About this Sacred Grove

The folklore of the Periyakumati grove states that once a merchant was carrying a cart load of tamarind from his native place to Cuddalore. While the merchant was crossing the sacred grove, he heard a reverberation; the merchant looked on all sides. He could not find anybody except a parrot sitting on a banyan tree. The merchant grew fearful since the place was desolate and he drove his cart faster. After reaching the market, the merchant found charcoal instead of tamarind. The merchant realised that he had not responded to the divine reverberation on the way. The merchant returned to the sacred grove and sought forgiveness for his act. The goddess of the sacred grove appeared before the merchant and offered darshan. After this incident, the merchant visited the grove and worshipped the Amman regularly. The Amman was satisfied with his sincere devotion and transformed the cartload of charcoal back into tamarind. The merchant was immensely pleased and as a token of atonement, he installed an Amman idol inside the sacred grove and started worshiping the goddess regularly. Since then the Amman incarnated as a parrot on the banyan tree; the goddess got the name ‘Kilialamman’ (Kili + aal + amman) and the sacred grove is known as ‘Kilialamman thoppu’

Location

Coordinates: 11.4915520, 79.7167890

Plants / Species (5)