Siruvachur Sri Madhurakaliamman Temple — Attraction in Tamil Nadu

A good Darshan requires planning and on the traffic free stretch between Perambalur and Tiruchirappalli on National Highway 45, you are wont to miss Siruvachur, home to the temple that houses the much revered and powerful Sri Madhura Kali Amman. A couple of flyovers on the highway almost tempt you to miss this. What will stop you is the almighty if it were wished so. The colourful welcome arch on the right (coming from Peramabalur side) is the only sign of the temple on the highway. The temple itself is tucked a short 3 kms into the arch. Some other distances: 50 kms from Tiruchy on NH4 to Perambalur (9 Kms before Perambalur), 128 kms from Salem, 260 Kms from Chennai airport, 327 kms from Bangalore City.

Be prepared for an experience that is often described as unique. Plan well for a good Darshan that the almighty will help you make happen. A spiritual, festival and a cultural experience that is one-of-a-kind. For many families, this is also a ‘Kula Dheivam’ or ‘Family Deity’. So generations of families have come to this temple to pray and be blessed. Don’t be surprised to rub shoulders with families from Akron, Auckland, Austin, Canberra, Durban, London, New Brunswick, Palo Alto … Bangalore, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Ghaziabad, Raipur …. and Ambattur, Ammapattai, Athur, Denkanikottai, Kambarasampettai, Tuni, Thiruvarur and Srirangam. There is a heavy sprinkling of the local populace too. Seemingly off the beaten track, the temple at first glance hardly looks like having such a wide profile of devotees. Interestingly, it is said that Siruvachur Madhurakali Amman was also the Kula Dheivam of the Paramacharyal Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal or the Kanchi Periyavaal.

Temple Details: Some quick info about Arulmigu Madhura Kali Amman Thirukoil, the temple itself: Located at Siruvachur, Perambalur District 621113, Tamil Nadu, India Θ Moolavar: Madhura Kali Amman Θ Urchavamoorthi: Madhura Kali Θ Thala Virutcham: Marudham tree Θ Theertham: Tirukulam Θ Temple estimated to be 1000-2000 years old.

Temple Timings: Normally open: 6.30 am to 9 pm. On Monday, Friday and special occasions such as Maha Shivaratri, Tamil New Year, Chithirai Festival (13 days), Aadi Perukku, Temple Car Festival (Ther Vizha), Navarathiri (10 days), Karthigai Deepam, January 1, Pongal, all Ammavasai and Pournami days easily checked on a tamil calendar. Daily Abhishekam performed at 11 am. After Alangaram, Ucha Kala Pooja and Maha Deeparadhanai is performed at 1 pm and the grand Thangai Kavasam (More details about the temple...

This temple is only open on Mondays and Fridays (there is a theological legend on this).

Mr. Senthil is the person to reach out to to help get the required tickets and assist if you are not sure what the procedures to follow are (he helped us secure the venthalai pakku, fruits and garland for the Goddess and also facilitated the darshan).

Mavelakku- if you bring rice from home, you can pound it (we were advised that it’s is important to do so within the temple); Alternatively, , the ladies on the left hand side platform (once you enter) can get rice and make the mavelakku for you (expect to pay Rs 100/worker, usually 3 female workers). You will then take it inside the temple and light the lamp (take a bottle of ghee, wick and matchbox).

You are not rushed out of seeing the Goddess. Abishekam starts around 11 AM and goes on till about 11.20 AM. It is quite beautiful to watch but very crowded at this time. The only thing we found out after is that all the abishekam contents (panchamridham, milk etc) are not recycled, but lost to the ground.

Be warned that there are plenty of people asking for money for various reasons. Some of them actually have a stash of high value rupee bills with them. If you give one of them something, others will soon approach you and you may feel overwhelmed (or worse still, lose compassion and empathy).

The darshan of the Goddess is beautiful and you...

The family deity- 'Kula Deivam' of a large number of people such as Sri Paramacharya of Kanchi in his purvashram, Siruvachur Sri Madhurakaliamman is the main deity of the temple.

The temple's doors are open to darshan to Her devotees traditionally on Mondays & Fridays and on specified other festive days only.

A serene village off the Highways in Perambalur district, Siruvachur is about an hour and half's drive from Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) as commonly known.

Surrounded by trees, the temple tank and the connecting roads, the temple is by itself, an image that captures one's spiritual attention. It is an awesome experience even to just be within the temple premises - to watch scores of devotees, all in groups of kith & kin, dedicatedly preparing different forms of offerings - maavilakku maavu, for example, clad in their conventional attire & in rapt attention and prayers. Well organised system is in place for the darshan of the all-merciful Goddess - with free as well as paid queues. The glimpse of the Goddess makes the journey to the temple worth every effort.

The golden chariot ceremony is a highlight here.

Peace fills not just the temple environment, but also one's heart, upon completion of the...