Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple
City: Pillayarpatti
Location: Pillayarpatti is 18km from Kariakudi on Madurai Road and 9Km from Tirupathur
Temple Timings: 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
Karpaka Vinayaka Temple or Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar Temple is a 7th-century CE rock-cut cave shrine, significantly expanded over the later centuries. It is located in Pillayarpatti village in Tiruppathur Taluk, Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is one of the nine ancestral Hindu temples of the Chettiars, its importance established in their tradition in Kali year 3815 (714 CE).
This is an ancient rock cut temple.
Scholars says that Lord Vinayaga is the Lord of wisdom, As Vinayagar satisfies the wishes of his devotees like Karpagam tree, he is also known "Karpaga Vinayagar". Here Lord Vinayaga appears with 2 hands unlike in other places where he is seen with 4 hands. Also he is seen seated without Angusapasam, with his legs folded and stomach not touching the Asanam in the form of "Artha Padma" Asanam. The word Vinayaga means "Incomparable Leader" Devotees worshipping Valamburi Vinayagar seated facing towards north, will be blessed with all wealth.
The deity of this temple is known as "Marudeeswarar" as Marudha tree (In Sanskrit Arjuna Virutcha, The Botanical name is Termanalia Arjuna) worship is followed in this temple which indicates that this temple in an ancient temple.
The sculptur of pasupatheeswarar, "A cow worshipping Lord Siva by offering his milk" is the special feature of this temple. Also kubheran the Lord of wealth had worshipped at this temple. Also adding to the sprituality Goddess Laxmi, Saraswathi and Durgai are found together at the same spot.
Unlike other places the three Lingams Thiruveesar, Marudheesar and Senchadeswarar and the three Goddess Sivagami amman, Vadamalar Mangaiamman and Soundara Nayaga amman all appear together at the same place and bless the devotees.
It is believed that by worshipping Kathyayini amman at this temple women get relived from sevvai dosham which prevent them from getting married. "Sabda Madhar" whom importance due to changing time are provided with a seperate sannidhi known as Sakthi sannidhi at this temple.
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Kunnakudi Shanmughanathar Temple
City: Kundrakudi
Location: Kundrakudi is 10km from Karaikudi and 12km from Tirupathur
Temple Timings: 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Kunnakudi Shanmughanathar temple, a top a small hill near Karaikudi, India (also called Kunnakudi Temple or Kunnakudi Murugan Temple) in Kundrakudi, a village in the outskirts of Karaikudi in Sivaganga district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is located in the Tirupattur - Karaikudi Road, around 10km from Karaikudi. The temple has a five-tiered gateway tower, the gopuram in the hill, leading to a pillared hall and the sanctum. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which Panguni Uthiram festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March - April) and Thaipoosam during Thai (January - February) being the most prominent. Read more
Sri Tiruthali Nathar Temple or Yoga Bhairavar Temple
City: Tirupattur
Location: Yoga Bhairavar Temple is located in between Madurai and Karaikudi , it is located about 65 km from Madurai, 20 km from Karaikudi
Temple Timings: 5.30-12.30 & 3.30-8.30
Tiruttalinathar temple is a Siva temple located in Thiruputhur near Karaikkudi. This temple is regarded as the 6th of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya kingdom of Tamil Nadu. The temples Rameswaram and Tiruvadanai are the other Shivastalams nearby. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams. Hiranyakshkan, a stauch shiva devotee had two sons, andakasura and sambasura. Lord Shiva’s form , Lord Bhairava killed them for their behaviour. Though he killed the evil demons, killing is a sin , to relieve himself from this dosha, Bhairava performed Shivalinga Pooja in the temple. He is worshipped as Yoga Bhairava. He does not have his dog as he graces here in yoga form. Those unable to visit specific Navagraha temple, seek relief in this temple by worship ping Lord Yoga Bhairava. He is also praised as Aabath dharana Bhairava as he rushes to the rescue of his devotees when in danger. Read more
Narayana Perumal Temple - Thirukkoshtiyur
City: Thirukkoshtiyur
Location: Thirukkoshtiyur is 31 km from Kariakudi on Madurai Road and 9Km from Tirupathur
Temple Timings: 6.30 am -1.00pm & 3.45-7.45pm
Thirukoshtiyur is known for its great temple, Sowmya Narayana Perumal temple ( Thirukovil means temple ). One of the 108 Divya Desams in India. The Divya Desam are shrines of Vaishnava worship that have been glorified by the Azhwars. Periazhwar in his work Periazhwar Thirumozhi visualizes Thirukoshtiyur as the birthplace of Sri Krishna
The shrine for Narayana is constructed in three stages, similar to that of three floors in a building. These stages represent Boologam (earth), Thiruparkadal and Vaikundham. Narayana appears in three stages in three forms. On the ground floor, Narayana appears as Krishna in the dancing posture. In the next level, he is seen as sayana thirukolam (sayana = reclining, thirukolam = posture), a posture resting on Adhisesha. And at the top most level, Narayana is seen standing as Sri Sowmya Narayana Perumal.
These forms of Narayana has been poetically described as Nindran (means Standing posture), Kidanthan (means sleeping posture), Aadinan (means dancing posture) by Alwars
Sowmyanarayana Perumal is believed to have appeared as Narasimha avatar to the Devas, the celestial deities. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the float festival during the Tamil month of Masi (February–March), Navrathri during September–October and Vaikunta Ekadasi during Margazhi (December–January) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by Sivaganga Devasthanam.
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Ariyakudi Temple - Then Tirupati - Ariyakudi
City: Ariyakudi
Location: Ariyakudi is 4 km from Kariakudi
Temple Timings: 7.30 am -12.30pm & 4-8pm
The temple is revered among the people because of Lord Venkatachalapathi .He is also famously called Thiruvenkatamudaiyaan. The temple is considered as one of the earthly homes for Lord Balaji. People believe that praying at this temple is equivalent to praying at Tirumala; hence, the temple is called Then Tirupati or Tirupati of the South Everyday, a special puja, is conducted in the temple and many devotees as well as tourists make it a point to be present at the temple for the puja. Read more
Rameshwaram
City: Rameshwaram
Location: Rameshwaram is 141 km from Kariakudi
Temple Timings: 7.30 am -12.30pm & 4-8pm
It is said the Hindu god Rama built a bridge from here across the sea to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from her abductor Ravana. The Ramanathaswamy Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, is at the centre of the town and is closely associated with Rama. In fact, the word Rameshwara means “place where Eswara was worshiped by Rama” and presumably this is from where the place gets its name. It is also believed that Rameshwaram was the place that Lord Rama decided to atone for his sins. He was keen to seek penance after having killed the Brahmin king, Ravana. Rama wanted to build the largest Shivalingam and asked Hanuman to fetch the linga from the Himalayas. This took time and Sita constructed a Shivalingam there in the meantime. This lingam is regarded to be the one that is still present in the shrine of the Ramanathaswamy. Read more
Bhuvaneshwari Temple - Pudukkottai
City: Pudukkottai
Location: Pudukkottai is 43km from Kariakudi 47 km feom Tirupathur
Temple Timings: 5:00 Am - 1:00 Pm | 4:00 Pm - 5:00 Pm
Bhuvaneshwari Amman Temple is a worship place of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari who represents knowledge and intelligence. Every year, many devotees flood the place to seek her blessings. The devotees believe that visiting this place takes away their sufferings and showers them with good times. Read more
Thirumayam Perumal Temple - Thirumayam
City: Thirumayam
Location: Thirumayam is located about 22 kilometers away from Karaikudi
Temple Timings: 6.00 am to 12.00 noon --- 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple in Thirumayam, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Sathyamurthi Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Ujeevana Thayar
The temple is believed to have been built during the 9th century by the Pandyas. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram, the gateway tower and is behind a fort built during the 15th century.
The temple is maintained and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India as a protected monument. The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the car festival during the Tamil month of Vaikaasi (April - May), Krishna Jayanti during Aaavani (August - September) and Aadi Pooram during July - August being the most prominent.
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Kaviarasu Kannadasan Manimandapam
City: Sirukoodalpatti
Location: It located about seven kilometers away from Karaikudi and four kilometers from Pillayarpatti
Temple Timings: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Kaviarasu Kannadasan Manimandapam is a small structure that has been built in the memory of famous Tamil poet Kavi Arasar Kannadasan who was born in Sirukoodalpatti. He was a man who is believed to have changed the face of Tamil literature with his revolutionary writings. He also had great oratorical skills and would mesmerise his audience when he took the stage. He contributed not only to Tamil literature but also to the Tamil film industry by writing songs that became very popular. Many of his writings also found their way into Tamil magazines since he also wrote political satires. In his work, he spoke about the problems of the common people; their fears as well as their joys. Read more
