Chitraputhira Yamadharmaraja Temple, Coimbatore

There are several gods and goddesses in India and there are several places of worship for them as well, each with its own significance. There are a few shrines for Yama, the most feared of all Gods - the God of Death. There is one sannadhi in Srivanchiyam temple, near Kumbakonam, one in Dharmapuri and may be a few more in other parts of the country.
Similarly, there are a few shrines/sannadhis for Chitragupta, his faithful accountant who keeps track of each and every person's sins and virtues,( What is the English word for Punya?), the most well-known being at Kanchipuram.  But I do not know if there is any other temple in India where you can find both Yamadharmaraja and Chitragupta in the same sanctum sanctorum but for this temple at Vellalur Main Road, Singanallur, Coimbatore.
The month of Chitirai ( April 14 - May 15) is very special for Chitragupta and Yama, as on the full moon day of this month, Chitragupta is supposed to start his new book of accounts for the year. It is the time for special prayers to him and his Lord to pardon our sins, and to reduce the burden of punishments, and it is indeed my pleasure to share information about this temple in the wake of Chitra Pournami that falls due on 17th April.

Entrance to the temple amidst construction work going on

Once you enter Singanallur, and reach Vellalur Main Road, it is quite easy to reach the temple. There is an "aathupaalam" - a small bridge over a brook and once you cross that, anyone can guide you to the temple. There is a house being constructed close to the entrance and the building materials have been dumped right near the entrance to the temple. Watch your step as you take the very narrow path that is available among the debris to reach the entrance. A board saying Chitraputhira Yamadharmaraja Temple welcomes you.

The 310 year old temple is cool. There is a front yard which has the shrine of Rajaganapathi to its left. Lord Ganesha is seen here with serpents on either side. A board mentions that "Thulabaram" (giving jaggery, bananas or sugar equivalent to one's weight) can be given here as gratitude for prayers that have been answered.

Raja Ganapathi with Serpents on either side

We step into the inner mandapam. The most striking feature about the mandapam is the circular platform in the middle where 101 padayals (offerings) are made to Lord Yamadharmaraja and Chitragupta on Chitrapournami day.

We are greeted by Mr. Paramasivam, the priest at the temple, who is very friendly and offers us information about the temple. In fact, this is probably the only temple in Tamilnadu, where I have been to, in which I was immediately allowed to photograph the sanctum sanctorum....but with a condition. Women are not allowed beyond this mandapam, while men can step into the inner mandapam, close to the sanctum sanctorum. Therefore, he said I could take a picture from where I stood.

Mr Paramasivam, the priest at the temple

The Sanctum Sanctorum was one of its kind. A majestic Yamadharmaraja, sat astride a huge black buffalo, with one hand holding a spear ( Ankusham) and the other hand holding a rope ( Paasa Kayaru) to drag the departed souls to the other world at the appropriate time. Chitragupta, the faithful accountant of Yama, stands to his right, holding palm leaves in one hand and a quill in the other.

Sanctum Sanctorum

The priest explained that this temple is run and maintained by seven families of Rajakula Agamudayathevar community namely, Poththai, Thaali, Peyan, Kounda, Vaththana, Kanja and Righton, who take turns in being the priest and perform the rituals. The special 101 padayal is called Vanipongal and will be performed at 5 am on 18th morning. He mentioned that persons should not wear black coloured clothes while coming to the temple. Coconuts as you can see in the picture, are offered in full, without breaking them. The temple is open on all days between 7 am and 5 pm without being closed in between.

Across the sanctum sanctorum, we find another room, with a board outside stating that it is the shrine of Veeramachi amman, Pudavaikari Amman and Sapthakannis. Once you enter the room, there is another shrine inside. Here, women are allowed to go right into the sanctum sanctorum and worship.

There are three lingam like structures in one platform which are worshipped as the swayambu form of the three goddesses and there are seven similar but smaller structures nearby who are worshipped as the saptha kannis.

After praying at this shrine, we walk out of the room and take the circumambulatory path around the temple. To the left of the temple, is a seperate shrine for Andichi Amman, the sister of Yamadharmaraja. I was curious to go and see the temple, but found that it was closed and there were people sleeping in the frontyard. Moreover, the path to the other temple was strewn with building materials and therefore I decided against it.

As I moved around the path, I found that the backside of the temple was also circular, similar to the offering platform inside the shrine.

There was a menacing buffalo head that lay on the floor with some rope and plastic tubes nearby. It was a strange sight and looked as if Lord Yama was watching as I moved around the temple. It was time to leave and I thanked the priest for all his assistance. He gave us Vibuthi (Sacred Ash) and Sweet Pongal as prasadam. He also gave pictures of Lord Yamadharmaraja with the condition that the picture had to be kept only in a seperate pooja room and not in houses where shelfs housed gods and goddesses. With one final look at Lord Yama, watching us with his piercing silver eyes, we moved out of the temple into the scorching sun.

If you happen to be around this part of the world on 17th/18th of April 2011, you can take part in all the festivities in this temple on the special occasion of Chitra Pournami when Chitragupta and Lord Yamadharmaraja are in a benevolent mood, as the new books of accounts for the year are opened. If not, do drop by to pray at this very unique shrine of Lord Yama and Chitragupta in the same sanctum sanctorum whenever the opportunity presents itself. 

Added on 16th February 2012- through inputs from Mr Sudharshan:

Just before entering Yama DharmaRaja temple, on our left side, we can see another temple which is the Ayyanar and Aandichi amman temple. As we also visited here, I would like to share the information as told to us by the Priest Maariappan on this temple. 

Ayyanar here is worshipped with vegetarian offerings unlike Ayyanar in other (few?) temples. Children who pray to this Ayyanar for their education are blessed with good fortune. When a Siddhar visited both these temples, he told to the priests that since Yama Dharmaraja is very affectionate to his sister Aandichi Amman, Yama Dharmaraja always wanted to perform poojas for his Sister first and later for him. Due to this, people should seek blessings from his sister before entering Yama Dharamaraja's temple. Even if first timers who may miss to do this, after visiting sister's temple, they have to see Yama Dharmaraja again before leaving so that they get the 'palan' of visiting both these temples - as told by the priest.

'Uchi kaala pooja' on Sundays is special at 12 noon here. Sri Chitra Putra Yama Dharamaraja temple priest Paramasivam can be contacted on 98656 42946 and on 0422-2917789.