(Ankala Parameswari Amman)
A few kilometers before Auroville, between the spiritual
vibes and the foreigners-made Goa feel there is a small village with no significant
name of its own. Perhaps as a visitor I have not cared to look for the name of
the village. But by the side of a sharp turn in the road, I notice this small
temple with a lot of idols. They cannot be missed because like in the many
Tamil Nadu temples, these idols also are painted in enamel colors. These
anthropomorphic images are highly impressive with their rose bodies and
multi-color costumes. I could have regarded this as one of those temples and
invested my gaze into the silent wonders of nature around. But what attracts me
is the main idol that lies down on the ground under a canopy, with guarding votive
figures around it.
By the time I could take the details in my car has crossed
the temple. Hence, while coming back I ask the driver to stop at the temple. I
get down with my small camera and walks into the premises. I am very impressed
by what I have seen there.
The signboard done in flex board says that it is ‘Arassummoottil
Sree Ankala Parameswari Amman Aalayam’. I look at the main idol that lies on
the floor. It is the idol of a goddess and I recognize her as a Devi figure.
Later researches prove that she is one of form of Parvati worshipped in the
Southern Part of India. She is called Ankala Parameshwari. Ankala means
Universe. This goddess rules over the universe. And she is in a posture of
relaxing. Myths say that she did a cosmic dance and after that she took rest in
that form.
Ankala Parmeshwari is worshipped in different parts of Tamil
Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. In some places she is worshipped as a pregnant
goddess. And most of the pregnant women from these regions travel to Ankala
Parameshwari Amman Alayam for healthy children and painless delivery.
(Female Narasimha)
(Female Varahamurti)
There is a beautiful mutation of Shaivite and Vaishnavite
cults in this temple. The guarding angles of Ankala Parameshwari are the
incarnations of Vishnu. And interestingly most of them are in the female form.
So you see a Narasimha moorty and Varaha in female forms. Even the mutations of
the cults are shown in the Ardhanareeshwara.
This particular village temple is called Arasummoottil because
there is an arasu tree in the premise. And one interesting idol that I find is
a small sculpture of a tortoise kept under a tree. And before this turtle
figure there is a row of bricks kept vertically smeared with turmeric powder
and kajol. There are yellow threads running around it.
(Ardhanareeswara)
Women constitute the majority of devotees in this temple.
What interests me is the celebration of femininity and feminine principle
including pregnancy as a center of worship in this temple. Without scandal the transformation
of male incarnations are made into female incarnations. This I feel like a
reading of the male scriptures from a female point of view; a sort of
discursive cult that challenges the male point of view without breaking much of
the ideologies built around the Hindu temples.
My reading of the temple could be wrong and if anyone knows
more about Ankala Parameshari could write their comments here.
2 comments:
That was a really nice and interesting article..But was there really a female rakshasi killed by a female narasimha as shown in the photo?
Yes..I have gone through this....Write up given a clear iconography about this particular subject...
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