Ujjayini Om Kaliamman Temple is located in Magalikudi village near Samayapuram in Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu. This temple is closely associated with the famous Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, and many devotees visit both temples together.
This is an ancient temple believed to be around 1000 years old, with some estimates placing it between 500 to 1000 years. The temple has been a place of worship for centuries and continues to attract devotees from nearby regions.
The presiding deity is Sri Ujjayini Om Kaliamman, a powerful form of Goddess Shakti. The goddess appears in a rare form with three hands and a single breast. She holds symbolic items such as a trident, a skull, and fire, but her face is calm and smiling, unlike Kali’s usual fierce form. This form represents divine grace, prosperity, and bliss after the destruction of evil forces.
The temple highlights the belief that Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti are one, which is represented by the Ardhanareeswara form.It is said that Mother Parvati wished to receive the same kind of worship as Lord Shiva. Based on this belief, the temple came into existence.
Here, Mother Ananda Sowbagya Sundari blesses devotees and represents the unity of Shiva and Shakti.
The temple follows a simple Dravidian style, typical of ancient Tamil Nadu village temples.
The sanctum houses the main deity facing north. There are shrines to guardian and village deities such as Madurai Veeran, Karuppannaswamy, Ayyanar, and Srinivasa Perumal.
The temple has a vimanam above the sanctum and structures for associated deities. The sacred tree of the temple is the Magizham tree. The temple tank known as Sakthi Theertham is believed to have healing powers.
It is believed that King Vikramaditya of Ujjain worshipped this goddess, and the idol is associated with him. Because of this connection, the goddess is called Ujjayini Kaliamman.
Over time, the temple became an important spiritual center, influenced by the Samayapuram Mariamman Temple. The temple has undergone renovations, and Kumbabhishekam has been performed periodically, including in recent years.
King Vikramaditya ruled from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. It is believed that he lived in the city for six months and spent the other six months in the forest. Wherever he went, he carried an idol of Goddess Kali and worshipped her with great devotion. Once, when he came to the Makalikudi forest area to pray, he was unable to take the idol back with him.
When the king prayed to the goddess, she appeared before him and wished to stay there. She asked him to build a temple there.
Accepting her wish, King Vikramaditya built a temple for Goddess Kali at Makalikudi.
Even today, idols of Vedhalam and his wise minister, Kaluvan, can be seen in the temple, and they are believed to be evidence of this history.
Another belief holds that after destroying powerful negative forces and restoring balance to the universe, the goddess gave up her fierce form and appeared in a calm, smiling form to bless devotees. This is why she appears peaceful in this temple.
The goddess’s unique form, with one breast and three hands, represents the unity of Shiva and Shakti, showing that a single divine energy governs all cosmic functions.
It is also believed that the goddess chose this place under the sacred Magizham tree as her abode.
Devotees believe that taking a holy bath in Shakti Theertham and worshipping here on special days can relieve diseases and remove life obstacles.
Worshipping this goddess is believed to remove problems related to marriage delays, childbirth, and financial difficulties. Because of these beliefs, the temple is considered a powerful remedy temple.
Navaratri is celebrated for 10 days with great devotion. The Agni Nakshatra festival is another major celebration that lasts 21 days. Special poojas are conducted on Amavasya, Pournami, and Ashtami days.
Tuesdays and Fridays are considered very auspicious for worship.
