Aayirathu Enn Vinayaka Temple, Arumugamangalam,
Thoothukudi
Sri
Aayirathu Enn Vinayaka Temple is located at Arumugamangalam of Thoothukudi
District, Tamilnadu. This is one of the famous temples dedicated exclusively
for Lord Vinayaka with a Rath (car), flag post and celebrating festivals.
Acharya Sri Adi Sankara sang His Ganesha Pancharatna hymn in this temple before
proceeding to Thiruchendur to worship Lord Muruga with his Subramania Bhujangam
for remedy from a physical problem.
Legends
According
to history, Vadhabi Ganapathy (Vinayaka) brought from North was the first to be
installed in Tiruchengattankudi in Thanjavur in Tamilnadu in
7thcentury. Against this fact, the claim that Aayirathu Enn Vinayaka
was installed here 2300 years ago appears to be strange. However,
since the Vedic period, as Vinayaka worship occupies a priority place in pujas
to any Hindu God, this may be acceptable also to a spiritual
mind. We make Vinayaka even with turmeric powder or even with sand
when we need to have one. Aayirathu Enn Vinayaka is one who came to
us this way of His own to bless us.
During
the fourth century, a king Somara Vallaban brought 1008 Brahmins from
the Narmada River region to conduct a Yajna. Yet
their number was short by one. Lord Vinayaka appeared there in the guise
of a Brahmin and helped completing the Yajna in order. Hence, the
Vinayaka is named Aayirathu Enn Vinayaka – 1008thVinayaka. It is
said that Vinayaka stayed in the Arumugamangalam village itself offered to him
as Dakshina.
The Temple
The main
temple devoted to Lord Vinayaga is probably the oldest Ganapathy temple in
Tamilnadu as Ganapathi worship in other places has commenced only after the
Pallava periods, much later. The installation of Ganapathi Idol was in open
probably under the shades of Arasa maram & Vembu was the general practice
in early days. None of the idols had any roof to cover them in those days.
The practice is continued even today with respect to many village
deities such as Madan, Chattan, Munisamy and various female deities.
In later
development the temple was constructed with only Ganapathi in
Sanctum & Ardhamandapa in the beginning. Ukrama Pandian has
constructed the present form of other Sannadhis for Kalateeswarar, Kalyani
Amman etc. later, as the pattern of constructions reveal. A deity in the
form of Vishnu was also worshipped by the Brahmins within the precincts and
later removed to a separate temple. Majority of Brahmins brought
in from Narmada were Vaishnavites (People worshipping Vishnu) indicated by
the Vishnu temples all along Thamiraparani river banks installed by them.
The sandyavandanam prayer is also directed to Vishnu and probably reveals
that all Brahmins were vaishnavites in the beginning.
The
present days Mahamandapam along with the Sivan & Ambal Sannadhis
are one time extensions. The so called Rayar Mandapam (West of
Kodimaram & Balipeedam) looks to be a separate extension probably during
the period of Krishnadevarayar. A statue of Anjaneya is carved
in one of the pillars and is found nowhere else. Subsequent mandapam extensions
enclosing Dwajasthambam, Bali Peetam etc. are built by Naicker dynasty and
installation of Bali Peetam Dwajasthambam etc. have been done by Ponnambala
Thambiran of Tiruvavaduthurai Adheenam, who have played a major
role in renovating Saiva temples in this part of the country.
The Adheenam
had a mutt in the village called the Esaana madam. Three descendants of the
mutt namely, Muthiah Thambiran, Veliah Thambiran & Ponnambala Thambiran
have lived in the village. They have also regulated and organized the festivals
in the temple. The second day festival of the Chitrai festival and the first
day of Navarathri were conducted from the contributions from the
mutt. The statues of these Tambirans are available in the temple
precincts. They have also contributed in decorating the deities.
The Court Poet of Veerapandiya Kattabomman has sung a song on
the contribution of the Ratham by Thandavaraya Mudaliar. Vahana
mandapam was another subsequent addition. In recent times (1983)
renovations have been done, open spaces were roofed around prakaram but no new
constructions were added.
Available
records show Kumbhabhishekams have been performed in 1913, 1924, 1945 &
1983. The temple is under the control of Hindu Religious Endowment
department and administered by an Executive officer functioning from
Authoor. During the Kumbabishekam in 1945, Uthsavamoorthy of Panchaloka Pancha
mukha Vinayaga was installed. The piece is a very rare art piece only
one of its kind, with five faces on the same plane. Ten arms carry
different mudras and ayudams. The deity is in standing / dancing
form. The dhyana Sloka of the deity resembles that of Heramba Vinayaga. The Panchaloha
Idol of Lord Nataraja of this temple is a unique one having Makutam (Kreedom)
on his head as different from Jadamudi or virichadai in other
idols. Moreover the Tiruvachi of this idol is separate and detachable.
Probably this indicates the olden days of this idol when the complicated
casting technology for the combination was not available.
The
Chapparam for Lord Natarajar is probably the biggest in the district
measuring about 9 ft. square with a height of 9 ft. This is clad on
outside with brass plates. Lots of bells are hung within. This is contributed
by Vadamalaiappa Pillai. The thandayudham for this was specially brought
from Ceylon, donated by Swaminatha Pillai. A palanquin was donated by
the King of Travancore. Sri Sundaramurthi Pillai also contributed for the
construction of the Ratham.
The
Vinayagar temple is situated on the
(bindusthanam) centre of the triangle formed by the three kaval
Deivam, namely Ilayanainar, Thoppachi Amman & Sudalai Madan on west,
North & South. This is a rare phenomenon as the Mulasthanam
for Vinayaga is on the centre of basic triangle. A separate
Murugan Sannadhi with panchaloka statue of Lord Subramania, Valli &
Deivayanai was also there, now the statues are shifted to temple
premises.
Vinayaga
is the Adhishtana Devathai for Kethu graha and in combination with
Kalahastheeswara this place has become a parihara sthala for Kethu graha
dosha/ Kalasarpa dosha, next to Kaalahasthi in Andhra Pradesh. The pariharams
include performing Ganapathi homam & Navagraha homam in the
morning followed by Abhisheka & aradhana and offering of 108 / 1008 coconuts.
Lighting of Deepams in the evening is also part of this.
Annadhanam
was conducted in large scale 40 years ago. A separate kitchen was still available
for this purpose on the North West corner of the temple. Chathurkala puja as
per the Agama shastras is being performed with hereditary Shivachariyars.
Donations from public play a major role in financing the activities. The
annual festival in the month of Chitrai is being organized by the locals
from funds collected from philanthropic individuals,
organizations and institutions.
The erstwhile custom
of distributing food pockets to the Paradesis from the temple and
funded by the village administration was also discontinued in the recent
past. The temple records indicate donations from various people. Offering
of One hundred and eight or one thousand and eight coconuts is a
special feature in this temple wherein the Vinayaga is known to be
varaprasathi. Such offerings frequent almost every day. Lighting of 1008 Deepams
or part of it has become a new form of worship that has come to stay in recent
days. This is done on all Amavasyas and specific days as part of
Prarthanas.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Annual
festival is being celebrated in the month of Chitrai. Lord Vinayaga in
different vahanams blesses the devotees on first four days. On the
fifth day Lord Shiva and Ambal in Rishabha vahanam and Vinayaga on Mushika
vahanam decorate the streets. On the seventh day as is practiced
elsewhere, Lord Nataraja steels the show in Trikala puja. The Speciality of
this temple is that Lord Panchamuga Vinayaga joins Lord Nataraja on
these occasions. The festival closes on the tenth day with car festival.
Singers
The
legendary Adi Sankara is learnt to have sung the Ganesa Pancharathna on the
presiding deity of this village, prior to his song Subramania Bhujangam on Lord
Subramania of Thiruchendur. It may be noted that Pancharathna is being recited
every day in Thiruchendur prior to Bhujangam recital. Andan Kavirayan is known
to have cursed the village and deities in his songs and that is said to be the
reason for the degradation of the village. All these songs are given separately.
Prayers
As a
rule, all begin their routines, domestic or otherwise offering the first prayer
to Lord Vinayaka. People pray for removal of obstacles in wedding
efforts, progress in education, for early settlements in litigations pending in
courts, frequent repairs in vehicles leading to accidents. People
pray to Aayirathu Enn Vinayaka before starting any enterprise for auspicious
results. Realizing their wishes, devotees break 108 or 1008 coconuts in the
temple lighting 108 deeps (lamps) in the temple.
Contact
Sri
Aayirathu Enn Vinayaka Temple,
Arumugamangalam
– 628 802, Tuticorin district.
Phone: +91- 461 232 1486
Other
Temples
Pundarikakshaperumal
with Sridevi & Boo Devi in stone decorate the Garbagraham with Ananda
Vimanam of Vaishnava style. Other Parivara Devathas include, Garuda Bhagavan, Vishvaksena,
Navaneetha Krishnan and Peria Thiruvadi. They are located in Ardhamandapam.
There are no Uthsavamoorthis. The temple is erected before the commencement of
Vaishnavism. The deity adores Gopi Chandanam in U shape without the central
line. This temple is maintained by a private committee.
Thoppachi
Amman koil on the north boundary of the village, and till recently was in dilapidated
condition. Thanks to the efforts put forth by the locals, weekly pujas have
been restored now. Chudalaimada Sami koil more popularly known as Sami Kovil or
High Court Maharaja Kovil on the South boundary, this temple attracts heavy
crowds every Tuesday and on special festival days. The pujas in this temple are
performed by the members of a single family. Special buses are being run for
the benefit of devotees visiting this temple.
Ilayanainar
koil is located on the west side of Eral. This is situated on the banks of feed
channel that leads water to the tank. Residents of an erstwhile settlement by
name Yagnammal Puram had to move away due to the interruption by the canal when
it was dug in 1927. Thus the temple aged about 1400 years is located on the
northern bank of canal while Arumugamangalam - Eral tank bund road in on the
south side. Local people have taken interest to clean the area around and the
temple and are organizing weekly pujas. A foot bridge is constructed by Irai
Pani Mandram across the canal to facilitate public visiting the temple. The
presiding deity is Lord Muruga on Peacock with his consorts in standing
posture. The statues in stone are carved in high artistic form.
The
Kulathankarai Amman koil as it is known to be is on the tank bund on North West
corner of agraharam. Has no deity. A Peetam erected serves as the sanctum Sanctorium
wherein the deity is invoked and prayed for. This temple and a Bajanai madam
near the Vishnu temple are under the control of the Brahmana Samajam
functioning from the village. Other temples include the Vinayaga temple on the
Ratha Veedhi and a temple devoted to Mayilvahanamurthy in
Arumugamangalam.
Nearby Kottarakurichi
village contains three more small temples Veera Swamy koil, Uchimakaliammam
koil, & Badrakaliamman Koil. Regular pujas are not performed, but festive
occasions are celebrated by the local devotees.
Connectivity
Eral is
50 km Tirunelveli new bus stand. The devotee has to catch another bus from Eral
to Arumugamangalam. Auto and mini bus facilities are available. Nearest
Railway Station is located at Thoothukudi. Nearest Airport is located at
Thoothukudi and Madurai.