Saturday, November 28, 2015

Rathnagiriswarar Temple, Ayyarmalai, Karur

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
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.