Nowhere in India, is a temple’s primary deity found in the natural anthill form, except the Putlur Angala Parameswari Amman Temple near Chennai. The Putru (anthill) has a beautiful face, kind eyes, parted lips, dainty eyebrows, hands, legs and the most interesting part is the pregnant belly. When you visit this poorly lit and narrow temple, you are sure to get Goosebumps.
A poor villager was punished by a rich man for non repayment of his debts. The poor farmer was made to plough a rocky land overnight, as a punishment and while ploughing, he found the oozing blood from an anthill.
Since it is believed that the Goddess is in the form of Putru, the villagers started to worship and the village is called Putlur.
According to another legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakthi were travelling towards Ramapuram (presently called Putlur), which was a forest densely packed with the neem trees.
Due to tiredness, the Goddess sat down for a rest and requested Lord Shiva to get some water. Because of the heavy rainfall and flood, the Lord could not reach the place immediately.
Therefore, the Goddess set down on the ground that an anthill grew over. Later, when Lord Shiva came with water, HE found HER in the anthill form. Therefore, HE decided to stand besides her in the name of Thandavarayan.
Unusually, they are asked to enter into the temple with 5 lemons. One is used to remove the evil eye, while 3 among the lemons are pierced in the Thrishul inside the temple and another is kept in front of the Nandhi, which uniquely stands in front of the Amman.
However, we understood that Lord Shiva’s idol is set beside the Putlur Poongavanaththamman.
Lemons rolled on KumKum near the feet of the Goddess and are given as Prasatham. Hundreds of women devotees visit the temple everyday to pray for childbirth and for several other wishes. When their wishes are fulfilled, they tie their saree pallow or miniature cradle near the anthill or offer bananas/jaggery, weighing exactly as their children.
The temple priest distribute the bangles to the devotees. The overnight pooja during the full moon day is very famous.
