Vanabadra Kaliamman Temple
Vanabadra Kaliamman Temple
Vanabadra Kaliamman Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Durga located in Nellithurai Village on the outskirts of Mettupalayam Town-Tamil Nadu. The Temple is situated on the banks of Bhavani river.Goddess Vanabadrakali is a swayambu in the temple. The deity purifies her devotees and has been bestowing their wishes and prayers.
Vanabadrakaliamman Temple is believed to have existed during the period of the Pandavas. It is believed that Pandavas took the blessing of the deity in the war against seven Aravalli Sisters who were harassing people through witch craft. The story of seven Aravalli sisters is a local legend associated with the Vanabadrakaliamman Temple.
As per legend, the place was called as Nellur Pattinam during Mahabharata era. Nellur Pattinam was ruled by seven sisters Aravalli, Sooravalli, Veeravalli etc. They were experts in witchcraft and black magic. They were very powerful and captured the rulers of the surrounding region using black magic. Lord Krishna requested Pandavas to wage a war against the tyrannical sisters and save innocent lives from them. Bhima agreed to wage the war against them and set out to Nellur Pattinam.
The Aravalli sisters heard this new through Narada Muni. The sisters tried witchcraft against him but was overcame by Bhima. Finally, the sisters invited him for a competition and defeated him. Bhima was taken as a prisoner and was put in prison. However, Bhima successfully escaped, returned to Pandavas and informed about the tactics of Aravalli sisters. Aravalli sisters criticized the cowardly escape of Bhima.
On the advice of Lord Krishna, Pandavas deputed Allimuthu to conquer the sisters. Before going to battle, Allimuthu visited Vana Bhadra Kaliamman Temple, offered his prayers and sought blessings of Kali to win over the sisters. The Goddess gave him a sword, sacred ash and wished him success. He fought a bitter war and won over the Aravalli Sisters. The Aravalli sisters decided to win him through treachery.
They begged him to pardon their mistakes and offered their daughter Palvarisai to Allimuthu for marriage. He readily accepted but informed them that he would return back to his place and marry her after getting the consent of Pandavas. He forgot the sacred ash given by the goddess and started back his journey along with Palvarisai. He felt thirsty and fell unconscious. Palvarisai cut a lime given by her mother and gave him the juice without knowing the treachery.
Allimuthu died after consuming the lime juice. Palvarisai was grief stricken and informed Pandavas. On hearing the news of his death, Pandavas set out to Nellur Pattinam to annihilate the sisters once for all. Meanwhile, Abhimanyu went to the heaven met Indra and with his help brought back the soul. He put his soul in a small locket and reached the place where the body of Allimuthu was kept. The soul merged with the body and Allimuthu got his life back.
The Pandavas sought the blessings of Vana Bhadra Kaliamman in their war with Aravalli sisters. Six sisters were captured, lodged in prison and finally died. One of the sisters escaped, went to Kerala and became Goddess famously called as Kambhalathu Bhagavati Amman. Pandavas offered their prayers to goddess Kali and returned to their place. They renamed Palvarisai to Valamma and got married to Allimuthu.
It is believed that Mother Shakti came to this forest (Vana) to perform penance on Lord Shiva to kill demon Mahishasura. As she performed penance in Vana (the forest), She came to be called as Vana Bhadra Kaliamman.
