Nadu’ which is hardly found in any book on Kongu history” explains Velusamy.