Chennai: Sri Devi Karumari Amman Temple at Chrompet is located underneath the MIT flyover. The deity here, Devi Karumari Amman, is believed to be the Kaval Deivam of the locality.
“The temple would have definitely crossed 50 years. Like every village in Tamilnadu has a kaval deivam, for people living here this Amman is their guardian deity. Initially, there was only this Amman idol here and a hut was built around it,” says the temple priest.
He says that a temple was built much later. Apart from the main deity, the temple also has other shrines like Anjaneyar and Durga and Navagraham on the right side.
On the left, in a sanctum, a photo of Lord Ayyappan has been kept. Adjacent to it is Dakshinamoorthy.
Small alcoves for Ganesha and Muruga are found on two sides of the main sanctum. The temple also has a small hall where Kolu has been displayed now.
The temple faced problems when the flyover construction work was initiated in the early 2000s. “The authorities asked us to give the temple land to them to facilitate the bridge work but from our side nobody accepted it. Finally, they decided the bridge would be constructed over the temple without causing any damage,” says the priest.
Every year, the month of Aadi and Navarathri is special for the Amman. During Aadi, people from the surrounding areas visit the temple and offer pongal and koozh to the Goddess. Special poojas are also performed on occasions like Aadi Perukku and Aadi Krithigai.
“This year, the temple celebrated its 44th Aadi Thiruvizha from 10 to 12 August. ‘The festival started with a Ganapathi homam and special abhishekam was performed followed by special alankaram for the Goddess. The devotees took out paal kudam procession and koozh was offered, followed by annadhanam,” he says.
Every year, Navarathri is also celebrated by donning special alankaram for the utsavar (processional deity) on all the nine days, and Kolu display is also arranged.
“Women from the surrounding localities visit the temple and recite Lalitha Sahasranamam and special poojas are performed,” says the priest.