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Saturday, October 3, 2015

Sidhapudur Ayyappan Temple, Coimbatore

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.