"Around 1400 A.D, Periyachi was a village doctor in Kondithoppu village in Thondai Nadu (now Chennai, India). She was well known for her proficiency in delivering babies. She was well versed in martial skills such as sword fighting, and spear throwing. In 1406 A.D, King Vallalan IV had been dethroned and was hiding in the jungle with his entourage. Having grown bitter and loing hope of recapturing the throne, he raided and plundered the nearby villages, and became a bandit. His wife Kaarkuzhali, was about to deliver a baby. Periyachi was dragged to the forest in the middle of the night to deliver the baby. Vallalan was a strong believer in astrology who believed that the baby should not touch the earth. Periyachi performed this delivery skillfully. She put Kaarkuzhali on her lap while seated on a boulder in the forest. She delivered the baby by cutting open her abdomen (caesarean section) and held the baby in one of her arms. At this point, both the mother and the baby were in good condition. However, King Vallalan had other plans. He had been advised by his astrologer to kill the baby as well as anyone who touched the baby with their hands. This means that Periyachi should be killed as well. When Vallalan attempted to kill Periyachi, she was enraged and showed her prowess. She impaled his heart with a trident, and then put him under her legs to ensure his death. The wife who tried to help him, was disemboweled and Periyachi ate her intestines, in a fit of rage. During the entire time, she held the baby safely in her hand which was later brought up as her own child. She named him Seeralan. Periyachi became a heroine for killing the bandit who was terrorizing Thondai Nadu. She was praised by people for saving the baby's life. During her lifetime, Periyachi became an icon among pregnant women. Periyachi will ensure the safety of babies and their mother alike. Just like Hidimbi devi in the Mahabharat, Periyachi is also a forest-dwelling goddess of rakshasic nature, thus owing to her fearsome features of having a copperish complexion, fangs n claws and multiple arms. Till today, when a child is born, on the 16th day Periyachi is worshipped with offerings of a black saree, non-veg preparations and alcoholic beverages, in a secluded area in the house with only women permitted to be present. Source : I/N
