Arulmigu Vasavi Kannika Parameswari Amman: 6 AM to 12 PM and 5.30 PM to 8.30 PM.
Vasavi Kannika Parameswari happens to be the eleventh century incarnation of Devi. She was born to Kusuma Shreshti and his spouse Kusumamba after the couple undertook several penances and religious tours. The Godavari Basin in the Telugu country was quite prosperous under the rule of the mighty Chola Empire and was ruled by Vishnuvardhana Vimaladitya, the son in law of the great Raja Raja chola. One day he happened to visit Penugunta the town managed by Kusuma Shreshti and he happened to see the petite Vasavi with her friends. Immediately the ruler decided to marry her and sentward for Kusuma Shreshti. The people of Penugunta felt that they were being forced into this marriage and at this time Vasavi happened to also concur with them in this regard. However they decided to not use force to oppose the crooked intentions of ruler but they decided to self immolate themselves in a sacrifical pyre on a given date. Having decided so they requested the ruler to arrive at Penugunta on the date of the fire sacrifice. On his arrival Vishnuvardhana was shocked to learn that led by Vasavi 102 couples belonging to various Gothrams had entered the sacrifical pyre and attained liberation due to her Divine grace. Vasavi is said to have disclosed her true form at the time of this happening. The vain king died of shock and his noble son Raja Raja Narendra who happened to be the grandson of Raja Raja Chola and the nephew of the great Gangai Konda Chola, Rajendra ascended the throne. On his ascension he extended a friendly arm to the people of Penugunta and built a shrine for Goddess Vasavi Kannika Parameswari with their participation and concurrence at the Nagareshwaraswamy temple. The brother of Vasavi, Virupaksha who was considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu was declared as the ruler of Penugunta. Thereafter the Mercantile Vysya community continued to spread throughout peninsular India and where ever they settled and a Vasavi temple alongwith choultry was established alongside by them. Thanks to the relationship enjoyed by the Telugu people during the Chola rule with the Tamils and the subsequent spread of the Vijayanagar Empire the tradesman settled in every part of Tamilnadu and became an integral part of the society. The twentieth century witnessed a development in their interest towards education and under the leadership of the great Merchant Prince P.A.Raju Chettiar, they decided to build schools and colleges in each of the districts throughout the Madras Presidency through the Dakshina Kanda Arya Vysya Mahasabha. Thereafter the people of each area built schools and colleges on their own and began imparting education on a concessional basis to all the members of the society on an equitable basis.
Coimbatore, the jewelley city of India is home to one of the marvellous Vasavi temples which happens to be located on Vysial street. The temple has shrines for Vasavi Kannika Parameswari,Ganesha, Subramanya with Valli and Devayani, Rama with Sita,Lakshmana and Hanuman, Lord Shiva,Shalagramams and Rajeswari. The large temple celebrates Sri Rama Navami, Mahashivarathri, Kruthikai, Ganesh Chathurthi, Vasavi Jayanthi and Navarathri amidst great spendour. The Coimbatore Arya Vysya Nagai Vyaparigal Sangam conducts the annual Adi Velli and Vasavi Jayanthi celebrations in a grand manner. The Vasavi Jayanthi is a time when the entire market takes off from work and participates in the festivities which go on throughout the day. A grand traditional lunch is served to the thousands of devotees by this association for the last almost 100 years. The Navarathri is a time when the members of the Utsava committee abstain from routine life and involve themselves in the setting up of the Pooja Gruham on all the days. Each day would witness Ambal in a different decoration and she will be adorned with lovely ornaments.
The yonder era witnessed grand Navarathris and the particularly the seventh day when the family of P.A.Raju Chettiar used to participate in the festivities. All the family diamond jewellery would be used to adorn the Utsava Vigraham of Devi who would sport a lovely turmeric and kumkumam decorated face. The lamps and the Conjeevaram clothes would add to the beauty of Devi Vasavi who radiance would be equal to several suns due to the heavy adornment of precious diamond and gem studded jewellery. This rare sight accompanied by the excellent chanting of Mantra Pushpam by the priests and the temple committee will stay etched in the bejewelled history of the city forever. The Vahanams, palanquin and the gilded temple car are a sight by themselves and the complementary role played by the local community adds further to the beauty of the day to day life at the temple.
Special offerings and prayers at the Vasavi and the Rajeswari Shrines are said to confer the 16 forms of wealth for the devotees. Several devotees have performed Laksha Archanais and have have their wishes granted at the shrine of Rajeswari. It would be appropriate to recite the Vasavi Sahasranamam and the Lalitha Sahasranamam in this aesthetic temple.
The Nine Sisters of Coimbatore - Part 1: Arulmigu Koniamman Temple - Click here
The Nine sisters of Coimbatore: Part II Arulmigu Bhadrakali Amman Temple - Click here
The Nine sisters of Coimbatore - Part III: Arulmigu Kamakshi Amman Temple - Click here
The Nine sisters of Coimbatore - Part IV: Arulmigu Ankala Parameswari Amman Temple - Click here
Vasavi Kannika Parameswari happens to be the eleventh century incarnation of Devi. She was born to Kusuma Shreshti and his spouse Kusumamba after the couple undertook several penances and religious tours. The Godavari Basin in the Telugu country was quite prosperous under the rule of the mighty Chola Empire and was ruled by Vishnuvardhana Vimaladitya, the son in law of the great Raja Raja chola. One day he happened to visit Penugunta the town managed by Kusuma Shreshti and he happened to see the petite Vasavi with her friends. Immediately the ruler decided to marry her and sentward for Kusuma Shreshti. The people of Penugunta felt that they were being forced into this marriage and at this time Vasavi happened to also concur with them in this regard. However they decided to not use force to oppose the crooked intentions of ruler but they decided to self immolate themselves in a sacrifical pyre on a given date. Having decided so they requested the ruler to arrive at Penugunta on the date of the fire sacrifice. On his arrival Vishnuvardhana was shocked to learn that led by Vasavi 102 couples belonging to various Gothrams had entered the sacrifical pyre and attained liberation due to her Divine grace. Vasavi is said to have disclosed her true form at the time of this happening. The vain king died of shock and his noble son Raja Raja Narendra who happened to be the grandson of Raja Raja Chola and the nephew of the great Gangai Konda Chola, Rajendra ascended the throne. On his ascension he extended a friendly arm to the people of Penugunta and built a shrine for Goddess Vasavi Kannika Parameswari with their participation and concurrence at the Nagareshwaraswamy temple. The brother of Vasavi, Virupaksha who was considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu was declared as the ruler of Penugunta. Thereafter the Mercantile Vysya community continued to spread throughout peninsular India and where ever they settled and a Vasavi temple alongwith choultry was established alongside by them. Thanks to the relationship enjoyed by the Telugu people during the Chola rule with the Tamils and the subsequent spread of the Vijayanagar Empire the tradesman settled in every part of Tamilnadu and became an integral part of the society. The twentieth century witnessed a development in their interest towards education and under the leadership of the great Merchant Prince P.A.Raju Chettiar, they decided to build schools and colleges in each of the districts throughout the Madras Presidency through the Dakshina Kanda Arya Vysya Mahasabha. Thereafter the people of each area built schools and colleges on their own and began imparting education on a concessional basis to all the members of the society on an equitable basis.
Coimbatore, the jewelley city of India is home to one of the marvellous Vasavi temples which happens to be located on Vysial street. The temple has shrines for Vasavi Kannika Parameswari,Ganesha, Subramanya with Valli and Devayani, Rama with Sita,Lakshmana and Hanuman, Lord Shiva,Shalagramams and Rajeswari. The large temple celebrates Sri Rama Navami, Mahashivarathri, Kruthikai, Ganesh Chathurthi, Vasavi Jayanthi and Navarathri amidst great spendour. The Coimbatore Arya Vysya Nagai Vyaparigal Sangam conducts the annual Adi Velli and Vasavi Jayanthi celebrations in a grand manner. The Vasavi Jayanthi is a time when the entire market takes off from work and participates in the festivities which go on throughout the day. A grand traditional lunch is served to the thousands of devotees by this association for the last almost 100 years. The Navarathri is a time when the members of the Utsava committee abstain from routine life and involve themselves in the setting up of the Pooja Gruham on all the days. Each day would witness Ambal in a different decoration and she will be adorned with lovely ornaments.
The yonder era witnessed grand Navarathris and the particularly the seventh day when the family of P.A.Raju Chettiar used to participate in the festivities. All the family diamond jewellery would be used to adorn the Utsava Vigraham of Devi who would sport a lovely turmeric and kumkumam decorated face. The lamps and the Conjeevaram clothes would add to the beauty of Devi Vasavi who radiance would be equal to several suns due to the heavy adornment of precious diamond and gem studded jewellery. This rare sight accompanied by the excellent chanting of Mantra Pushpam by the priests and the temple committee will stay etched in the bejewelled history of the city forever. The Vahanams, palanquin and the gilded temple car are a sight by themselves and the complementary role played by the local community adds further to the beauty of the day to day life at the temple.
Special offerings and prayers at the Vasavi and the Rajeswari Shrines are said to confer the 16 forms of wealth for the devotees. Several devotees have performed Laksha Archanais and have have their wishes granted at the shrine of Rajeswari. It would be appropriate to recite the Vasavi Sahasranamam and the Lalitha Sahasranamam in this aesthetic temple.
The Nine Sisters of Coimbatore - Part 1: Arulmigu Koniamman Temple - Click here
The Nine sisters of Coimbatore: Part II Arulmigu Bhadrakali Amman Temple - Click here
The Nine sisters of Coimbatore - Part III: Arulmigu Kamakshi Amman Temple - Click here
The Nine sisters of Coimbatore - Part IV: Arulmigu Ankala Parameswari Amman Temple - Click here