Karpaka Vinayakar Temple at Pillayarpatti

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This is from... http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/karppill.html

 

 

This image of Ganesha is bound to be familiar to anyone of Tamil

origin; however, little is known to many about the fact that this is

an image of the rock cut Karpaka Vinayakar Shrine at Pillayarpatti

near Karaikkudi at one of the oldest Cave Temples (Rock Cut) temples

of Tamilnadu. Pillayarpatti is situated between Pudukkottai and

Karaikkudi. The nearest airport is at Tiruchirappalli. Chennai

Rameswaram Express and Kamban Express travel to these two railheads.

 

The town of Pillaiyarpatti is named after 'Pillayar' - the tamil name

for Ganesha, and this ancient temple houses rock cut images of Shiva,

Lingodbhavar and others as well as several other shrines. Steeped in

the tradition of Agamic textsthe temple bears testimony to the

vibrant temple culture of the Tamil people, passed down through

centuries.

 

Deities: Karpaka Vinayakar or Desi Vinayaka Pillaiyar is the

presiding deity here, and he is portrayed with two arms and a trunk

curled towards his right in the valampuri mode. This 6 feet tall

mammoth image of Ganesha is a bas relief in an excavated cave, off of

a hill in the precincts of the temple. Tiruveesar is a Shiva Lingam

carved in a similar manner. Other deities in the temple include

Marudankudi Eesar and his consort Vaadaamalar Mangai.

 

Antiquity: Over 15 inscriptions are found within the temple, that

help establish the age of the temple. The Stalapuranam published by

the temple classifies the growth of this temple into three distinct

stages.

 

The first stage goes back in time by about 1600 years. During this

period, the innermost rock cut shrines housing Karpaka Vinayakar and

Tiruveesar came into being. The uniqueness of the image of Ganesha is

one factor testifying this date; the characters used in the temple

inscriptions also help establish this date. The pillars within the

shrine are of pre-Pallava origin.

 

The Pallavas were prolific builders of rock cut temples

(Mahabalipuram, Mahendravadi, Mamandur, Mandakapattu, Seeyamangalam,

Namakkal, Tiruchi, Nartamalai, Kudumiyanmalai, Tirukkokarnam,

Tirumeyyam, Peraiyur, Malayadipatti, Tirukolakkudi, Kunrakkudi etc.).

A number of these can be traced to Mahendravarman I (615 - 630 AD)

and Narasimhavarman I (630 - 668 AD). However, the inscriptions at

Pillayarpatti date further back to the 4th century AD. Also, given

the location of the temple in the Pandya kingdom it would only be

logical to associate Pandya patronage to this temple, especially in

the light of Pandya patronage at the Kazhugumalai temple not too far

from here.

 

There are several inscriptions within this temple that date back to

the period between 1091 AD and 1238 AD, making it apparent that the

Pillayarpatti Nagarattar became the custodians of the temple during

the 13th century AD during the second growth phase of this temple,

when Vimanams and Rajagopurams were built.

 

The third phase of growth is much more recent and it involved the

repair, rebuilding and refurbishment of the entire temple complex,

including the renovation of the temple tank. The tank and the two

Raja Gopurams provide an attractive approach to the temple, in this

rather remote town of Pillayarpatti.

 

It is with great pride that the Pillayarpatti Nagarathar community

which has been traditionally involved with the temple - patronizes

maintenance of this temple and the scrupulous conduct of worship

services.

 

Worship Protocol: Each day, five worship services are offered to the

presiding deity, commencing at 6 AM , and closing down at 9 PM.

During the fourth phase of each lunar half month, Pillayar is taken

in procession around the temple. Hundreds of pilgrims patronize the

temple on these days.

 

Festivals: The grandest of festivals is Ganesh Chaturti in the month

of Aug - September, where a ten day celebration brings much gaiety to

this temple town. Each day's celebration is marked by much splendor

as Pillayar is taken in procession around town on several of his

mounts, as are the other Pancha Murthys. The ninth day of the

festival is marked by a chariot procession. In addition, the ten day

festival in the month of Vaikasi (May - June) is held in honor of

Kongu Nachiyamman, a village deity whose processional image is also

housed here. The Margazhi Tiruvadirai festival is celebrated in honor

of Nataraja and Sivakami (Dec - Jan).

 

Nearby Attractions: Pudukkottai houses the Gokarneswarar Temple, and

Kunnakkudi houses the hill temple of Shanmukhanathar.

 

at... http://www.templenet.com/Maharashtra/ashtavinayak.html

 

 

Also in Maharashtra are eight temples dedicated to Ganesha, related

to various episodes from the puranas and other legends - and these

deities are collectively known as Ashta Vinayak.

 

Moregaon enshrines Ganapati as Mayureshwar (Moresh) or the peacock

rider, who slew the demon Sindhu in response to pleas from the Gods.

 

Mahaganapati at Ranjangaon is believed to have come to the aid of

Shiva in destroying the citadels of the demon Tripurasura.

 

Mahad enrhsines Varadvinayak (the bestower of boons), in

commemoration of a legend related to Rukmangada.

 

Chintamani Vinayak relates to the legend of Kapila Muni and the

Chintamani gem that he had obtained from Shiva.

 

Girijaatmaja Vinayaka is enshrined on Lenyadri Parvat, and is

believed to be a manifestation of Ganapati as an infant.

 

Vigneshwara at Ozar is regarded as the slayer of the demon Vignaasura.

 

Ballal Vinayak at Pali, is associated with a legend where Ganapati is

said to have come to the aid of a young lad, who was a fervent

devotee of Ganapati.

 

Siddhi Vinayak at Siddhatek is said to have come to the aid of

Mahavishnu as he was engaged in a long battle with the demons Madhu

and Kaitabha.

 

more at.... http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/vatapi.html

 

The town of Tiruchenkaatankudi near Nannilam near Thanjavur in

Tamilnadu is home to the Tevara Shivastalam Ganapateeswaram. It has

been revered by the hymns of the Tamil Saivite Saints of the 1st

millennium CE.

 

This temple also hosts an image of Vatapi Ganapati, an image of

Ganapati brought back from Badami, the Chalukyan capital then known

as Vatapi - by Sirutondar, a general of the then Pallava monarch

(circa 7th century CE).

 

The famous kriti Vatapi Ganapatim Bhaje by the composer Mutthuswamy

Deekshitar, in the Karnatic music idiom salutes this deity.

 

Legend has it that Ganapati worshipped Shiva here for the sin of

having killed the demon Gajamukhasuran. The elephant faced demon

Gajamukhasuran, who had received a boon of immortality (subject to

certain caveats) from Shiva, caused untold suffering to humans from

his self made capital at Matangapuram.

 

The elephant faced God Ganapati, vanquished the demon with his broken

right tusk. The land here is believed to have turned red, thanks to

the blood spilled by the demon, and hence the name

Tiruchenkaattankudi in Tamil. Although the presiding deity here is

Shiva, Ganapati receives the first place of honor.

 

Ganapati's worshipping Shiva is enacted in the form of a grand

festival in the tamil month of Margazhi.

 

http://www.templenet.com/Maharashtra/chintamani.html

 

The legend surrounding this temple centers around the Chintaamani

gem. Sage Kapila was in possession of a gem by name Chintaamani which

was capable of granting one's desires. He was visited by a young

prince (son of Gunavati and Abhijita) by name Guna. The sage invoked

the powers of the gem and created a sumptuous meal for the prince.

The prince enamored by the power of the gem, stole it from the sage.

A hurt Kapila Muni prayed to Vinayaka for help. Vinayaka restored the

gem from the prince, however the sage refused to accept it, and began

to rever Vinayaka as Chintaamani Vinayaka.

 

Legend has it that Kapila Muni had received this gem from Shiva after

worshipping him at Talaiaalankaadu near Thanjavur in Tamilnadu. It is

believed that he had walked on his head to reach the shrine and hence

the tamil name Talaiaalankaadu (talai - head). (Also see Kapilarmalai

Murugan temple in Tamilnadu).

 

Legend has it Mahavishnu who was engaged in a serious battle against

the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, was dismayed by his inability to bring

the battle to a quick and decisive finish. Shiva advised him to

propitate Ganesha. Upon doing so, Ganesha appeared on the

battlefield, and his appearance strengthened Mahavishnu's resolve and

abilities and enabled him to vanquish the demons with ease. Ganesha's

appearance on the battlefield is marked by the Siddhivinayak shrine

at Siddhatek, said to be capable of granting Siddhi.

 

Mahavishnu is worshipped as the destroyer of the demons Madhu and

Kaitabha at Tiruvallur near Chennai in Tamilnadu, and as the restorer

of the Vedas from the same demons, at Indalur in Mayiladuturai near

Thanjavur again in Tamilnadu, both these temples being over 1200

years old.

 

The Temple: The Siddhatek Siddhivinayak temple is a hill temple,

built by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, who is also credited with

rebuilding the Vishnu Pada temple at Gaya, the Vishwanath temple at

Benares and several other temples. Ganesha is enshrined in a seated

posture with his consorts Siddhi and Riddhi.

 

http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/ganesha.html