[1]It is a dream come true after half-a-century for the devotees and locals of Korattur. The ancient Seyathamman temple, which has been managing without a chariot, since 1961, has finally got a new wooden chariot built at a cost of Rs60 lakh, thanks to the generous contribution of the Ambattur legislator.
“The temple discontinued the use of the worn out chariot in 1961, when the last car festival was held. Since then, the devotees have been demanding a new car but to no avail,” says Mu. Ta. Pachaiyappan, chairman board of trustee of the temple. The new chariot is 25-feet high signifying the height of the temple where the deity is said to be suyambu.
The chariot was made by Lakshmanan Sthapathy. The trial run of the chariot was held on August 9 and the excited devotees witnessed the event near the banks of the lake, close to the temple built during the Pallava period.
“The temple was built during the reign of Nandivarman. Originally, the presiding deity was called Seikatha Amman and gradually the goddess was known by the present name,” Mr Pachaiyappan said.
“I and my relatives merely fulfilled a long pending wish of the devotees,” legislator S. Vedhachalam, modestly says and adds that the chariot was made as per the Agama Sashtras. Saint Thirugnana Sambandar sang in praise of this Amman, the MLA belonging to the ruling AIADMK said.
The chariot will formally be inducted at a function on August. 19, in which Hindu religious and charitable endowments minister M. S. M. Anandan, dairy minister V. Moorthy and environment minister B. V. Ramanaa and other officials will participate.
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