Avinashi Lingeswarar Temple / Arulmigu Avinashi Lingeshwarar Temple / Sri Avinasiappar Temple, Avinashi / அவிநாசி அவிநாசியப்பர் கோயில் / Thiruppukoliyur, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

13^th October 2019.

This second time visit to this temple was a part of Kongu Heritage walk. First time visited this temple as a part of Paadal Petra Sthalangal Darshan. As per the Thevara hymns this place was mentioned as Thiruppukkoliyur and now called as AVINASHI. This is the 259^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam  and 1^st Shiva Sthalam in KONGU NADU. Sundarar  has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

உரைப்பார் உரை என்று எடுத்த திருப்பாட்டு முடியாமுன் உயர்ந்த     
வரைப் பான்மையில் நீள் தடம்புயத்து மறலி மைந்தன் உயிர் கொணர்ந்து     
திரைப்பாய் புனலின் முதலைவாயில் உடலில்சென்ற ஆண்டுகளும்     
தரைப்பால் வளர்ந்தது என நிரம்ப முதலை வாயில் தருவித்தான் 

...... பெரிய புராணம்

எற்றான் மறக்கேன் எழுமைக்கும் எம்பெரு மானையே
உற்றாயென் றுன்னையே உள்குகின் றேனுணர்ந் துள்ளத்தாற்
புற்றா டரவா புக்கொளி யூரவி நாசியே
பற்றாக வாழ்வேன் பசுபதி யேபர மேட்டியே.

உரைப்பார் உரையுகந் துள்கவல் லார்தங்கள் உச்சியாய்
அரைக்கா டரவா ஆதியும் அந்தமும் ஆயினாய்
புரைக்காடு சோலைப் புக்கொளி யூரவி நாசியே
கரைக்கால் முதலையைப் பிள்ளை தரச்சொல்லு காலனையே.

----சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

As per Kongumandala sathakangal written by Karmega Pulavar the Avinashi sthala purana says..

            உரைப்பார் உரையென்று உள்குற வல்லார் உச்சியின் மீதே ஒளிவிடு சுடரே

            அரைக்காடு அரவா ஆதியும் நடுவும் அந்தமும் அளவும் அல்லவும் ஆனாய்

            புரக்காடு அவைசூழ் புக்கொளி யூரா புகழவி நாசிப் புண்ணிய முதலே

            காரைக்கால் முதலையைப் பிள்ளை தரச்சொல் காலனை என்று கட்டுரை செய்தார்

.... அவநாசிப்புராணம். 

Moolavar  : Sri Avinashi Lingeshwarar,  Sri Avinasieeswarar,

  Sri Avinashinathar, Sri Perungkediliappar.

Consort    : Sri Karunambigai, Sri Perungkarunai Nayagi.

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a Deepa sthambam. The stalapurana reliefs of crocodile with a child and Sundarar facing moolavar are at the base of the stone Deepasthambham  ( The stahala puram – miracle done by Sundarar after he sung the hymns on Lord Shiva ). The Rajagopuram is of 7 tiers. Rishabam, balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are in the mandapam on the outer prakaram after Rajagopuram.  In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Shiva Durgai. Dwarapalakas are little large is size. It was told that first to worship Vazhikatti Vinayagar, Pathirimarathu Amman and then  Moolavar.

In the inner prakaram 63var, Sahasra Lingam, Niruthu Vinayagar, Pancha Lingas, Gaja Lakshmi, Senthil Andavar, Chandikeswarar, Kala Bhairavar ( This is a rare and unique feature of this temple that Bhairavar is in the inner prakaram ).

In the outer parakaram Chandran, Siva Suriyan, Subramaniyar, Karunambigai facing east ( Ambal in a separate temple ), Niruthi Vinayagar, Paathiri Tree ( Sthal Viruksham, Murugan sannadhi ( without Valli Devasena ), Natarajar in a Saba mandapam, Navagrahas, Shaniswarar.

Ambal is in a separate temple facing east with a separate 5 Tier Rajagopuram. The entrance through Rajagopuram is kept closed. Balipeedam and Nandhi are in front. In koshtam Vinayagar, Ichasakthi, Sandikeswari, Kriyasakthi and Durgai.

It was told that during King’s rule, the soldier sacrificed themselves to Lord Shiva of this temple. A Hero Navakanda relief is in the pillar of Nandhi and Dwajasthamba Mandapam.

   

ARCHITECTURE

There is a mandapam built before Rajagopuram during Vijayanagara period. There is a Soolakkal, to signifies the donation of land  erected in front of the mandapam, The pillars of the Dwajasthamba mandapam has the sculptures of  Shiva’s oorthuva thandavam and other forms of Shiva. The mandapa wall has the stucco images of the sthala purana.  There is a Murugan sannidhi with mandapam in between Shiva and Ambal Sannidhi.

The temple complex consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, mahamandapam and mukha mandapam.  The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pathabhandha adhisthana. The Prastharam is of kapotha style with karnakood. Bootha ganas are in the valabi. A 3 tier Vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum

.

Ambal  Shrine with Naga Vimanam

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since this is one of the Paadal Petra Shiva Temple, the temple exists before 7^th Century and expanded during, Chozhas, Kongu Chozhas, Pandyas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagaras and Nayaks.

 

As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as Avinashialudaiyar, Avinashi Aludaiya Nayanar and Ambal as Kamakottathu Perungkarunai Nayagi.

The inscriptions are available  from Kulothunga Chozha-I (1152 CE ), Veera Rajendran ( 1222 CE ), Vikrama Chozha-III ( 1267CE ), Kongu Pandyan Sundara Pandyan ( 14^th Century ), 14^th Century Hoysalas, Vijayanagar Achutharayar ( 1538 CE ), Veera Vallalan-III, Maharayar ( 16^th Century ) in Kanada & Nandhi Nagari and 17^th Century .

The inscriptions speaks about Donation of Vadaparisara Nattu Alathur village to this Temple, Donation of 30 Cows by the King for the artha jama pooja and burning of perpetual lamp, After depositing payment in the treasury permission was given to the Parpanars to use China ( Silk ) Umbrella, Kerala type Umbrella, Horse procession for marriage, white washing houses etc., Mentions Veerarajendran’s wife & Queen Chilambazhvi who donated land, Shiva Brahmis to take of the Temple treasury and if any shortfall occurs, they will sell their right of pooja and compensate the shortfall, Donation of money for burning of perpetual lamp,  Mentions Thirukanaper ( Kalayar Koil ), Installation of Sandesa Nayanar after renovating the Veerapandian Thiruvolakka Mandapam, Donation of Manickavasagar copper statue.

 Inscriptions panels

 

 Inscriptions - China umbrella

Kannada inscription

LEGENDS

As per the legend & Sthala purana, when Sundarar came to this place, heard mangala sound / nadhaswaram & melam from one house and weeping sound from another house. The Villagers told that 3 years ago when the two children were playing on the banks of a pond, one boy was swallowed by a crocodile. Hence the weeping sound is from the boy’s house and his mother is weeping for not able to conduct the upanayana for her son. Sundarar went to the pond and sung hymn on Lord Shiva to ask Yema to give back the Child. Immediately the Crocodile spitted the child out  with the growth of the child.

 Sthala purana

 Deepasthamnbam base sthalapurana relief

Deepasthambam base sthalapurana

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs 

CONTACT DETAILS :

The mobile number +91 8778659631  may be contacted for further details

HOW TO REACH:

The place Avinashi is on the main road Coimbatore to Erode.  Express and ordinary buses stops at old Bus stand. The temple is about 200 meters from the old Bus stand.

It is a junction for Erode, Coimbatore, Mettupalayam, Gobichettipalayam, Sathyamangalam and Tiruppur.

Nearest Railway Station is Tiruppur. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

  Soolakal & Mandapa pillar relief- Anjaneyar

  Mandapa Pillar relief

Sthala purana - in valapi bhutavari

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---