Sidhapudur Ayyappan
Temple
It is the Second most significant Lord Ayyappan temple and
therefore often referred to as second Sabarimalai. Pilgrims during Sabarimalai
pilgrimage often stop over here before moving on to Sabarimalai.
Sree Ayyappa Temple located at Sidhapudur in Coimbatore is a
famous temple for Lord Sree Ayyappa. This temple is built on the lines of
original Sabarimalai Temple in Kerala. Hence it is known as second Sabarimalai
Temple.
The Ayyappan temple in Sidhapudur area of Coimbatore is the most
renowned holy place after the Sabarimalai. This elegant place of divinity is
situated just 1 Km from Coimbatore's central Gandhipuram and 4 Km from central
railway station.
The origin of the temple belongs as early as1955 when the Coimbatore
Ayyappan Seva Sangam was formed. Land for the temple was procured in 1958 and
the foundation stone was laid in 1966.In 1969 first Kumbabishekam was
performed, ever since the temple has evolved over the years. In 1972 Kodimaram
was installed and in 1981 the renovation works took place, which completed in
1988 with the inauguration of Raja Gopuram. Sree Ayyappan being the primary
idol, small shrines for Vinayaka, Durga, Vishnu, Muruga and a separate Shrine
for Shiva were built around the main sanctum.
All the rites and ritual are performed as the same manner as in
the Sabarimalai Maharavilakku, Prathishta day, Navarathri, Lakshrachana,
Mandalavilakku and Mahaganpathy homam are among the main ceremonies of this
temple.
History
This temple has got an interesting history. It all began in the
year 1942 with some Ayyappa devotees forming into a small pooja group doing
Ayyappa bhajans in a makeshift place. During traditional mandala pooja, they
started Ayyappan Vilakku Pooja before going on a Sabarimalai Yathra. Year after
year they continued the pooja while the number of devotees grew.
In 1955, they registered themselves as The Coimbatore Sree Ayyappa
Seva Sangam. Three years later, in 1958, a land was acquired at Siddhapudur to
construct a temple. An industrialist Sri Narasi Thulasidas provided a shed at
the temple site. The devotees installed a portrait of Lord Sri Ayyappaswamy.
The bhajans and Poojas continued unabated year after year.
In 1966, the construction of the temple began with Brahmashri
Kanippaiyur Shankaran Nambudhiripad had drawn the sacred chart specifying
dimensions, measurements and symmetrical proportions of the structure of the
temple. The drawings also provided the dimensions, measurements and location of
installing Lord Vinayagar, Goddess Durga Devi, Lord Sri Murugan and Lord Sri
Maha Vishnu; and a place for temple kitchen too is provided in the blueprint.
Finally on 24th March of 1969, the first Kumbhabhishekam ceremony
was performed under the guidance of Palakkattillathu Periya Neelakandan
Nambudhiri and his team of priests. In 1972, a Kodi Maram (Dhwajasthambham) was
installed and was later was covered in pure gold. It is said that this is the
only temple in entire Tamil Nadu where Dhwajasthambha was covered in pure gold.
In 1980, a community hall has come up.
In 1981, the tiled roofing over the sanctum sanctorum was covered
in copper and Kalashams over it were covered in gold. In 1988, a Rajagopuram in
black stones was completed and inaugurated by Kanchi Kamakoti Peedathipathi Sri
Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. The temple is also running a goshala and
maintaining a beautiful poongavanam (flower garden).
Sub-shrines
There are sub-shrines in the temple for Lord Shiva, Lord Vinayagar, Sri Murugan, Sri Maha Vishnu and Goddess Durga.
Special Poojas and Festivals
Regular Poojas, special Poojas and festivals are being carried out
on the traditional lines of original Sabarimalai temple. Arattu festival which
is celebrated in the tank–water is also conducted. The temple inaugural day is
also celebrated as a festival on Rohini Nakshatra in the month of Panguni
(March).
The celebrations of the festival would begin eight days before
this date. The customary procession with elephants, grand cultural activities,
spiritual discourses, musical recitals and other programs are included in the
festival days. The Pallivettai, Arattu procession and special pooja anustanas
like Mel Shanthi and Keel Shanthi are conducted in a marvelous way. The daily
procedures of Seeveli offerings are followed by worshiping.
Monthly Poojas
Lord Hanuman Pooja is done on the first Thursday of Malayalam
month. Sree Chakra Pooja is done on the first Friday of every Malayalam month.
Thrikala Pooja for Goddess Bhagavathi is done on the first Friday of Malayalam
month.
Prathosham Pooja for Lord Shiva and Karthikak Pooja for Lord
Murugan are done twice in a month. Navagraha Pooja is performed on the first
Saturday of the Malayala month Abhishekam with oil is done Thiruvonam to Lord
Vishnu; Karthika to Lord Murugan; Uthram to Lord Ayyappan; Thiruvathira to Lord
Shiva; Bharani to Goddess Bhagavathi, Chathurthi to Ganapathi.
Annual Festivals
Makaravilakku Day: January 14th is celebrated as Makaravilakku Day on which
Makarajyothi appears at Sabarimala; Mahadheeparadhana is performed by the
Temple Melsanthi and the Sacred Jyothi is shown to devotees.
Lord Nagarajar Pooja: In the Kumbha month (February) Ayilya Nakshatra special
pooja for Lord Nagarajar is performed to relieve from nagadoshams, marriage
doshams and puthra doshams. This Pooja is performed by a famous Pampumekkat
Illam.
Prathishta Day: The Prathishta Day of this temple is celebrated in the month
of March or April on Rohini Nakshatra day. This is an eight-day festival. Among
these rituals, the Kalashabhishekam is performed to Lord Ayyappa with pure
sandal paste mixed with Kumkumapoo, Kasthuri, and Khorojanam.
Ashtadhravya
Ganapathy Homam: During the Karkitaka
Month, the special Ashtadhravya Ganapathy Homam and Bhagavathseva is performed
throughout the month for the fulfillment of various prayers of the
devotees. During this month eight days long Srimad Bhagavatha Sapthaha
Yagnam is performed every year. Apart from these discourses in Tamil and
Malayalam is also conducted every year by popular Vedanthies.
Navarathri Festival: The Navarathri festival in this temple is a very famous
festival among the bhakthas in and around the city. Special
Ashtabhishekam is performed to Goddess Devi. Cultural programs like
Bharthanatyam and music concerts are performed. Every year Aaksharabhyasam
(initiation of children into education) is performed; and more than 2500
children participate in this festival.
Illam Nira Pooja: Illam Nira Pooja and Puthari Nivedhya Pooja are special
Poojas that are performed wherein new grain is offered as Naivedhyam.
Mandalam Pooja: Mandalam period i.e. Nov 16th to Jan 14th is the busiest
period in this Temple. On the first day i.e. Karthikai 1, maladhaaranam takes
place. Around 3000 to 4000 people begin their mandala vratham with
maladhaaranam. Irumudi Kettu ceremony is also organized in this temple. More
than 15,000 people start their Pilgrimage to Sabarimala after irumudi Kettu
ceremony from here. The Lakshrachana pooja is also performed in this
temple from 1st December to 12th December by famous priests from Kerala. On the
13th day of Laksharchana the Kalabha Kalasam is being taken in a procession and
the Kalabhabhishekam is performed to the Lord Ayyappan.
Akhandanama Bhajana: Akhandanama Bhajana (worshipping Lord Ayyaman with
devotional songs) takes place 24 hours continuously; and is followed by
Annadhanam in which more than 25000 people participate.
41st Day
Mandalavilakku: On 41st Day the
Mandalavilakku is performed and on the same day Mahaganapathy Homam in a
specially designed Homakundam is performed by the Temple Thanthri.
Specialty
Sree Ayyappan devotees from other states proceeding to Sabarimalai
make a stop here at Sidhapudur Sri Ayyappan Swamy temple to participate in a
sacred garlanding and Virtha pooja (procedural diet restrictions). Thus this
temple is considered as a resting place for Ayyappa devotees proceeding on
pilgrimage to Sabarimalai.
Temple Timings
5.00 am to 11.00 am and from 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm.
Contact
Sidhapudur Sri Ayyappan Temple,
143-Chinnaswamy Naidu Road,
New Sidhapudur, Coimbatore – 44.
Phone: 422 – 2523027 and 2524819
Connectivity
By Bus: While coming to Coimbatore by bus get down at Ukkadam; from
Ukkadam number of buses ply to Gandhipuram; and from Gandhipuram to Sidhapudur
Ayyappan Temple is 1 Km.
By Train: Nearest railway station is Coimbatore Junction. From here
the temple is 4 km away via Avinashi Road. From here buses and private
auto-rickshaws are available to reach the temple in Sidhapudur.
By Flight: Nearest airport is Coimbatore Airport. From here the temple
is 9 km away via Avinashi Road. Number of buses ply from Peelamedu to
Gandhipuram. From Gandhipuram, the temple in Sidhapudur is just 1 km away.