The Story of Karaikkal Ammaiyar

In the Chozha kingdom, in the prosperous port town of Karaikkal, lived a beautiful and pious girl named Punitavati. She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant and was deeply devoted to Shiva.

She married a kind merchant named Paramadattan. One day, Paramadattan received two mangoes and sent them home to his wife. Soon after, a hungry Shiva devotee came to their house. Punitavati welcomed him and, having nothing else to offer, gave him one of the mangoes.

Later, when her husband returned, he ate the remaining mango and loved it. He asked for the other one. Punitavati was worried, so she prayed to Shiva for help. Miraculously, a mango appeared in her hand. Her husband was amazed by the fruit's divine taste and asked where she got it. She told him the truth, but he didn't believe her. To prove it, he asked her to get another one. She prayed again, and another mango appeared, but when he held it, it vanished. Frightened and in awe, he realized his wife was no ordinary human. From that day on, he saw her as a goddess and refused to touch her.

Later, Paramadattan left Karaikkal, settled in another kingdom, and married a new woman. He even named their daughter after his first wife, Punitavati, in honor of her divinity.

Meanwhile, Punitavati's relatives, unaware of what had happened, took her to reunite with her husband. When Paramadattan saw her, he and his new family bowed at her feet. He explained that she was a goddess to him and that he couldn't live with her as a normal wife.

Realizing that her worldly life was over, Punitavati prayed to Shiva to take away her beautiful body and grant her a skeletal form so that she could devote herself to him completely. Her wish was granted. She transformed into a skeleton and became known as Karaikkal Ammaiyar, or "Mother of Karaikkal."

She then decided to go to Mount Kailash, Shiva's home. Not wanting to walk on the holy ground with her feet, she climbed the mountain on her head. Shiva was so moved by her love that he called her "Ammaiye" (Mother) and asked her what she desired. She asked for eternal love for him and the blessing to witness his cosmic dance forever. Shiva told her to go to the holy town of Tiruvalankadu, where he would dance for her. She went there, still traveling on her head, and sang songs of bliss as she watched Shiva dance, remaining by his feet for all of eternity.

NOTE: Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a Nattukottai Nagarthar or commonly known as a chettiyar. Mangani festival in Karaikal is an annual event celebrated in honor of Karaikal Ammaiyar