Pages

Friday, September 28, 2018

Nandrudayan Vinayaka Temple, Trichy

Nandrudayan Vinayaka Temple, Trichy
Nandrudayan Vinayaka Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha located in East Boulevard Road in the neighbourhood of Devathanam in Trichy City in Trichy District of Tamilnadu. This is a unique temple that has a sannidhi with Vinayaka having a Human face. The temple has been spoken of by Kanchi Mahaperiyava for its Nara mukha Ganapathy (Human faced Ganapathy). It is a very old temple which was originally part of the Rockfort Temple Complex.

History
The Nandrudayan Vinayaka Temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Trichy city. The Seventh Century Tamil Saint Sambandar had in one of his pathigams praised the presiding deity of the temple thereby indicating that this is one of the oldest temples in Sirappalli (Trichy). The temple has been glorified by Kanchi Maha Periyavar Sri Chandra Sekharendra Saraswathi Swamy.
The Temple
The temple is built in the Dravidian style of architecture. The five-foot tall majestic presiding deity of the temple - Nandrudayan Vinayagar adorning a Nagabaranam around his waist, has a Naganandhi facing him at the Eastern entrance of the temple. It may be mentioned that Nandi Deva is generally associated with Siva Temples only. The Temple boasts of the unique Adi Vinayagar granite idol depicting Lord Ganesha with his original divine face without the usual elephantine head and the trunk.
The four-foot tall Adi Vinayagar is installed in a separate shrine close to the sanctum sanctorum and the divine grace of the brilliantly sculptured granite idol is indeed captivating. In the one hand Lord Ganesha holds the axe, symbolizing the destruction of all desires, a rope to indicate his willingness to rescue anyone from the mire of vasanas, the modaka representing the joyous reward of spiritual life, and lotus symbolizing that all can achieve the supreme state of self-realization.

The large belly of Ganesha is to convey the idea that a Man of Perfection can consume and digest whatever experience he undergoes. The tiny rat which is seated in front of the Lord amidst a rich collection of food is to indicate that a perfect man - like the rat, will have total control over his desires.
There is also a separate shrine with a 4-foot statue of Adi Vinayaka within the temple complex. There are idols of Adi SankaraVeda Vyasa, Gayatri, Sadasiva Brahmendra and Pattinathar within the smaller shrine. Just behind the sanctum sanctorum an Anjaneya shrine has been established and the temple has separate shrines for Lord Muruga, the Navagrahas, Goddess Durga and Lord Ayyappa in the other Mandapam.
Festivals
Special poojas are performed for Adi Vinayagar on Thursdays. In the annual music festival conducted for the past 83 years almost all leading musicians have participated.
Connectivity
The Temple is situated in East Boulevard road in Devadhanam in Trichy City. The Temple is located at about 1 Km from Singarathoppu Bus Stop, 300 meters from Trichy Town Railway Station, 11 Kms from Trichy Railway Station, 2 Kms from Trichy Fort Railway Station, 11 Kms from Trichy Central Bus Stand, 2 Kms from Trichy Chatiram Bus Station and 12 Kms from Trichy Airport.
Location