Angalamman

Angalamman

Once Shakthi was reborn as Parvati, Brahma performed a yaga to save god and men from two demons named Sandobi and Sundaran. Through this yagna Thilothama, an apsara came to life. Attracted by the beauty of Thilothama, the demons and Brahma followed her. Parvathi, to protect herself from them, went to Kailash. Lord Brahma followed her there too.  Parvathi mistook Brahma for Shiva, as he too has 5 heads, fell at his feet. Parvathi realizing the truth, prayed to Shiva with anger asking him to destroy Brahm's 5th head.  So Shiva as "Rudra" cut the head of Brahma.  Lord Brahma with only four head cursed Shiva that his fifth head will be attached to his hand and thereafter Shiva should be with hunger and without sleep his entire life. Shiva came down to earth and started to beg when hunger struck him. Half the food he begged was eaten by the fifth head of Brahma: that is, the "Kabala". Lord Shiva roamed in graveyards and slept in ashes and that form of Shiva is worhipped as Bhairava in south India.

Parvati approached her brother Lord Vishnu and asked for relief of her husband’s curse.  Lord Vishnu said Parvati, "My dear sister, go to thandakarunyam graveyard with your husband and make a pond there named "Agni kula theertham" and prepare a tasty food made by Agathi keerai (Humming bird tree leaves) and serve that food to kabala and then throw the food everywhere in the graveyard. The kabala will come down from Shiva’s hand to eat the food. Then take your husband to the pond and clean him with that water so ‘Kabala’ won’t attach your husband’s hand". Parvati did as instructed; she took her husband to thandakarunyam graveyard and prepared food, served it to the kabala and then threw it in the graveyard. The kabala came down from Shiva's hand; meanwhile, Parvati took her husband to the pond and cleaned him. The kabala searched for Shiva's hand but could not touch him so it stuck to Parvati's hand. Parvati danced without knowing that brahma’s head is now stuck on her hand. When she realized what had happened she was furious and destroyed the kabala with her right leg.

The fiercest form (Angara rubam or Agora rubam) which destroyed the kabala when separated from Parvati is called Angalaamman. Parvati told Angalaamman to stay there and give a boon to the people who worship her and went back to Kailayam. However, Shiva was not there. Shiva got relieved from Brahma's curse however he too hungry so he went Kasi to feed himself.  Parvati, incarnated there as "Annapoorani Devi", to serve him food.

Devotees worship Thandakarunyam Angalaamman on Amavasai (no mood days) to get relief from diseases. Angalamman is decorated and put on a swing in the midnight of Amavasya and it is called Amavasai Oonjal.