The Kottai Sangameswaran Temple is one of the oldest in the old town area of Coimbatore. Many years ago, Arukkani of Kottaimedu began selling pooja items in a small shack that existed at the entrance of this ancient place and her only daughter Cauvery continued doing the same. Subsequently, her only daughter Hamsaveni (aged 57 years) took up the same activity and continues to sell pooja items like clay lamps, cotton wicks, vilvam leaves, flowers, garlands, camphor, vibhuti, turmeric, agarbathi, fruits, coconuts, lemons, thirumanjanapodi and other abhishekham items like panner, honey, sandalwood paste etc., She sells navadanyam packets that are used in the Navagraham shrine inside, milagu or pepper deepams meant for the shrine of Lord Bhairava - the guardian deity, ellu lamps for Lord Shani among other items like the kondakadalai malai meant for Lord Dakshinamurthy. She is adept with the requirements of the devotees visiting the shrines located within.
Hamsa is frank to share every aspect of her family and business life. "I live at the at the SS Veedhi which is actually the Subramanyaswamy Kovil Veedhi in a rented house with my fourth daughter who is helping out by taking up a job. I do the cooking all by myself and begin the day by 7.30 AM at the shop and continue till about 12.30 PM. Again my shop is open between 4.30 & 8.30 PM. I begin by 5.00 AM on Thiruvadhirai and 6.30 AM on the days of Pradosham. I make just enough to make a living for I have settle a liability of Rs.70,000 that was accumulated while trying to get my kids educated after the passing away of my husband Kayoom. Yes, we are Hindu Mudaliars while mine is a love marriage and since I lost my father during my childhood all I had to do was get the consent of my mother and carry on with life. My husband used to help me procure pooja items for my shop and he helped me in many ways to run it efficiently. Those days he was active in the Congress party. Now I have to pay my dues everyday at the rate of Rs.100 everyday over a period of 100 days for each Rs.10,000 that has been borrowed from private parties. They cut the interest of Rs.1,000 or Rs.1,200 in advance and I repay the full principal of Rs.10,000 in equitable instalments everyday. I know that it is expensive and if someone can help me I am ready to close the private loans with the help of a bank loan for it will make life easier for me," stated Hamsaveni who converted to Islam at the time of her marriage and is known as Ameedha among the relatives of her husband.
Hamsa prays at the Kottai Sangameswarar Temple regularly and does her Islamic prayers from her house itself. She and her 4 daughters are vegetarian and 3 of them are married to Muslims while the last one is yet to get married. She believes in Lord Muruga and it is difficult to make out her religious connections through her appearance. Hamsa is happy to share more details, "The Brahmins of Kottaimedu have been really supportive for we have lived here in their neighbourhood for several generations. I do not get any kind of help from my relatives and do not seek favours too but help is welcome. My life revolves around this temple and my livelihood is dependant on my shop with stocks religious items for Hindu devotees. All my daughters are graduates and I have been blessed with four grandchildren thus far. Unfortunately my first son in law passed away early and my daughter is being looked after by her family in Tirupur. The community looks after them too. The support from the priests serving in the many shrines has been useful and has made me survive all these years. Many VIPs of Coimbatore like the family of Pazhamudir Nilayam and P.A.Raju Chettiar have been our customers for generations. Several deeply devoted people from varying backgrounds have been buying from our shop for several decades. See, even the cash box is more than 80 years old. I am glad to do business and take care of my family. It has been possible due to the grace of Lord Sangameswara."
The tiny shop at the entrance of the age old temple is busy all through the day. The merchants of the city throng here and their visits help Hamsaveni to do more business. Their visits are important for it helps her to retire her high cost debt while also taking care of herself round the year. "We work all round the year for the temple does not have holidays and this brings in a different kind work culture and oppourtunities to work for our good", states a confident Hamsaveni.
The life of Hamsaveni of Kottaimedu is a true symbol of communal harmony.
Hamsa is frank to share every aspect of her family and business life. "I live at the at the SS Veedhi which is actually the Subramanyaswamy Kovil Veedhi in a rented house with my fourth daughter who is helping out by taking up a job. I do the cooking all by myself and begin the day by 7.30 AM at the shop and continue till about 12.30 PM. Again my shop is open between 4.30 & 8.30 PM. I begin by 5.00 AM on Thiruvadhirai and 6.30 AM on the days of Pradosham. I make just enough to make a living for I have settle a liability of Rs.70,000 that was accumulated while trying to get my kids educated after the passing away of my husband Kayoom. Yes, we are Hindu Mudaliars while mine is a love marriage and since I lost my father during my childhood all I had to do was get the consent of my mother and carry on with life. My husband used to help me procure pooja items for my shop and he helped me in many ways to run it efficiently. Those days he was active in the Congress party. Now I have to pay my dues everyday at the rate of Rs.100 everyday over a period of 100 days for each Rs.10,000 that has been borrowed from private parties. They cut the interest of Rs.1,000 or Rs.1,200 in advance and I repay the full principal of Rs.10,000 in equitable instalments everyday. I know that it is expensive and if someone can help me I am ready to close the private loans with the help of a bank loan for it will make life easier for me," stated Hamsaveni who converted to Islam at the time of her marriage and is known as Ameedha among the relatives of her husband.
Hamsa prays at the Kottai Sangameswarar Temple regularly and does her Islamic prayers from her house itself. She and her 4 daughters are vegetarian and 3 of them are married to Muslims while the last one is yet to get married. She believes in Lord Muruga and it is difficult to make out her religious connections through her appearance. Hamsa is happy to share more details, "The Brahmins of Kottaimedu have been really supportive for we have lived here in their neighbourhood for several generations. I do not get any kind of help from my relatives and do not seek favours too but help is welcome. My life revolves around this temple and my livelihood is dependant on my shop with stocks religious items for Hindu devotees. All my daughters are graduates and I have been blessed with four grandchildren thus far. Unfortunately my first son in law passed away early and my daughter is being looked after by her family in Tirupur. The community looks after them too. The support from the priests serving in the many shrines has been useful and has made me survive all these years. Many VIPs of Coimbatore like the family of Pazhamudir Nilayam and P.A.Raju Chettiar have been our customers for generations. Several deeply devoted people from varying backgrounds have been buying from our shop for several decades. See, even the cash box is more than 80 years old. I am glad to do business and take care of my family. It has been possible due to the grace of Lord Sangameswara."
The tiny shop at the entrance of the age old temple is busy all through the day. The merchants of the city throng here and their visits help Hamsaveni to do more business. Their visits are important for it helps her to retire her high cost debt while also taking care of herself round the year. "We work all round the year for the temple does not have holidays and this brings in a different kind work culture and oppourtunities to work for our good", states a confident Hamsaveni.
The life of Hamsaveni of Kottaimedu is a true symbol of communal harmony.