Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple
Overview
Karpaga Vinayagar or Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar Temple is located at Pillaiyarpatti in Sivagangai District. The temple is an ancient rock-cut cave shrine dedicated to Karpaga Vinayagar(Lord Ganesha).
The temple is maintained by the Chettiyar or Nagarathar community through an NGO Trust.
Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple – Etymology
Lord Ganesha presides in the temple with two arms and a twirling trunk in Valampuri posture, and so the name Valampuri Vinayagar.According to Hindu mythology, Karpaga Tree (Kalpavriksha) is a wish fulfilling divine tree. Lord Ganesha is believed to fulfill the wishes of his devotees and hence he is also referred to as Karpaga Vinayagar.
Architecture of Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple
Pillaiyarpatti Temple is a cave formation built in the era of early Pandyas. The stone inscriptions found in the temple indicate the temple to date between the years 1091 and 1238 B.C.
The images of Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva were carved out of a stone by a sculptor by name Ekkatur Koon Peruparanam. Other than the images of Lord Shiva and Ganesha, the temple houses shrines of other Gods as well.
The sanctum sanctorum (Vinayagar Sannidhi) apparently has no path for Parikrama or circumambulation. The presiding deity of Karpaga Vinayagar is 6 feet tall with the trunk curling towards the right (Valampuri Vinayagar). Other deities found in the temple are that of Goddess Karthiyayini, Nagalingam and Lord Pasupatheeswarar.
Temple Timings in Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar
The temple is open from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 8.30 PM.
Karpaga Vinayagar Pooja Timings
| Name of the Pooja | Pooja Timing |
|---|---|
| Thiruvanandal Abhishekam | 6:00 AM to 6:30 AM |
| Kalasandhi | 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM |
| Uchikalam | 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Saayaratchai | 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM |
| Artha Jama Pooja | 7:45 PM to 8:30 PM |
Festivals of Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple
Vinayagar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (August-September) is the major festival observed in the temple.The festival is held for 10 days and the temple attracts many devotees during this time.
How to reach Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple
Pillaiyarpatti is located at a distance of around 73 kilometres from Madurai and 16 kilometres from Karaikudi. The nearest railway station is at Karaikudi at a distance of around 18 kilometres. The nearest airport is at Madurai (about 94 kilometres away) and Trichy (about 89 kilometres away).
Epilogue
Pillaiyarpatti Vinayagar Temple is one of the oldest cave temples in Tamil Nadu. The Agamic texts (collection of scriptures-Vedic and Non Vedic) found in the temple not only helps to date the temple but also depicts the vivid culture of Tamil Nadu passed down through centuries.