Now, a temple for ‘Corona devi’ near Coimbatore

1.5-FOOT-TALL IDOL

Now, a temple for ‘Corona devi’ near Coimbatore

Nivedha.Selvam1@timesgroup.com

Coimbatore:20.05.2021 

A temple to ‘Goddess Corona Devi’ has come up on the outskirts of Coimbatore, which already has a Plague Mariamman temple that came up when the scourge struck a century ago.

The Kamatchipuri Adhinam consecrated the one-and-a-half-foot-tall, black stone idol on its premises near Irugur on Tuesday and the poojas continued on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the adhinam said special poojas would continue for 48 days but would not be open to the public in view of the pandemic protocols.

In a video released by the adhinam, Sri Sivalingeswara Swamigal said, “following the footsteps of our ancestors, we have installed an idol for ‘Corona Devi’ because we believe God will help the hapless. We will be conducting special prayers for 48 days and only adhinam staff will be allowed to participate in the prayers.

Devotees would be allowed to enter only after the special prayers are completed.” He asked them to pray from their homes.

He urged the public to follow all government guidelines, stay at home, consume healthy foods and cooperate with the government to contain the spread.

In early 1900s, hundreds of people died of the plague pandemic and many others fled the city. Seeking divine succour, people visited Plague Mariamman temple, which is located between Big Bazaar and Raja streets in Coimbatore and performed special poojas for the deity.

In June last year, a temple priest in Kadakkal in Kollam district ha installed a ‘Corona Devi’ idol in a makeshift shrine attached to his house.

SEEKING DIVINE HELP: The temple near Irugur on Tuesday