VINAYAKA TEMPLE - 02

Arulmigu Karpaga Vinayagar Temple Of Pillaiyarpatti

Thiruppatthur (Sivagangai District)

 

Pillaiyarpatti is a small town twelve kilometers from Karaikudi, near Madurai, in the Sivagangi District of Tamil Nadu.  The town is named after the Ganesa Temple that adorns it.  Here, Lord Ganesa is known as Pillaiyar, Tamil for revered and noble son, and 'Karpaga Vinayakar', Lord who offers his blessings like the celestial tree Kalpaka whose specialty is ' you ask and it will be given'.

Karpaka Vinayagar Temple is a 1600 year old Ganesha temple, located at Pillayarpatti, near Karaikudi, Sivagangai District of Tamil Nadu. Popularly known as Pillayarpatti Temple, Arulmigu Karpaga Vinayagar temple is one of the oldest cave temples in Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity, Desi Vinayaka Pillaiyar or Karpaka Vinayakar, is a 6 foot tall bas-relief carved out of an excavated cave. Lord Ganesh is seen with two arms and a trunk curled towards his right side (Valampuri Vinayagar).

Karpaka Vinayakar idol is facing north which is said to be the direction of Lord Kubera – the God of Wealth. Karpaga Vinayagar idol is in meditation posture here with Shiva Lingam at his right hand (most Ganesha idols usually have mothakam in the right hand); hence Ganesha is also called Yoga Vinayagar (Ganesha with meditation and all fortunes), the one who grants success to all requests of his devotees.

Arulmigu Karpaga Vinayagar Temple also enshrines Tiruveesar, a Shiva Lingam carved into the cave wall, and Marudankudi Eesar with his consort Vaadaamalar Mangai. A five-headed snake wearing a lingam on its neck is an important carving here. The temple also enshrines Pasupatheeswarar (who showers all wealth), Nagalingam (who gifts offspring to human beings), and Goddess Karthiyayini (who arrange marriages).

The inscriptions within this temple dates back between 1091 AD and 1238 AD. There are 14 Agama texts found on stone sculptures in the cave from 500 BC to 1284 AD. According to the stone sculptures the ancient names of Pillaiyarpatti are Maruthangudi, Ekkattoor, Rajanarayanapuram, and Thiruveenkaikkudi. The temple features two Rajagopurams, a vimana, and a beautiful temple tank. Karpaka Vinayakar Temple is also known by the names Desigavinayaga Pillaiyar Temple, Vinayagar Cave Temple, and often Pillayar Temple.

Pillaiyarpatti temple is a rock-cut temple located in Thiruppatthur, Sivagangai District. It was built after viewing a hillock by the early 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 4th century AD.

This temple is the only one in Tamil Nadu which contains a 6 feet rock-cut Pillaiyar idol. The Thumbikai of Lord Pillaiyar is curled towards his right side and so the God is also known as Valampuri Pillaiyar. The chettiyar (nagarathar) community 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 and etc.

    

Vinayagar’s trunk is curved at the right side ( Valampuri Vinayagar) which is also a unique feature. Lord Karpaga Vinayagar is seated facing northern side.

There are deities in this temple such as goddess Karthiyayini ( who arrange marriages), Nagalingam ( who gifts offsprings ), Pasupatheeswarar ( who showers all wealth).

Vinayagar Chathurthi is the very important festival in this temple. It is 10 days festival. Kappaukkattutual and hoisting temple flag begin before 9 days. At the 9 th day car festival and much celebrated decoration of sandal covering ( Santha-na-kkappu) to Pillaiyar takes place.

Devotees who observe Chathurthi Fast for a year come to Pillaiyarpatti on Avani Sukkilaptcha Chathurthi day (Festival) and fulfills it. They observe fast on Chathurthi day in front of vinayagar sannaidhi and take part in “ KumnaJebam” and receive holy pot of chanted holy water.

Temple timings:

Each day, five worship services are offered to the presiding deity, commencing at 6 AM , and closing down at 9 PM. During the fourth phase of each lunar half month, Pillayar is taken in procession around the temple. Hundreds of pilgrims patronize the temple on these days. 

FESTIVALS

The grandest of festivals is Ganesh Chaturti in the month of Aug - September, where a ten day celebration brings much gaiety to this temple town. 

Each day's celebration is marked by much splendor as Pillayar is taken in procession around town on several of his mounts, as are the other Pancha Murthys. 

The ninth day of the festival is marked by a chariot procession. In addition, the ten day festival in the month of Vaikasi (May - June) is held in honor of Kongu Nachiyamman, a village deity whose processional image is also housed here. 

The Margazhi Tiruvadirai festival is celebrated in honor of Nataraja and Sivakami (Dec - Jan). 

Location and Transport Facilities Rail and Road Networks

By Rail

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

• Train No. 6101 / 6102 - Chennai Egmore - Tiruchirappalli - Karikudi - Rameshwaram
• Train No. 6713 / 6714 - Chennai Egmore - Tiruchirappalli - Karikudi - Rameshwaram

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

 

By Road

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

From Trichy to Pillarpatti via Tiruputtur 112 km 

From Chennai to Pillayarpatti there are semi sleeper luxury buses being run by CT.S.Travels & Tours, which will drop you at straight at the temple and pick u back in the evening for your travel back to chennai  

The National Highway NH-210 - Trichy to Ramanathapuram goes via Pudukkottai and Karaikudi. 

The distance from Trichy to Karaikudi is 103 km and from there another 12 km to Pillaiyar Patti. 

Alternatively, the National Highway, NH-226 - Perambalur to Manamadurai goes via Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Tiruppattur and Sivaganga.

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

 

Nearby Tourist Places

Thirupputhur - Thiruthali Nathar,Yoga Bairavar Koil (Thirupputthur Periya koil) one of the Thevara Temple (2000 yrs old)  Thirupputhur - Thiruppathur Pillaiyar patti Temple (12 km from Tirupputthur bus stand)

Kundrakudi - Murugan Temple (15 kilometers from Thirupputthur) 

Kaliyar Kovil - Shiva Temple (13 kilometers from Thirupputthur) 

Thirukoshtiyur - Old Sivan Temple now Perumal Temple (6 kilometers from Thiruppatthur) 

Vairavanpatty - Valarolinathar (Near Pillaiyar patti11 km from Tirupputtur) 

Pattamangalam Astamasithi Thtchinamoorthy Temple ( 8 km from Tirupputtur) 

Piranmalai - Mangai Pagar Temple (22 km from Tirupputtur)