Renugambal Temple (ரேனுகம்பல் கோவேல்) Padavedu, Tiruvannamalai

Renugambal ,Padavedu,Tiruvannamalai

Moolavar : Renugambal
Urchavar : –
Amman / Thayar : –
Thala Virutcham : Mango
Theertham : Pot water – Kamandala theertham
Agamam / Pooja : –
Old year : 1000-2000 years old
Historical Name : –
City : Padavedu
District : Tiruvannamalai

Festival:

All the Fridays in the month of Aadi (July-August) are devotionally observed drawing a huge crowd. Navarathri in Purattasi (September-October) first day of all Tamil months, Margazhi puja (December-January),Fridays in Thai month (January-February) are grandly celebrated. Deepavali, Pongal. Tamil and English New Year days are happily celebrated with special poojas.

Temple’s Speciality:

This is an important Shakti shrine in the Thondai Mandalam region of Tamilnadu and is very prominent among all the Shakti temples in the state. It is here where sage Parasurama was born to Renukadevi and Sage Jamadagni and therefore, known as Parasurama Kshetram. There is Parasurama idol also in the sanctum sanctorum.

Opening Time:

The temple is opened from 6.40 a.m. to 01.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Address:

Sri Renugadevi Amman Temple, Padavedu, Thiruvannamalai Dist.

General Information:

It has only the head of Renukadevi and is a swayambu. The Trinity – Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva are also in the sanctorum with no forms. They are formless. There is also a Banalinga, Sila sirasu (Head) a full Shakthi idol installed by Adi Sankara. Worshipping Renukadevi means worshipping all the three Gods.
This is to confirm that Shakti is inclusive in Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Prayers:

Devotees throng the temple for cure from measles. Small pox is cured within two or three days the devotee comes to the temple, and stay with prayers. They spill the Prasad water on the body, drink the neem water and return back. Devotees visit the temple for cure from diseases of any nature and in particular those suffering from eye ailments and impaired vision. They also pray seeking child boon.

Thanks giving:

Devotees offer coins equal to their weight and light ghee lamps after getting cured. They also offer symbols of the goddess and eyes made of silver or copper sheets.They cover themselves simply with neem leaves, roll around the temple, tonsure etc. Also ear boring ceremonies are undertaken here. Offer cradles, cattle etc. Offer pepper and jaggery for cure from pimples in faces. They place cradles for Parasurama to be granted with a child. Kodi deepam (lighting large number of lamps) is also undertaken by many. They offer nivedhanas as pudding (pongal in Tamil) and distribute to the devotees. Some also arrange feeding.

Greatness Of Temple:

As a custom only kumkum (red powder made with turmeric) is offered in all Shakti temples. In Renukadevi temple only sacred ash is offered as in Shiva temples. This ash is taken from the earth and not made of cow dung prepared with Panchakshara Manntra, consisting of five letters, Na, Ma, Shi, Va, Yah. The ash is taken from the place where Jamadagni Muni’s hermitage existed where he performed the Yagnas. Sick people apply it on the body and drink the water mixed with the ashes and are confident that they get cured.

Sanctum Sanctorum: It has only the head of Renukadevi and is a swayambu. The Trinity – Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva are also in the sanctorum with no forms. They are formless. There is also a Banalinga, Sila sirasu (Head) a full Shakthi idol installed by Adi Sankara. Worshipping Renukadevi means worshipping all the three Gods. This is to confirm that Shakti is inclusive in Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Many sages had stayed here performing penance.

This is an important Shakti shrine in the Thondai Mandalam region of Tamilnadu and is very prominent among all the Shakti temples in the state. It is here where sage Parasurama was born to Renukadevi and Sage Jamadagni and therefore, known as Parasurama Kshetram. There is Parasurama idol also in the sanctum sanctorum.

Though this is a Shakti temple there are no Lion symbol (vehicle of Shakti) on the walls and no Yazhi or Lion before the flag post. Also Sage Ganapathi performed penance who spread the glory of Goddess Renukadevi.

Instead of Kumkum, sacred ash is offered as the Prasad here. There are beautiful statues in the temple adding to its luster.

Temple History:

Born to King Raivada, Renukadevi married Sage Jamadhagni and gave birth to Parasurama. One day, as she was taking water from the Kamandala river, she saw the shadow of a Gandharva (a community in the upper world) and admired his handsomeness. The pot broke and the water was wasted. Knowing this with the power of his wisdom eyes from the hermitage itself, Jamadagni called his son Parasurama and ordered to chop off the head of his mother. Parasurama obeyed the father’s command and brought it to the father. He said that he had also cut his own hands for having murdered the mother. The Muni offered him a boon and Parasurama asked for the mother back. He chanted some mantras in water and asked him to spill it on her body. Parasurama wrongly joined the head of another dead woman’s body with that of his mother. She came alive. In another incident, king Karthaveeryarjuna demanded the divine cow Kamadenu in his possession which Jamadagni refused. He killed the Muni and took away the cow. Angry Parasurama killed Karthaveeryarjuna in vengeance and vowed that he would wipe off the Kshatriya community. When Jamadagni died, Renuka devi chose to share the pyre. Due to heavy rain, she was not burnt but came out with many boils in the body. Wore neem leaves and thought of her son Parasurama. Lord Shiva appeared before Parasurma and told him that what happened was destined already and gave him back his father Jamadagni alive. The Lord also granted Renukadevi life saying that her head alone would be very prominent on earth with divine powers worshipped by the people. Her body went to the heaven along with Jamadagni. Since then, Renukadevi is worshipped by the people. She has only the head in the temples.