Karaikal
is famous for its
Siva temple and
for its shrine of
Karaikal Ammayar.
It is said that
it is here that
Karaikal Ammayar
attained salvation.
 Karaikal
Ammayar was the
wife of a rich and
famous merchant
here. Her original
name was Punitavatiyar.
She was a devout
Shiva devotee. The
merchant realized
that his wife was
a great devotee
and that she possessed
supernatural powers.
He decided not to
touch her with carnal
thoughts and left
for a journey with
a lot of his wealth.
Elsewhere he made
a lot of money,
returned to India
and settled in another
city. He married
the daughter of
another merchant
and had a daughter
from her whom he
named after his
first wife. When
the news of his
prosperity spread,
his friends took
his wife to him,
before whom he prostrated
and said that he
could only worship
her and see her
as his tutelary
goddess rather than
his wife. Then Punitavariyar
requested to Lord
Siva to make her
the sacred demon
- hosts who attend
on him and it was
immediately done.
She visited Kailas
and at the sight
of her Siva beheld
Mother or Ammiyar
and thus Ammiyar
is always added
to her name.
Karaikal is well
connected by rail
and road and easily
accessible. |
