Poo Pathi - History

History

The village Soorangudi is situated east to Eathamozhi in Kanyakumari district. Once a rich man named Sri rangan lived there, who had one and only daughter. After she matured she remained only in the house, since during those days young ladies were not allowed to come out of the residence. At that time, informed by Vaikundar about the divine birth of such a virgin, the Citars of Vaikundar went to Sri rangan's house with a proposal for her from Vaikundar who was then acting as a Pandaram.

They told the details about Vaikundar to Sri rangan. The moment he heard that the man for whom the people had come for, is an Age-old person, he grew angry and along with his work men, he attacked them severely and tied them in a pillar.

Then following a dialogue with the wisemen of the village, he released them. The citars came weeping, and walked eastwards to meet Vaikundar. At that time they meet Vaikundar at a place called Naraiyan vilai. Ayya seated under the shade of Laurel trees and asked about the happenings. Citars told what had happened. Hearing this Vaikundar told that, "My women will come here." At the next moment the daughter of Sri rangan come there with here hair uncombed. Following her a group of people came there.

Following them, Sri rangan and his wife came running and fell on the feet of Vaikundar and said,

"Your holiness, she was the one and only daughter given by God to us. She took only vegetarian food right from here childhood. She led a divine life by bathing and worshipping twice a day. She was not interested in marriage. Under such circumstance, when thine Citars came with the proposal addressing thineself as a Pandaram, I grew angry. When I beat them, my daughter cried out as if all beatings fall on her. Afterwards we can't control her and she ran towards here. So please pardon us. Please accept her."

Hearing this, Vaikundar advised him for his ignorance of the divine birth of his daughter. he told that she was the incarnation of the Bhooma Devi the goddess of Earth. She was performing austrity towards God to marry her and to unify her into himself. And so fulfilling that, the above drama is played.

Vaikundar married her under the shade of the laurel trees. The trees threw flowers over the couple, wishing them well. The devas prised the couple and threw flowers over them, and since then that place is called Poo Pathi, where 'Poo' means flower in Tamil Language. Afterwards, Ayya along with Bhooma devi returned to Swamithoppe, where the followers gave them a warm welcome.

Later the devotees established a Pathi at this place and it is called as Poo pathi. Festivals are conducted every year and this temple is owned by the village and maintained by the village committee. Poopathi is located about ten kilometers souh of Nagercoil near Eathamozhi.