Chandramouleeswar Temple, Thiruvakkarai – Vakra Kali Shrine

Chandramouleeswar Temple, Thiruvakkarai – Vakra Kali Shrine

Vakra Kali Shrine can be seen immediately after the Rajagopuram. Her shrine is facing towards north. Kali Temples are generally found at the border areas of village, but here, it is unique to see a Kali Shrine inside the Shiva Temple. She is also called as Ashta Bhuja Kali. The Idol is huge in size and is an example of excellent artistic workmanship. The architectural style of idol is similar to Pallava style. 

The idol of Mother Vakra Kali is on par with Patteeswaram Durga, Chidambaram Brahma Chamundeeshwari and Thillai Kali. She appears with a skull on her head as crown, a dead fetus on her right ear as Kundalam, and has eight hands. She blesses her devotees with one leg folded on the Peetam and the other hanging down. Her head is surrounded by a halo of flames.

Her eight hands hold Pasam, discus, skull of a wild animal, dagger, shield, damru, sword and her index finger in one left hand points downwards towards the ground. She is also wearing a garland crosswise of the heads of the demons as the upper sari ending on the right hand through breasts. It is said that she was a fierce deity after annihilating the demoness Dunmukhi. 

Saint Adi Shankaracharya calmed her down by installing a Sri Chakra under her left foot. After the installation of Sri Chakra, she is all smiling, merciful and her eyes looking downwards (Shanta Swarupi). Yogeswara Lingam on the right side and Valampuri Vinayagar on the left side can be seen near her shrine. It is unique to note that Valampuri Vinayagar is rarely seen in Shiva temples.

Full Moon days are special for this Goddess and devotees throng here to worship her on this day. Goddess Vakra Kali is considered as the presiding deity for Rahu and Ketu. Hence, people with Rahu and Ketu Dosha frequent this temple. People worship her to ward off enemies and spell success in business. It is unique to see devotees circumbulate her shrine five times in clockwise direction and four times in anticlockwise direction.

The devotee crowd in the temple is huge at 12.00 p.m. (midnight) on Poornima (full moon days) and 12.00 a.m. (noon) on Amavasya (new moon days), when Jyoti darshan is offered to Mother Vakra Kali Amman.  Jyoti darshan is the light lit above the tower mandapam. This darshan is very important for the devotees.   

Dwarapalakis:

There are idols of four women in odd sizes (two on each side), with tonsured heads, in the place of Dwarapalakis at the entrance of her shrine. It is said that the four Dwarapalakis belonged to the Yadava caste who sold dairy products for their livelihood. But they adulterated the milk by adding water. When the local ruler came to know about their adulteration, he ordered the four to be beheaded after shaving their heads. Before being beheaded, the four realized their mistakes, ran into the temple and prayed to Vakrakaali seeking forgiveness. Vakrakaali appeared before them, forgave their mistakes and blessed them with the status of Dwarapalakis in her shrine.