TEMPLES

In the continuous Panchayat division between Senthimangalam (north) and Ananthakrishnapuram, there are there are 16 temples. They are

AruganKulam 6
Naranammalpuram 8
Ananthakrishnapuram 2

The Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Sri Rama, two for Lakshminarayana are of vaishnavite denomination. So is the popular Ettezhuthu Perumal temple of Mela AruganKulam.

There are two big temples for Ramalinga Swamy and Viswanatha Vinayaka is worshipped in three. All other are for Grama Devathas. To the South of the school, a small shrine with an idol of Lord Siva was erected to commemorate the memory of a saint who lived and attained Samadhi in Naranammalpuram. This shrine is maintained by Mr.N.Sivaraman, and industrialist of Chennai.

The Ashtabandhana Kumbhabishekam of Venkatesa Temple was performed in 2003 after a lapse of 42 years. This was followed by Kumbhabishekam at the temples of Sri Rama, Viswanatha and Lakshmi Narayana Perumal (Anantha Krishnapuram) in the successive years.

The Moondru Yugam Konda Amman temple Kumbhabishekam was performed in August 2008.

Till few years ago, Dussara festival was held at the Uchinimakali Temple. This attracted rural arts such as Pavai Koothu and silamba attam. Mooka Velar and his brother Boogesa Varadar (Poothathan) were known as Vadhyars (grand masters) for silambam, a kind of martial art. Basha and Abdullah were highly proficient in swinging the sticks. All night performances of Nagaswaram and Pambai Kottu were much enjoyed.

Business stalls sold flowers, fruits, handicrafts and sweetmeats.
(Source Tirunelveli Dt.Gazatteer 2001)

In the new millennium, the festivals at Ettezhuthu Perumal Temple draw large member of devotees.
Apart from these a common “kodai” is celebrated every year – sort of thanks giving day.

The one event that shook the devotees in the year 2001 when miscreants broke open the Perumal Temple and stole the Utsavar Idols. Later, these were recovered in a maimed condition a year later. Meanwhile Smt Vasuki grand daughter of Shri Rangaswamy Iyengar donated similar idols prior to the Samprokshanam.

(Details on these were reported in the form of an article by S.Krishna in The Hindu dated 13th June 2003. Available in the website of The Hindu – www.thehindu.com)