namma mejura

Idaikattur is a quiet village away from rushing highways, yet quickly reachable from Madurai (30 kms). For a small village, it has two important holy places to boast of.

It is a holy land where famed Siddha Idaikadar lived and hosted Navagrahas during a famine. A small navagraha temple stands there as a testimony. The village also have a more prominent and internationally acclaimed more than 100 years old Church ‘built by angels‘.

To get there:
On Madurai-Rameswaram NH between Madurai – Manamadurai lies ‘Muthanendal’ a non-descript small village. The speeding half-body Sand laden lorries in this route where notorious terror machines. Once you cautiously handled this stretch, and crossed ‘Thiruppachethi‘ – the village famous for long aruval !! (‘thirupaachi aruva’) – the traffic is much less and the road inviting. It is easy to zip past ‘Muthanendal’, a non-descript bus stop & a few shops after a curve without noticing it.

This is the place to slow down to a halt to reach Idaikattur. A small sign board will inform you that ‘Idaikattur Shrine – 1km’ just a few paces before this point. It will help you to slow down. We have to take a 90 degree left turn just before the bus-stop and climb up to cross river Vaigai. The bridge is completely hidden as you approach the spot, so it is easy to miss it. Idaikattur is just half kilometer after crossing the river.

The village have idyllic surroundings. Blessed, no doubt, by the holy persons, the farms near this villages looks green & promising most part of the year.

The Church:

The church is more prominently visible. It is a replica of Rheims Cathedral of France, and was built in 1894 with funds from France. The church is called ‘Sacred Heart Shrine’ and have it’s own website.

The interiors of this church were impressive, with exquisite altar and glass paintings. The church is credited with miracles during the construction – (hence the term ‘built by angels’), and afterwards for devotees. The history of this church and a useful photo gallery were available at their website.

The Navagraha temple:

Just after crossing the Church, the village abruptly ends. A small temple stands at the corner, about 50 metres away from the village, with lush greenery as a backdrop.

This is the very place where Siddha Idaikadar lived. And re-arranged the navagrahas in a pattern which will be beneficial to the world. The standing pattern of navagrahas in all temples said to follow the pattern set by Siddha Idaikadar at this location. The birthplace of this navagraha pattern however remains small & unknown to many people even in nearby Madurai city.

It is gradually gaining prominence, yet the place is not at all crowded. You can stroll beyond the temple and enjoy the solitariness with only an occasional bi-cycle passerby as traffic. The village also have another ancient temple at the other end.

Related posts:

1. Anaipatty & Siddhar Malai. Enchanting solitude
2. Kuruvithurai – Vaigai river bed