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Stepping into the past

`Petchiamman padithurai', another landmark, which speaks about the history of the city

SPLENDID STRUCTURES A splendour in ruins Photo: G. Moorthy

When you read through the history of any civilisation, you will come to an understanding that most of them had flourished along the banks of a river. And Madurai is no exception.

According to historical evidence, the Vaigai flowed outside the fort and most of the time it wore a deserted look except during the visits of residents to take a dip during the `theerthavari' (holy dip) function of Brahmotsavam, for which the Kings constructed `padithurais' to facilitate easy approach to the river bed.

Padithurai

`Padithurai' refers to the steps that lead to the riverbed. The practice of people taking holy bath in the river was in existence right from the Chola and Pandia periods. During `theerthavari,' the presiding deity of the temple would be taken into the river by using the `padithurai.'

Though there were a lot of `padithurais' located along the southern banks of the river, Petchiamman padithurai, Hanuman padithurai and Obula padithurai are better known to the Madurai public.

Of them, the Petchiamman padithurai assumes significance as it had the temple of minor village deity `Petchiamman.' Though there is no direct historical reference to `Petchiamman,' according to C. Santhalingam, Assistant Director, Department of Archaeology, "Petchiamman is like any other village deity such as `Mariamman' and `Kaliamman,' invoked to protect people from epidemics and to bring rain."

Family God

It is the family God of a particular sect of `vaaniyar' (oil mongers), who were referred to as `Sankarapadiyar' in history. They were wholesale producers and dealers of oil.

"The concept of mother Goddess is much older. It could be found all over the country as `Yakshi,' `Isakki,' and has different names in different places. Even in `Silappathikaram,' there is a reference to `Poongan Iyakki' located outside the fort. Probably, the `Petchiamman' would have been a powerful mother Goddess at that time," said V. Vedachalam, special grade epigraphist, Department of Archaeology.

`Petchiamman' is also considered a guardian deity.

"We have been looking after the temple for the past 500 years. The presiding deity protects us from all evils and there are numerous real life incidents to prove this factor," said P. Ramalingam, a traditional priest of the temple, who belonges to the `vaaniyar' community.

"Devotees would have visited the padithurai after offering prayers to `Petchiamman,' which would have given them a lot of courage to enter the river," Dr. Santhalingam said.

Now, what remains, as the only evidence of the padithurai, is a structure (side wall of the steps), which resembles Nayak architecture.

"It should belong to the early 18th century and should have been erected by the then ruler of the city. The structure also has space to facilitate women to change dresses," he said.

The location of the structure is evidence to prove that the river should have been wider than what it is at present.

"I have been here for the past 30 years and I have personally seen the padithurai, which is now encroached," said P. Bommai, a resident.

`Petchiamman deity' and the sidewall structure stand as testimony to the historic past of the padithurai.

It is hard to believe that the place was not frequented by the public in the past.

With widespread civic development over the centuries, the encroached Petchiamman padithurai now buzzes with life.

T. SARAVANAN

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