Pillayarpatti Karpaka Vinayakar Temple
The 1600 year old Karpaka Vinayakar Temple in Pillayarpatti is one of the oldest and most popular Hindu shrines in south India. A rock cut cave temple featuring a massive sculpture of Vinayakar, the temple also has ancient images of other Hindu deities. The immensely powerful Karpaka Vinayakar Temple is also one of the cleanest and best managed shrines in India, drawing devotees from across south India who come to pray to Pillaiyar, the ‘remover of obstacles.’
History
The history of the Karpaka Vinayakar Temple in Pillayarpatti can be classified into three broad stages of growth stretching back to over 1600 years ago. The first period involved the creation of the innermost rock cut structures housing the primary image of Karpaka Vinayakar and also that of Tiruveesar. The distinctiveness of the image of Vinayakar at Pillayarpatti as well as the characters used in temple inscriptions helps corroborate the date of the original construction of the temple at around the 4th century AD. The pillars within the innermost shrine are also from this period.
The Pillayarpatti temple went through a second phase of growth when the Pillayarpatti Nagarathar community took over management of the shrine. Several inscriptions within the Karpaka Vinayakar Temple dating back to the period between 1091 and 1238 AD attest to this period of development which involved the building of the rajagopurams and vimanam. The third stage of growth is the more recent renovations and refurbishments of the temple complex, including enlargements of the temple tank and the two rajagopurams that provide a majestic approach to the Pillayarpatti temple.
Managed to this day by the capable hands of Karpaga Vinayagar Nagarathar Trust, the temple enjoyed the patronage of local rulers throughout its history, including that of the Pandya kingdom of Tamil Nadu. The Karpaka Vinayakar Temple is today recognized as one of the best managed Hindu temples in India, known for its cleanliness and general upkeep.
The 1600-year old Karpaka Vinayakar at Pillayarpatti
Location
The Karpaka Vinayakar Temple is located in Pillayarpatti, a quaint little town 15 km west of Karaikudi in the Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu. The town itself draws its name from the presiding deity of the temple, Vinayakar, who is also known as Pillaiyar among the Tamil speaking people. The innermost shrines were carved out of a hill in Pillayarpatti, and the temple complex grew around these original structures. Pillayarpatti is the quintessential temple town, with the Karpaka Vinayakar Temple being the very heart of the place and bearing testimony to the vibrant temple building culture of the Tamil people through the ages.
Deities
Karpaka Vinayakar is the presiding deity of the Pillayarpatti Temple. Also known as Desi Vinayakar, the image of Lord Ganesha here is an imposing 6 foot tall bas relief carved out of an excavated cave. One of the most popular images of Lord Ganesha in south India, the majestic Karpaka Vinayakar of Pillayarpatti has two arms instead of the usual four and with his trunk curled to his right in thevalampuri mode. He is seated in the ardha padmasana pose holding in his right hand a lingam. Lord Ganesha is known as ‘Karpaka Vinayakar’ here after the mythological tree namedkarpakam that fulfills all the wishes of devotees. It is believed that Vinayakar, whose name means ‘incomparable leader,’ will satisfy the needs and prayers of devotees, bestowing them with ample wealth and prosperity. According to local legend, Kubera himself, the Lord of Wealth, worshipped Ganesha at Pillayarpatti.
The Karpaka Vinayakar Temple at Pillayarpatti also features an image of Tiruveesar, a Shiva Lingam carved into the cave wall and dating back to the original construction of the shrine. In addition there are images of two other lingams – Marudheesar and Senchadeswarar – as well as three forms of Amman – Sivakami, Vadamalar Mangai and Sundara Nayaki.
Another prominent sculpture in the Pillayarpatti Temple is a five-headed snake wearing a lingam on its neck. The heads of the snake represent the five human senses while the lingam symbolizes God, and the sculpture is meant to illustrate the notion that in order to realize God, the influence of the senses must be controlled.
Pillayarpatti Karpaka Vinayakar Temple near Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu
Temple Complex
Since the original structures of the Karpaka Vinayakar Temple were carved into a cave formation, there is no provision for a pradakshina around the Vinayakar sannidhi, or sanctum sanctorum. The inner sanctum is well lit with oil lamps to allow proper darshan. Another distinct feature of the Pillayarpatti Temple is that the image of Karpaka Vinayakar faces north while most presiding deities in Hindu temples face east.
The Karpaka Vinayakar temple complex in Pillayarpatti also includes the Vedaagama Vidyalaya, a Hindu academy run under the auspices of the Nagarathar Trust that also manages the temple. The chanting of sacred mantras from the Vedas, Agamas, and Tevaram in the Karpaka Vinayakar Temple by students of the academy help create a divine ambience within the shrine. Also prominent within the temple complex is the large temple tank.
Festivals
The festivities of Vinayakar Chaturthi celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha are the biggest events held at the Karpaka Vinayakar Temple in Pillayarpatti. The ten day Vinayakar Chaturthi is observed in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept) involves intricate rituals and grand processions of the primary deities of the temple. Vinayakar is taken in procession around the town of Pillayarpatti seated on a different vahanam on each day of the Vinayakar Chaturthi, with the ninth day of the festival marked by a magnificent chariot procession. The elaborate festivities bring much splendor and gaiety to the town, attracting hundreds of thousands of faithful devotees from across Tamil Nadu.
Another ten day festival, this one honoring Kongu Nachiyamman, a village deity whose processional image is also housed at the Karpaka Vinayakar Temple, is held in the Tamil month of Vaikasi(May-June). The Margazhi Tiruvathirai festival in honor of Lord Nataraja and Sivakami is held in the month of Margazhi (Dec-Jan). Furthermore, every twelve years, the Karpaka Vinayakar Temple in Pillayarpatti celebrates the mahakumbabishekam, or consecration, ceremony on a grand scale, with the most recent one having been held in 2004.
Poojas
Poojas are performed on a regular basis throughout the day, accompanied by Vedic, Thevaram and Tiruvachakam hymns. Garlands made of a type of grass called arugampul that is considered auspicious for Lord Ganesha are usually offered. Devotees pray for blessings at the Karpaka Vinayakar Temple when undertaking new endeavors as Lord Ganesha is regarded as the ‘remover of obstacles.’ Hundreds of thousands of devotees visit Pillayarpatti annually for a darshan of Karpaka Vinayakar.
Karpaga Vinayagar koil is one of the oldest Cave Temples (Rock Cut) temples of Tamilnadu and situated at Pillayarpatti, which is between Pudukkottai and Karaikkudi. The nearest airport is at Tiruchirappalli, Chennai. Rameswaram Express and Kamban Express travel to these two railheads.The town of Pillaiyarpatti is named after 'Pillayar' - the tamil name for Ganesha, and this ancient temple houses rock cut images of Shiva, Lingodbhavar and others as well as several other shrines. Steeped in the tradition of Agamic textsthe temple bears testimony to the vibrant temple culture of the Tamil people, passed down through centuries.
Antiquity: Over 15 inscriptions are found within the temple, that help establish the age of the temple. The Stalapuranam published by the temple classifies the growth of this temple into three distinct stages.
The first stage goes back in time by about 1600 years. During this period, the innermost rock cut shrines housing Karpaka Vinayakar and Tiruveesar came into being. The uniqueness of the image of Ganesha is one factor testifying this date; the characters used in the temple inscriptions also help establish this date. The pillars within the shrine are of pre-Pallava origin.
The Pallavas were prolific builders of rock cut temples (Mahabalipuram, Mahendravadi, Mamandur, Mandakapattu, Seeyamangalam, Namakkal, Tiruchi, Nartamalai, Kudumiyanmalai, Tirukkokarnam, Tirumeyyam, Peraiyur, Malayadipatti, Tirukolakkudi, Kunrakkudi etc.). A number of these can be traced to Mahendravarman I (615 - 630 AD) and Narasimhavarman I (630 - 668 AD). However, the inscriptions at Pillayarpatti date further back to the 4th century AD. Also, given the location of the temple in the Pandya kingdom it would only be logical to associate Pandya patronage to this temple, especially in the light of Pandya patronage at the Kazhugumalai temple not too far from here. There are several inscriptions within this temple that date back to the period between 1091 AD and 1238 AD, making it apparent that the Pillayarpatti Nagarattar became the custodians of the temple during the 13th century AD during the second growth phase of this temple, when Vimanams and Rajagopurams were built.
The third phase of growth is much more recent and it involved the repair, rebuilding and refurbishment of the entire temple complex, including the renovation of the temple tank. The tank and the two Raja Gopurams provide an attractive approach to the temple, in this rather remote town of Pillayarpatti.
Deities:
Karpaka Vinayakar or Desi Vinayaka Pillaiyar is the presiding deity here, and he is portrayed with two arms and a trunk curled towards his right in the valampuri mode. This 6 feet tall mammoth image of Ganesha is a bas relief in an excavated cave, off of a hill in the precincts of the temple. Scholars says that Lord Vinayaga is the Lord of wisdom, which is confirmed by the head of elephant in the shape of sacred mantram "OM". When we draw a line from the broken left tusk, starting upward, then turning left to wards right ear and after passing through the bended left tusk up to the tip of trunk, Tamil alphabet "O" appears. The Lingam in the hand indicates the alphabet "M". Together they form "OM". This is confirmed by the lord here "Valamburi Pillayar". As Vinayagar satisfies the wishes of his devotees like Karpagam tree, he is also known "Karpaga Vinayagar".Here Lord Vinayaga appears with 2 hands unlike in other places where he is seen with 4 hands. Also he is seen seated without Angusapasam, with his legs folded and stomach not touching the Asanam in the form of "Artha Padma" Asanam.
The word Vinayaga means "Incomparable Leader" Devotees worshipping Valamburi Vinayagar seated facing towards north, will be blessed with all wealth. Chanting of sacred mantrams by the student learning Vedas and agamas in the Vedaagama School create a divine atmosphere.
The deity of this temple is known as "Marudeeswarar" as Marudha tree (In Sansscrit Arjuna Virutcha,Tne Botanical name is Termanalia Arjuna) worship is followed in this temple which indicates that this temple in an ancient temple. The sculptur of pasupatheeswarar, "A cow worshipping Lord Siva by offering his milk" is the special feature of this temple. Also kubheran the Lord of wealth had worshipped at this temple.
To illustrate the information that one where controls his five senses will be able to understand God, a sculplure of five headed snake wearing a Lingam on its neck is found here. The five head of the snake indicate the five senses while the Lingam indicates God. Also adding to the sprituality Goddess Laxmi, Saraswathi and Durgai are found together at the same sport.
Unlike other places the three Lingams Thiruveesar, Marudheesar and Senchadeswarar and the three Goddess Sivagami amman, Vadamalar Mangaiamman and Soundara Nayaga amman all appear together at the same place and bless the devotees.
It is believed that by worshipping Kathyayini amman at this temple women get relived from sevvai dosham which prevent them from getting married. "Sabda Madhar" whom importance due to changing time are provided with a seperate sannidhi known as Sakthi sannidhi at this temple.
