Arulmigu Renugambal Amman Temple, A.K. Padavedu

Legend: Padavedu is the place where Sage Jamadagini, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, lived with his wife Renuga devi, an incarnation of Parvathi and son Parasurama, the avatar of Vishnu. Sage Jamadagini and Sage Vishwamitra grew together. The Sage used to perform Yagna daily to which mother Renuga devi used to bring water in a pot just made that day. One day the Mother saw a Gandharva flying and lost her mind on that due to the maya or the play of the great Shakti. She was late for the yagna and felt ashamed. The Sage, knowing this, asked his sons to chop off mother’s head but none came forward. Only Parasurama, to abide his father, came forward and did it and also cut his hand. Nearby Dobis (cloth washers) came to rescue the mother but Parasurama killed all of them. The sage was pleased and asked Parasurama’s wish and he rightly wanted his mother back. Sage agreed and asked Parasurama to join the head and the body and sprinkle holy water over them. Parasurama did so and his mother came to life and also the dobis who died in the fight. But, alas, his mother’s head was attached to a dobi woman’s body and vice versa while doing it in an anxiety. But then Universal mother might have wanted this way only and She then made that dobi woman, her close maiden. She is also worshipped here. All these happened in Padavedu.
Meanwhile, Kartha Veerya Arjunan demanded the Kamadenu kept by Jamadagini. When he refused, Kartha Veeryan killed Sage Jamadagini and took away the Kamadenu. So Renuga devi tried to immolate herself along with her husband but rain came and aborted her attemt. Renuga devi came out with boils all over the body and dreesed herself with one made of neem leaves. Parasumarar, on seeing this, got angry and vowed to eliminate the entire Kshatriya tribe. On this, Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu all came up and told Parasuramar that this has happened as per fate and so asked him to calm down. Then Shiva gave life to Sage Jamadagini also.
Renuga devi pleaded Lord Shiva that she be worshipped with her head alone and wanted her body to go to heaven along with Jamdgini and it was accepted. That’s how Renuga devi is being worshipped on earth with her head alone.
Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple at Kottaimalai
This temple for Lord Venu Gopala Swamy opens only on Saturdays from 9AM to 4PM and is located on top of the Raja Kambeera Mountain popularly known as Kottaimalai at a height of 2500 feet. The only route available to this temple is a ghat road running through thick and beautiful forest. A breath taking journey to this temple can be performed by a specially made tractor which takes people to the foot of the temple from where there are about 350 steps to climb. En route one has to pass through a few iron bridges constructed around the hill which are engineering marvels. All the pains vanish once people reach the sanctum where beautiful the Lord VenuGopala Swamy is standing in a stylish posture playing flute along with his consorts Rukmini and Satyabhama.
We have visited this temple later during the 2nd visit and an exclusive travelogue is available here
Temples not visited yet:
Velmurugan Temple
This temple is located on the way from Ramar temple to Lakshmi Narasimhar temple on a hill top at the southern tanks of Kamandala river which is running on the southern side of Sri Ramachandra Swamy temple. The hill is known as Natchathra Kundru (Star Hill). No idols are found in this temple. A Vel (lance of Lord Muruga) is consecrated and Poojas are performed daily. Legend has it that Bhogar (one of the eighteen Siddhars, who created the medicinal Palani Murugan idol out of nine herbal poisons) came to this place and consecrated the lance.
This temple opens only in the mornings from 7 to 11 AM
Sri Subramanya swamy Temple at Kundalipuram
Sri Subramania Swamy Temple is located on a hill top, on the southern side of Sri Renugambal Temple. The panoramic view of this temple seen from the Renugambal Temple is beautiful. Three hundred well laid stone steps make the journey to this hill top temple less tedious. The finely sculpted idol of Moolavar Lord Subramania with his consorts Goddesses Valli and Deivanai standing on a peacock is quite impressive. Unlike in other places where Lord Subramania is seen seated on his peacock, here the Lord is standing on his peacock. The peacock is also seen not spreading its feathers. It carries a snake in its beaks. This idol is unique and the Lord is known for his boon granting.
Legend has it that Lord Subramania was conferred the title “Deva Senapathi” (Commander of Devas) only on this hill top at the request of Goddess Renugambal.

Chinna Kottai Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple
This is situated in an extremely nice ambience right in the middle of paddy and banana fields at the backdrop of mountains. The walk through the paddy fields and banana trees is an interesting experience with water trickling down on you. A good place to meditate forgetting everything. This is a temple that got buried totally and excavated recently.
Periya Kottai Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple
This is being renovated now and will be ready for dharshan in a year or so.
Note:
1) Sri Vadudeva Bhattacharyar (Ph: 98940 34069), the Bhattacharyar of the Veera Anjaneyar temple and Sri Chinna Kottai Varadharaja Perumal temple is extremely helpful and can help you in all aspects during your visit.
2) TVS Group has adopted this village about 20 years back and it seems most of the temple details were revealed by Sri Unnikrishna Panickar. For example, the presence of Sri Venugopala Swamy temple and the presence of Ammayappar temple urchava idols etc., were revealed by him by conducting “prasnams”. I was told that Sri Venugopala Swamy temple was identified with a great difficulty.
3) The official website of the Padavedu temples is here.