A Wandering Heritager: SRI KOOTHANDAVAR TEMPLE AT KOOVAGAM, NEAR VILLUPURAM, TAMIL NADU

Tuesday 7 May 2019

SRI KOOTHANDAVAR TEMPLE AT KOOVAGAM, NEAR VILLUPURAM, TAMIL NADU – A TRANSGENDER THIRUVIZHA.

16^th April 2019.

It was a two days trip to Koothandavar Temple at Koovagam, near Villupuram. The annual 18 days festival was inprogress and wish to to attend the important functions on 16^th April 2019 night and 17^th morning Chariot procession ( on Chithra pournami day ). Even-though there are many Koothandavar temples from Cuddalore to Coimbatore, this Koothandavar temple festival is a special and popular. This temple is dedicated to Aravan also called as Koothandavar. The transgender from various parts of India and abroad used to assemble on the above two days to celebrate and worship Aravan of this temple.

The presiding deity : Aravan also called as Koothandavar.

Some of the salient features of this temple and the festival are…

The temple is facing east. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, arthamandapam and a open muka mandapam. In the sanctum Koothandavar head is kept and worshoped. The arthamandapam has pillars seems to be of Nayak period. Sudhai sirpam of Chariot with Arjuna is on the top of the mandapam.

Legend: Basically this temple is associated with Epic Mahabharatha. The story goes like this.. The war between Pandavas and Gouravas is about to start. It was told that Pandavas to win, they have to sacrifice a Good looking, handsome, good character man to Kali. In Pandavas team, Krishna, Arjuna and Arjuna’s son Aravan who was born to Arjuna and Vettua Girl Nagakanni has the qualifications. Since Arjuna and Krishna are essential for the Mahabharat war and decided to sacrifice Aravan. Aravan accepted for sacrifice if three conditions are met. The three conditions are, to marry a Girl and live for a day as husband and wife. The second condition was, he must see the 18 days war scene. The third was, people should worship him in temples.

Nobody came forward to marry him for one day married life. So Krishna took Mohini form, marry Aravan and lived for a day. Aravan was sacrificed before Kali and Krishna kept the head alone to see the 18 days war.

Transgender Thiruvizha: To Match with this 18 days Mahabharat war, the annual celebrations in this temple will also be held 18 days. On 16^th day thousands of Third genders assemble at the temple dressing themselves like bride and tie mangal suthra, through temple priests. This signifies that they consider themselves as Mohinis and marry Aravan. ( Normal people also tie mangal sutra for prayers... like illness, marriage or Child birth etc ). Whole night the transgenders celebrate their one day married life by singing and dancing.

At the same time the chariot will be assembled for which hand, legs, chest, body were brought from nearby villages. Head will be taken from The temple. The body of the Aravan will be built using straw and levees. The Chariot will be decorated with garlands and flowers.

On the next day morning, the chariot procession will start from the temple. It will circumambulate the temple and then it will be pulled to Aazhikalam also called as Pandaladi. On reaching pandaladi, a pooja will be conducted. The head will be taken to the temple, signifies the sacrificing Aravan. The transgenders will cut the mangal sutra tied on the previous day, break bangles and remove the thilak & flowers. They form a group and cry & mourn the death of their husband Aravan. Some used to wear white sarees to signify that they had become widows. Finally they disburse and proceed to their native places.

HOW TO REACH:

Special buses will run from Villupuram to Koovagam on festival days.

About 6 KM from Thiruvennainallur and 3 KM from Periyasevalai.

Share autos are available from Thiruvennainallur and Periyasevalai.

Nearest Railway station is Villupuram.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE