Mooththa Devi of Manimangalam

When I visited Manimangalam five years ago (in 2016), I accidentally stumbled upon an ancient sculpture of Jyestha Devi lying in the middle of a field. I wrote about this in my blog. I had titled it "The Neglected Jyestha Devi of Manimangalam". However, the title is not relevant anymore. She has got a shelter now (though not a structural temple but an asbestos sheet). She even got a new name. We all know her as Jyestha, Moo Devi, Thavvai and Mooththa Devi. But the villagers have innovatively come up with a new name, "Ratnamala".  

Based on the iconography, I feel that this sculpture of Mooththa Devi may belong to the 9th century CE (Pallava period). She is seated on a throne and has two arms. She holds lily in her right arm. Her left arms rests on her hip. She is depicted with thick thighs, flabby belly and large breasts. A tall conical crown adorns her head.

On her left, Jyestha is flanked by her daughter Manti. Sukanya and Agnimata are her other names. She is stylishly standing and has a conical crown on her head. She holds a flower in her right arm and rests her left arm on her hip. 

Jyestha's son Mantan (also called Komukan or Kulikan), the bull-headed deity, who is usually found on her right side, is missing here. It is evidently a damaged sculpture.

A small figure of a female attendant carrying a pot on her head is found near the left foot of Jyestha.

Last time, I also found a few other damaged sculptures scattered around. But none of them are found now.

To find the exact location of Devi, please follow the Google map provided below.

Happy travelling.