Rathnagiriswarar Temple,
Ayyarmalai – The Temple
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 terrain is flat with gentle
gradient from the Adivaram up to the Ponnidum Parai Temple
Thereafter, the steps are steep, and the flight runs straight continuously up
to the step no 833. The climb is arduous and quite strenuous in spite of many
wayside rest shelters. About 20% of the pilgrims alone have the stamina to
climb to the top of the hill. A few uses the Dolis. The remaining
terminate their pilgrimage at the foot hills near the Ponnidum
Parai itself.
As
the temple and its corridors are in the shape of Ohm, it is also known
Sivayamalai. There are shrines for Vinayaga, Karuppusamy and Vishwakarma
Ganapathy in big Mandapam at the foot hills. There is a Lord Shiva’s Paadham
(Holy Feet) at the Ponnidum Paarai on the way up the hill. This is the place where
Sage Sundarar got the gold from Lord Shiva. There is a shrine for Saptha
Kannigais inside a cave further climbing from Ponnidum Parai.
There is a shrine for Lord Ganapathi at 1017 step and
the entrance to the main temple. The main temple was constructed on the rocky
hill. The temple is facing west. Presiding Deity is
called as Ratnagiriswarar / Arthanasaleswarar / Manikka Easar / Mudi Thalumbar
/ Malai Kozhundeesar / Raja Lingam / Madhyana Sokkar / Ratnagrisar / Vaatpokki
Nathar. As the temple is on top of the
hill, the Lord is also called Malai Kozhundeesar. Since worshipping is to
be done in the noon, He is called Madhyana Sokkar.
He is facing west. He is housed
in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Sun rays will fall on Lingam through the
nine holes opposite to Moolavar in the month of Chithirai. The Swayambhu Linga
is in the midst of 8 rocks and this is the 9th rock. It is said that
this temple is surrounded by eight elephants on eight directions. This Raja
Linga is so shiny and see a scar in right part of Linga. Dhakshnamoorthy,
Arthanareeswarar (Instead of Lingothbhavar) and Bhairava are the Koshta Idols
located around the sanctum walls.
Mother
is called as Karumbar Kuzhali / Aralakesi / Surunmbar Kuzhalai. She is housed in a separate east
facing shrine. Lord faces west, and Mother faces east. Thus, making the Lord
and Mother facing each other. Mother shrine is one level below the Lord Shiva’s
shrine. The Mother shrine has two prakarams. There are some more special
features in the temple are Chandran and Suryan are along with their
wives.
There are also shrines for Naalvar
and Lord Anjaneya at the foothill. There are shrines for Nandikeswara, 63 Nayanmars,
Nataraja with his consort Sivakami and Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli
& Deivanai at hill top temple. Chandran and Suryan can be found along with
their wives in this Temple is a unique feature.
A devotee, Vairagya Perumal of
Kancheepuram vowed to offer his head to Rathnagreeswarar if he got a child.
When his wish was fulfilled, he came to this place and cut his head. While
the feet stayed in the foot hills, the head reached the top of the
hill. The idol of this head is anointed with milk and honey and the
garland offered to the Lord is later put on this idol.
Sthala Vriksham is Neem Tree.
Theertham associated with this Temple is River Cauvery. There are lot of Tamil
inscriptions dating back 10th to 16th Century AD on the
walls of sanctum and Mother shrine. The Temple received extensive patronage
from the Cholas, Pandyas, Hoysala and Vijayanagara kings.
