Temples in and around pollachi

Arulmigu Alagunachiamman Koil
It is located at Pollachi. It was built by group of people who were living in Valliarachal (80 km from Pollachi). Formation of this temple is due to the theft of statue of their family God (Arulmigu Alagunachiamman) on the river side of Pollachi. So they selected a brick, placed it in the same place and built a small temple. Now this temple was rebuilt in the year 2002.

Arulmigu Sulakkal Mariamman Thirukoil
This temple is located on Coimbatore - Pollachi road, 32 kms from Ukkadam. ‘Sulakkal’ was near the dense forest.

The inhabitants of Sulakkal and other villages nearby usually send their domestic animals to the forest for their feed. One villager’s cow alone was not yielding milk all of a sudden. On suspicion, one day he followed his cow to the forest. He noticed that his cow was shedding milk on the Sand-Hill. When he approached the cow it started running and got its feet hit by the Sand-Hill. Much to his surprise he saw blood oozing out from the Sand-Hill. On the very same day Goddess appeared in his dream and asked him to raise a temple known as Arulmigu Sulakkal Mariamman temple.

Arulmigu Shree Velayudhaswamy Thirukoil - Senjarimalai
This temple was originally built by ‘Karikala Chola’ and renovated by Veerapallalai III dates back to 13th century. A holy spring called ‘Gnanatheertha Sunai’ and a sacred tree known as ‘Karunochi’ can be seen. Here, Lord Muruga came to be worshipped as Manthragiri and Shree Velayudhaswamy.

Masaniamman Temple

Masaniamman Temple is situated at a distance of 15 miles away from Pollachi. This sanctified shrine attract large number of devotees.

The idol of Masaniamman is very powerful one and offer blessing to all devotees who have a stunt belief in her. Devotees also expect that Goddess will respond their prayer within three weeks. There is a stone image in the temple representing as a Goddess of Justice with the body of serpent.

Merchants meeting loss in their business, people hassled by enemies, women or men who lost their belongings take bath, sport holy ashes of the shrine, grind red chillies in stone grinder of the temple, smear the paste on stone of Justice called ‘Neethi Kal’.

In the sanctum, the extensive image of Masaniamman lying on her back measures about 15 feet long from head to foot. The gigantic image of Masaniamman is painted with flashy colours.

Here, one can see Goddess Masaniamman in the lying posture. The idol has four hands, two hands placed on the ground, two hands raised above. While the top left hands hold a skull and snake and other two hands holding drum and a trident.

On Tuesdays and Fridays devotees rush to this temple, during Krithigai and New Moon day they undergo special pooja.

There is a historical background for the configuration of this powerful temple. Anaimalai, a place near Pollachi was ruled earlier by the king called Nanan. He treated their people very badly. During his reign he had a very big mango tree in his farm on the riverside of Aaliyar, which was very special to him. He was so particular that nobody was permitted to use neither mangoes nor its leaves.

Once,a gang of girls went to river to take bath they noticed a mango floating on the river which belongs to Nanan's tree, one of the girl picked up and ate the fruit. Even after several pleadings made by her father, instead of excusing her the king sentenced her to death.

After some time villagers in that area formed a female statue in lying posture using sand in graveyard with the remembrance of innocent girl and worshipped as ‘Masani’. Later Kozhinkhosargal defeated king Nanan and destroyed the mango tree.

It is also believed that Lord Rama on his way in search of Seetha was attracted by this powerful temple and made meditation over here which adds glory to this temple. So, once you visit Pollachi don’t miss to worship Masaniamman.