Friday, September 2, 2016

Navaladi Karupannaswamy Temple, Mohanur, Namakkal

Navaladi Karupannaswamy Temple, Mohanur, Namakkal
Navaladi Karupannaswamy Temple is a 2000 years old temple in Mohanur, Namakkal District, India. Its presiding deity is Karuppu Sami, also known as Navaladian and Judge Durai. It is also known as Pattamarathan. Presiding deity is Swayambu. It is known for two trees, the "Holy tree" known as Novel tree and the "Special tree", known as Neem tree. Its scriptural name is Mahanur.

Legends
Lord Shiva, in the form of Sivasakthi had come down as a watch God in the name of Karupannaswamy. Uppiliappan Thittu King Mohur Pazhayan ruled Mohanur and prayed to Navaladian before making decisions. He declared the nearby Neem Tree as the Watch Tree of the region. After the invasion of Senguttuvan, the Naval tree became dry. As the deity was near this tree, he was called Pattamarathan. As he was also near the Naval tree, the deity was also known as Navaladian.
Traders in olden days were using this path for their travels.  When they reached this place, it was night.  They placed a stone they brought with them under the Naaval tree and slept.  Next day, when the continued their journey, they could not lift the stone they placed there. Karuppusamy appeared through a devotee and said that he had stayed there and advised them to build a temple. Devotees followed the order and built the temple. As the deity had chosen the place under the Naaval tree, He is praised as Naavaladi Karuppuswamy.
The Temple
The main entrance of the temple is on the northern side.  Mother Chellandi Amman is opposite of this entrance.  Sitting on a Peeta, She is holding weapons as Udukkai, trident and flower and kumkum appearing as the destroyer of a demon.  Saptha Kannikas – seven virgins – are in the front mandapam.  There are three horse Vahanas at the entrance with Nandhi the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva, a lion (Simha) and another horse. The guardian deities are under the Naaval tree. The procession deity, made of wood is in a separate shrine with his consorts Bommi and Vellayammal.  
The Swayambu Murthy is in a pit in the temple. There is a dry tree behind the swayambu called Pattamaram, meaning that the tree is dry. The deity is in the form of a Peeta – platform. The Chera King Senguttuvan performed the field puja here before invading to the north. The Chellandiamman shrine is very popular. The pujas performed here are non-vegetarian.

Navaladi Karuppuswamy is in the form of a Peeta or a platform in a small pit.  The temple is built among the stones placed by traders in early days.  This peeta is drawn with eyes, nose and tilak with sandal and dressed (Alankara) as a deity. A turban is also placed on the peeta. Devotees write their prayers in paper and tie it in the naval tree. They are not removed but are placed in the temple complex.  As these are considered a petition submitted to Lord, nobody has the courage to touch them. 
The Karuppuswamy Peetam is just a little away from the temple where people sacrifice Kida-animal and cocks as their prayer commitments after realizing their wishes.  There is also a custom of offering chappal Kanikka in the Peepal tree-Arasa Maram. Three Vels – a weapon with a long handle with a sharp base at the end as in the hands of Lord Muruga with two horses nearby re installed in the temple.  
Those who had committed wrongs knowingly punch a lime fruit on these Vels and pledge that they would not repeat the sin. The horses nearby are the witnesses to the pledge. These Vels are known as Sakthi Vel or Satya Vel. Those cheated by others also pray to the Vels for remedy.
Temple Opening Time
The temple is continuously open from 4.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.
Festivals
During the Panguni month (March–April) Mariamman festival is celebrated for 10 days. The Kaliyamman festival follows then in Chithirai (April–May), lasting 8 Days.
Every day is a festival day in the temple with special pujas and Alankarams to the presiding deity. Those praying and realizing their wishes offer nivedhanas called Padayal to Sri Karuppuswamy. He is also praised as Padayalsami.
Prayers
Devotees throng the temple seeking solutions for burden of debt, family problems, incurable diseases, for success in raising cattle and for children and suitable marriage alliances. People sacrifice sheep and cocks to the deity. The midnight puja called Sathya Puja is considered very important by the devotees.
Here people submit their prayers in writing. They state their grievances in a petition as if submitting to an official and tie them in the Pattamaram tree in the temple. They speak face to face with the deity. Majority of the devotees are those cheated by others. Realizing their wishes, devotees sacrifice sheep and cocks.
Contact
Navaladi Karuppusamy Temple,
Mohanur – 637 015,
Namakkal District, Tamilnadu
Phone: +91- 4286 - 256 400, 256 401, 255 390.
Connectivity
Mohanur is 18 km from Namakkal. The temple is 2 km away from the bus stop. Nearest railway station to Navaladi Karuppusamy Temple in Mohanur is Mohanur Railway Station which is 18km away. From here buses and autos are available to reach the temple. Nearest airport to Navaladi Karuppusamy Temple in Mohanur is Tiruchirappalli Airport which is 69 KM away. From here taxis and buses are available to reach the temple.