BANNARI AMMAN TEMPLE IN SATHYAMANGALAM (BANNARI)

What is the History behind Bannari Amman temple at Sathyamangalam?

Here is the complete history of Bannari Amman Temple Sathyamangalam. Around 300 years ago, people had beheld the incredible sight of tigers and cows quenching their thirst at the same place as the river. Cowherds used to drive the cattle to the fields jeer for grazing. The cows fed on abundance grass found in here. These cows were driven back to the stables at dusk. The cowherds used to extract milk from the udder of each cow and hand over the collected Milk to the owners of the cows. One particular cow did not allow the cowherd to get milk and also did not it allow its calf to go near it.

The cowherd has his own doubts about that particular cow and he decided to have an eye on it. He allowed the other cows to graze and pursued that particular cow secretly. It went alone near a Vengai tree and stood beneath it. Milk began to flow from its udder automatically. He admired at such a startling sight and told about it to the other cowherds.

The news spread like wildfire to the villagers. Next day they were on the spot to witness the miracle. They found the cow repeating the same behaviour. Milk cozed out of the teats of its udder on the particular spot amidst the grass. They removed the thickly grown grass and shrubs there and, to their surprise, they found a sand-hill and Swayambu Linga near it. Linga is a unique of divinity and so they felt that the spot beneath the Vengai tree should have a celestial significance. They prayed to the Linga with folded hands. Among the devotees who were there, one got into a trance. As a spokesman of the Deity, he began to pass on the divine message to everybody. According to his words, it was understood that the deity safeguarded the traders from Tamil Nadu who passed by that way to Karnataka to sell their goods carried by cows on their back.

Rise of Bannari Amman, The most powerful goddess

The deity was captivated by the picturesque beauty of that place and she decided to stay on there to bless and protect the pilgrims. Moreover, she wanted a temple to be constructed there so that the people in and around that place would pray for her in the name of Bannari Mariamman. Dana Nayakkan or Dhandanayakkan forest was called “Bannari”. From which, this name Bannari for this great historical place originated because of the great temple “Bannari Amman Temple”. Thus Bannari became the permanent abode of the goddess. The history has been represented by a set of paintings on the temple wall.

What is so special about Bannari Amman temple at Sathyamangalam?

1. According to Hindu mythology, All the temples are constructed facing East or North, but Bannari Amman is the only temple that faces the south direction. 
2. Vibhuti and Kumkuma are common things given in other temples whereas Bannari soil is given to the devotees of the Bannari Amman temple. (*Vibhuti Kumkum is a Hindu Mythological thing) 
3. In other goddess temples only humans will take part in kundam festival whereas, in Bannari Amman temple, even animals that humans rear such as Cow, Goat and Hen will also take part. Humans are not allowed to take part in the kundam festival, once the animals start it.    

Which is the famous festival in Bannari Amman temple at Sathyamangalam?

Kundam Festival is celebrated in the Tamil month of Panguni (March – April). This is the most famous annual festival where lakhs of devotees from different directions visit the temple in this month which is marked by festivity and gaiety. Erode district will get a local holiday during this famous Kundam festival. The special poojas are held on new moon days, Tuesdays and Fridays. Diwali, Pongal (Sankranti), Tamil new year as well as English new year are highly celebrated in this temple. Golden Chariot Festival, Tumeric water donation, Thiruvillaku pooja, maru pooja are the other famous festivals celebrated here.  

What is the Pooja Timing of Bannari Amman Temple at Sathyamangalam?

Darshan hours to see Bannari Amman are from 5.30 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. Women devotees participate in Thiruvilakku pooja on the last Friday of every Tamil month.

• Kalasanthi (5.30 A.M)
• Uchikalam (11.30 A.M)
• Sayaratchai (5.30 P.M)
• Arthasamam (8.30 P.M)

How to reach Bannari Amman Temple at Sathyamangalam? 

There are a lot of buses if you choose to travel by road from Sathyamangalam (15 km), Punjai Puliampatti, Bhavanisagar, Thalavadi and Chamarajanagar (60 km) in order to reach Bannari. The buses from Coimbatore and Erode to Mysore, Chamarajanagar and Kollegal on NH 209 also passes through Bannari. One can also get the buses from Bhavanisagar and reach the temple via Kothamangalam, but this is a long route to reach Bannari. And on every Sunday, Monday, Friday and new moon days there are special buses to the temple from Sathyamangalam, Punjai Puliampatti, Erode, Gobichettipalayam and Coimbatore. 

You can also take a train from the nearest railway station, Mettupalayam and also the other near railways’ stations are Coimbatore and Chamarajanagar.

You can also take a flight to Coimbatore, the nearest airport for reaching Bannari.

As a part of the tourism visit tiger reserve forest of Sathyamangalam which can quickly be approached by Dhimbhum Ghat road that has beautiful 27 hairpin bends. An organised network of national and state expressways has achieved wonders for the ease of accessibility to Sathyamangalam. One can also start from Sathyamangalam through the forest while relishing the view to reaching this place. Apart from the Bannari Amman temple, there is a place that adds pride to Sathyamangalam that is  Bannari Amman Institute of technology.

SARANYA NAGARAJAN