Sri Nava Kannigaigal
Protector of young girls - NAVA KANNIKAIS
The nava kannikais are the conceptual children of the sage Atri and his wife Anusuya. These conceptual nava kannikais are: Brahmi, Raudri, Maheshwari, Vaishnavi, Shyamala, Yagnaroopini, Rajarajeshwari, Manonmani, and Kaumari.
They have been consecrated to look after the health and well-being of young girls.
This installation came to Swamigal as a surprise. A stranger from abroad arrived at his doorstep declaring that certain olai chuvadi predictions had directed him to offer prayers to the nava kannis at Walajapet Danvantri healing centre. This was a message to Swamigal, he then installed the Nava Kannikais at once.
It so happened that a fig tree on the premises naturally grew like a trident. This was an indication that the tree housed the living energies of Atri Maharishi himself. He located the nava kannikais right below this tree. They are revered as guardians of the boundary and are worshipped prior to all other deities.
