Karpaka Vinayakar Temple

Karpaka Vinayakar Temple
Name
Proper name Arulmigu Karpaka Vinayakar Kovil
Geography
Country India
State Tamil Nadu
Location Thiruppatthur, Sivagangai District
Culture
Primary deity

Karpaka Vinayakar

Tamil: கற்பக விநாயகர்
History and governance
Date built 4th century
Karpaka Vinayakar Temple at Pillayarpatti

Pillaiyar patti Pillaiyar temple is an ancient rock-cut cave shrine dedicated to Ganesha, located at Thiruppatthur (1 km from Thiruppatthur bus stand or Thiruppatthur Thiruthalli Nathar Temple (One of the Thevera temples), Sivaganga district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.

In the cave temple, there are rock cut images of Siva and other gods as well as several shrines. The Agama texts found on stones in the temple help date the temple between the years 1091 and 1238. A unique Tamil image of Pillaiyar found in the temple helps to verify this dating. The presiding deity of the temple is Karpaka Vinayakar or Desi Vinayaka Pillaiyar.[1]

As of today, the Pillayarpatti Nagarathar worshipers are involved in conducting daily worship services in the temple, as well as maintaining it. People from all over the state come to the temple for the worship of Pillayar, the Lord of Wisdom. It is one of the 9 temples of the Nagarathar Chettiar community of Chettinad, Tamilnadu.

The Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi festival, is celebrated for 10 days in a grand manner every year during the months of August and September.[2] During that time, great numbers of pilgrims gather and participate in the Car Festival. Like all Shaivite temples, Pillayarpatti temple also has Lord Shiva as its presiding deity. The lord's name is Arjunapureeswarar. This temple is most famous for the rock cut Vinayagar (Ganesha) sitting majestically inside a cave.

Temple timings:

The temple opens at 6 in the morning and stays open till 1 PM. The shrine is again opened at 4PM and is open till 8.30 PM.

Shri Karpaga Vinayagar

The Vinayagar sannidhi (Sanctom Sanctorum) is a cave where the 6 feet of Karpaga Vinayagar has been carved inside. As this is a cave formation, there is no provision to go around for the pradakshina. The inner sanctum is well illuminated with oil lamps and the whole idol is covered with gold. It is only during the Abhishekam, or the holy bath, when one can see the full idol in its pristine glory.

Arulmigu Karpaga Vinayagar Temple Of Pillaiyarpatti, Thiruppatthur (Sivagangai District)

Pillaiyarpatti is located near Thiruppathur, Sivagangai District of Tamil Nadu. It is situated between Kundrakkudi and Tiruppatthur. Pilliyarpatti is 12 Kilometers away from Thiruppatthur and 3 kilometers from Kundrakkudi. Pillaiyarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar is carved out in a cave of Pillaiyarpatti Hillocks. Lord Vinayagar is carved out from the rock of the cave. Lord Thiruveesar is also carved in the rock of this cave. The temple was built under patronisation of Pandyas. The age of the cave temple is 2500 years or more. There are 14 stone Sculptures in the cave ( dated from 500 BC to 1284 AD ). These stone Sculptures state the ancient names of Pillaiyarpatti such as Ekkattoor, Thiruveenkaikkudi, Maruthangudi, and Rajanarayanapuram.

Pillaiyarpatti temple is a rock-cut temple located in Thiruppatthur, Sivagangai District. It was built after viewing a hillock by the early Great Pandiya kings. The image of Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar and that of a Siva Lingam were carved out of a stone by a sculptor named Ekkattur Koon Peruparanan who put his signature on a stone inscription, in Tamil Language used between the 2nd and 5th century AD, found even today in the sanctum. It can be concluded that the icon of Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar must have been carved around the 4th century AD.

Pillaiyar (Vinayagar), the God of Victory is the main deity here in the name, Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar.

This temple is the only one in Tamil Nadu which contains a 6 feet rock-cut Pillaiyar deity. The Thumbikai of Lord Pillaiyar is curled towards his right side and so the God is also known as Valampuri Pillaiyar. The chettiyar community (Nagarathar - This temple is one of the nine important temples for Nagarathars) has kept the temple clean. Chettiars are the only community now whose subcastes are divided based on Sivan Temples. e.g. subcastes like Pillayarpatti, Elayatrankudi etc.

There is a one Pilliyar painting, in which Pillayar's eyes will look at us wherever we stand.

Location and Transport Facilities

Rail and Road Networks

By Rail

From Tiruchirappalli, there are four Daily Trains passing through Karaikudi, which Starts from Chennai and goes up to Ramaeshwaram.

Further from Karaikudi, we can reach PillaiyarPatti by Bus, which is just 12 km away from Karaikudi.

By Road

to Pilliarpatti via Tirupputtur there are frequent buses. 75 km from Madurai

A road connecting 2 National Highways (NH-210 and NH-226) and State Highway (SH-35), passes through Pillaiyar Patti, which further connects them at Tirupattur.

Thiruppatthur Nearby Tourist Places

References

  1. "Karpaga Vinayagar Kovil". Tamilnadu.com. 2 February 2013.
  2. "Pilliarpatti". Retrieved 2006-09-17.

External links

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