Rathnagiriswarar
Temple, Ayyarmalai,
Karur
Rathnagiriswarar Temple is a
Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Ayyarmalai near Kulithalai Town
in Karur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Ratnagiriswarar /
Arthanasaleswarar / Manikka Easar / Mudi Thalumbar / Malai Kozhundeesar / Raja
Lingam / Madhyana Sokkar / Ratnagrisar / Vaatpokki Nathar and Mother is called
as Karumbar Kuzhali / Aralakesi / Surunmbar Kuzhalai. The Temple is situated on
342 meters (1178 ft) high Ayyar Malai.
One has to climb 1017 steps to
reach to the top of hill. The place is called as Iyer Malai, Rathnagiri,
Sivayamalai, Ayvar Malai and Thiruvatpokki. It is considered very auspicious to
visit three Shiva Sthalams (Kadambar Kovil in the morning, Thiruvatpokki
(Ratnagiri) at noon and Thiruveengoimalai in the evening) on Mondays
during the Tamil month of Karthigai. It is also believed that Lord Shiva here
is worshipped by lightening once in 12 years.
The shrine has been praised in
the hymns of Saints Tirunavukkarasar and Arunagirinathar. This Temple is the
118th Devaram Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 1st Sthalam
on the south banks of river Cauvery in Chozha Naadu. Saint Arunagirinathar had
praised Lord Murugan of this Temple in his Thirupugazh Hymns. This temple is
administrated by The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department,
Tamilnadu.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
History
The Temple is believed to be
more than 1300 years old. There are about 50 inscriptions dating from the
11th to 16th century AD in the Temple premises.
Inscriptions indicates the temple received extensive patronage from the Cholas,
Pandyas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagara kings.
The Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Temple Opening time
The Temple remains open from 06.00
AM to 11.00 AM and 04.00 PM to 08.00 PM.
Pooja Timings
Poojas
|
Timings
|
Kalasanthi
Pooja
|
10:30
A.M
|
Uchikkala
Pooja (Noon Pooja)
|
12:00
Noon
|
Sayarachai
Pooja (Sunset Pooja)
|
05:00
P.M
|
Festivals
Chithirai Brahmotsavam, Karthigai
Somavaram, Karthigai Deepam, Thiruvadhirai, Thai Poosam, Pournamis, Amavasyas,
Pradoshams, Mondays, Fridays, first day of the month, Guru Peyarchi, Sani Peyarchi,
Girivalam on Pournami Days, Tamil New Year, English New Year, Deepavali and
Pongal are the festivals celebrated here. The crowd would be too huge for 15
days during the Chithirai Festival and on Mondays of the Karthikai month,
especially on the 3rd and 4th Mondays. Devotees go up
rolling. During Pradosham days, transition of Guru (Jupiter) and Saturn and
Poornima (full moon day), week end days, Tamil months 1st day the
crowd will be huge for Girivalam (around the mount).
Religious Significance
For brief details, please refer below link;
Literary Mention
For brief details, please refer below link;
Prayers
Those who have no knowledge of
their family deities (Kula Deivam) may adopt Rathnagreeswarar as their family
deity. The Easwara grants boons of marriage, business development, children.
Freedom from depression is attained here. Majority of the devotees visit the
place for mental peace alone.
While going up on the steps, the
devotee breaths the air from the various herbal plants on both sides and get
relieved from Asthma, Blood pressure, chest pain, joint pains etc. The
experience can be felt even in a single trip. Those doing so often are
completely cured of these problems and this is the truth practically
experienced by the devotees.
Devotees perform abhishekam and
offers vastra to Lord and Mother. Devotees offer bell lamps (Manivilakku) to
the God besides usual Archanas etc. Abisheks are offered in oil, milk, tender
coconuts. They undertake some fasting also and do charities. Dhyana, penance
and such silent prayers are undertaken by the devotees. Preparations offered to
the deity are distributed to visitors.
Contact
Rathnagiriswarar Temple,
Ayyarmalai, Sivayam (PO),
Kulithalai Taluk – 639 120
Karur District
Phone: +91 4323 245 522
Email: eoayyarmalai@gmail.com
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 9
Kms from Kulithalai, 9 Kms from Kulithalai Kadambavaneswarar Temple, 10 Kms
from Kulithalai Railway Station, 14 Kms from Musiri, 14 Kms from Thiruengoimalai
Maragadachaleswarar Temple, 41 Kms from Karur, 55 Kms from Namakkal, 47 Kms
from Trichy and 54 Kms from Trichy Airport. The Temple is situated on
Manapparai to Musiri Route. Kulithalai Railway Station is situated on the Karur
– Tiruchirappalli section of the Southern Railway. Bus services from Trichy,
Erode and Karur are available to go to Kulithalai. From Kulithalai Cauvery
river bridge junction, all the buses going towards south (Manapparai) passes
through this hill shrine. From Manaparai buses to Musiri, Kulithalai passes
through this hill shrine.
