Temple Of Locks: Locks ‘Big Mouths’

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Devotees have offered thousands of locks to the Pootu Muniappan Temple (Lock Muniappan Temple) at Salem in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, largely seeking divine intervention to ‘lock’ the mouth of a mother in law or a daughter in law who picks up quarrel or verbally harasses them frequently. It’s a sight to see on the Ayyanthirumaligai Road in Salem city; hundreds of locks put up on the barbed wire fencing around the temple under two large Banyan and Peepul trees called Aala Maram and Arasa Maram in Tamil.

Those whose prayers are answered return to unlock them and drop the locks in a designated enclosure. Arjun, the Temple Priest told tellmystory.in “Devotees take a pledge putting up these locks. It can be for issues between a daughter in law and mother in law or vice versa. They also do this to settle marriage issues. Childless couples too do this to bless them with a baby”.two

Devotees, whose prayers are fulfilled return to unlock them. They also sacrifice sheep or chicken and prepare meal in the temple premises itself. Some also offer the livestock to the temple. At a corner in the temple area, hundreds of unlocked locks are there in a small concrete pot dropped by people who’s prayers got fulfilled. “Many are unable to locate their locks. So they just drop the keys instead. Some come back in a few weeks. Some take time” Arjun added.

There is literally no space for locks in the temple now. Over the years worshippers have put up locks just anywhere including on ropes tied around trees in the temple. If you visit Salem this is a fascinating place to stop by. The temple is on the Yercaud Road, on the right soon after you turn right into Ayyanthirumaligai Road.

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