Rathnagiriswarar Temple / Vaatpokki Ratnagiriswarar Temple / ரத்தினகிரீஸ்வரர் மலைக்கோயில், அய்யர் மலை / Iyermalai / Ayyar Malai, Karur District, Tamil Nadu

This is the 118^th  Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 1^st Sthalam on the south bank of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. This place was called Thiru Vatpokki and is now called Iyermalai/Ayyar Malai. Lord Shiva blesses this temple, called Iyermalai. It is believed that it will be auspicious to worship "Morning Kadambar at Kulithalai, after noon Rathnagiriswarar at Thiruvatpokki (Iyermalai), and Evening Sri Maragadachaleswarar at Thiru Engoyi malai". 

  

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar Visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Venjamangudalur of Kongu Nadu. ( மாணிக்க வெற்பு – இரத்தினகிரி – ஐயர் மலை – Iyermalai )

செல்வக் கருவூர்த்திரு ஆனிலைக்கோயில் சென்று இறைஞ்சி

நல்இசைவண் தமிழ்ச் சொல்தொடை பாடி அந்நாடு அகன்று

மல்லிக மாணிக்க வெற்புமுதல் ஆவணங்கி வந்து

பங்கு திரைப்பொன்னித் தென்கரைத்தானம் பலபணிவார்

In Periya Puranam Sekkizhar also records that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal Visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of  Thirukadampathurai. But he didn’t mention this temple in particular.

சிலந்திக்கு அருளும் கழல்வணங்கக் செஞ்சொல் மாலை பலபாடி

இலங்கு சடையார் எறும்பியூர் மாலையும் இறைஞ்சிப் பாடியபின்

மலர்ந்த சோதித் திருச்சிராப் பள்ளி மலையும் கற்குடியும்

நலங்கொள் செல்வத் திருப்பராய்த் துறையும் தொழுவான் நண்ணினார்

……… திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. In that, Thirugnanasambandar’s hymns are not available. Arunagirinathar also praises both Murugan and Lord Shiva. He praises Lord Shiva as “Oppila Manickavasa..” in his Thirupukazh.

கால பாசம் பிடித்தெழு தூதுவர்

பால கர்விருத் தர்பழை யார் எனார்

ஆல நீழல் அமர்ந்த வாட்போக்கியார்

சீலம் ஆர்ந்தவர் செம்மையுள் நிற்பரே

………. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

பக்தியால் யானுனைப்          பலகாலும்

        பற்றியே மாதிருப்            புகழ்பாடி

முத்தனா மாறெனப்               பெருவாழ்வின்

        முத்தியே சேர்வதற்         கருள்வாயே

உத்தமதானசற்                         குணர்நேயா

        ஒப்பிலாமாமணிக்          கிரிவாசா

வித்தகாஞானசத்                     திநிபாதா

        வெற்றிவேலாயுதப்         பெருமாளே 

……… அருணகிரிநாதர் திருப்புகழ்

                                                        ---“ஓங்காது

நாட்போக்கி நிற்கும் நவையுடையார் நாடரிதாம்

வாட்போக்கி மேவுகின்ற வள்ளலே.

…….. திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Rathnagiriswarar, Sri Arathanachaleswarar,

                  Sri Manicka Easar, Sri Mudi Thazhumbar.

Consort    : Sri Surumbar Kuzhali..

Some of the important features of this temple are...

An entrance arch is at the base of the hill and the hill is 342 meters (1178 feet) high. At  foot hills sannadhi for Vinayagar, Karuppasamy, Nalvar and  Vishwakarma Ganapathy are in a big mandapam. On the way up the hill the Ponnidum Paarai, Where Sage Sundarar got the gold from Lord Shiva. It is believed that the Padam at Ponnidum Paarai belongs to Lord Shiva.

 

Ponnidumparai

Saptamatrikas are in the middle of the hill. There are many small mandapas to take rest, on the hill. At the end of the steep steps Sannadhi for Vinayagar. 

 

Saptamatrikas

There are 1017  neatly and evenly paved steps to reach the top of the hill. Monkey menace is too high in this hill shrine. There are many natural caves on this hill and it is believed that Rishis are in penance. 

Vinayagar and Ambal Surumbar Kuzhali Amman sannathis after 750 steps called “Ukanthan Padi”

The Sanctum Sanctorum is built on the rocky hill facing west. Moolavar is of Swayambhu.  In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, and Arthanareeswarar in place of Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. There is a tub in front of Moolavar Sannadhi.

In praharam, Natarajar Sabha with Sivakami,  Chandran, and Suryan are along with their wives. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple might have existed before the  6^th to 7^th Century and was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Kulothunga Chozha-II period and further maintained/extended by Pandyas, Hoysalas, and Vijayanagaras. About 50 inscriptions are inscribed  on the walls and the adhistana of  Moolavar and Ambal Sannadhis.

The Inscriptions belong to Chozha Kings Parakesari Varman Rajendran - II (1053 – 1063 CE), Kulothunga Chozha-I, Vikrama Chozha, Rajathi Rajan-II. Kulothunga Chozha-III and Rajarajan-III, Pandya King Jadavarman Sundara Pandyan-I, Vijayanagara Dynasty Ariyanna Udayar’s Son Viruppanna Udayar-II, Veera Narasimha boopala Maharayar, Sadasivadeva Maharayar and Hoysala Kings Veera Someswaran, Veera Ramanathan. (See the Annual Reports on South Indian Epigraphy for the year 1914 No. 144-191)

As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called Manickamalai Mahadevar, Manickamalai Udaya Nayanar, and Thirumanickamalai Udaya  Thambiranar. Established by Sivapatdasekarapura Merchant Thirugnanasambanda Nambi. Ambal was called Thirukamakottamudaya Periya Nachiyar.  Palliyarai Nachiyar was established by Vada Kongu Rajarajapuram Pukazhur Damodaran alias Pillaikadiyar. 

Dakshinamurthy was established and Steps were built by Sivapada Sekarapuram a merchant Chitrambalamudayan Kal Nallisaialan. An inscription in the form of a song records that the Sanctum was built with stone by Adavidanga Pichan. Mandapa was built by the Sivapadasekaraththu Nagarathars.

Sathan Sethirayan’s one of the Akampadi Mudali called Kongaraikonda Pallavarayan fixed the doors for the mandapa and steps for the same.  He also built the Thirumadaivilakam at the base of the Hill.

Established endowments for the Vaikasi month festival, Margazhi Thiruvathirai, Maha Shivaratri, to Bring water from Kaveri for Lord Shiva’s Thirumanjanam, Naivedyam for Urchavars on festival days at Mandapam. For Naivedyam Sivapada Sekaranallur, Nallur Udayan gave donations. For Naivedyam to Dakshinamurthy, Sivapada Sekarapuram merchant gave a gift of 2 ma Land.

Kulothunga-I’s 40^th reign year inscription records the endowment feeding food for the Devaradiyars, Siva Yogi, Thabasis at Ezhunootruvan Thirumadam, by Vad Kongu Rajarajapuram Pukazhur, Damodaran alias Pillaikadiyan for which donations were made.

Chozha King Kulothunga Chozha-I’s 47^th reign year inscription records the endowment of feeding food for the Apoorvis and the same donation was also made.  

The Kaveri river water is taken daily for Lord Shiva’s Abhishekam and the same was brought by “Pannirandam Chettiar- பன்னிரண்டாம் செட்டியார்” and Chozhiya Vellalars. The  Temple car, Vahanas, and Jewels are under the control of these Chettiars. As per the Madras district Gazetteer of 1907, Trichinopoly  1931, Page 281, 284, and 285, 11 Chettiars of Kaveripoompattinam came to this temple and shared their wealth. Each time they share it has come in 12 parts. Realizing the 12^th part belongs to Lord Shiva of this temple they gave it to the temple. By doing so they become the relatives / pangalis – பங்காளிகள், of Lord Shiva. Hence They were called as 12- Chettiars – Pannirendam Chettiars. This was mentioned in the Vatpokki Kalambakam and Ratnagiri Uzha. 

As per the inscriptions this hill was used by the Jain monks and Jain beds were also created for them.  

Ref: 

South Indian Epigraphy for the year 1914 

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 17^th Feb 2008.

 

Chozha period Inscriptions

LEGENDS

It is believed that Indra, Jayanthan, Vayu, Adhiseshan, and Panchapandavas during their exile, and Agasthiyar on the way to Podhigai Hills worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Now it is called as Iyermalai/Ayyarmalai, Rathnagiri and Sivayamalai. Agasthiar Worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple on one of the Noon time, hence worshiping during noon time is believed to be auspicious and called Manicka Sundarar.

It is believed that Indran used to come and worship Lord Shiva through 9 holes, on the opposite of the moolavar in the form of thunder & lightning once in 12 years (?). To prove that the garland and vastharam of moolavar were seen burnt on the next day even these years. The Abhisheka milk will turn to curd.

The moolavar head looks chopped and a scar can be seen on the top. The legend goes like this….. Lord Shiva made the Crown studded with the Manickam / ruby stone of an Arya King. He searched and couldn’t find the same. When he came to know, that the crown was with Lord Shiva of this temple. So he came to this temple and prayed to Lord Shiva.   Lord Shiva promised to give back the Crown after the king filled the tub with Kaveri water. When he couldn’t do it, he threw the sword which hit the Shiva Linga and the flood gushed out. The King felt guilty and tried to kill himself by hitting his head on the wall. Lord Shiva appeared and blessed him with his crown.  Since Lord Shiva made to disappear the Sword – Vaal in Tamil, this place was called Thiruvatpokki. There is a tub is there still, in the name of “Poivasi kopparai” and the King’s idol is in this temple. Since a King worshiped Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva is also called “Raja Lingaa Moorthy”.

 
In one of the legends, Adhiseshan and Vayu used to fight with each other, claiming each one as greatest and strongest. This time Adhiseshan, holds Meru Hill. Vayu blew the hill but couldn’t do so, but some pieces were blown out from Mount Meru. This hill is one of the peaks called Rathnagiri.

 
As per hearsay a shepherd went with ma ilk pot for Lord Shiva’s abhishekam, and a crow toppled the milk pot. It is believed that the crow was burnt by Lord Shiva, hence there won’t fly any crows on this hill and called “Kakam anukaa malai- காகம் அனுகா மலை”---  and as per Nagapattinam Thalapurana “காகம் மேவுறில் கடுந்தழல் வீசிடும் பரம்பு”.

When Sundarar came to this temple, the hill was visible to him like Jyothi and Rathnam. So he stopped climbing the hill further from Ponnidumparai.  Sundarar prayed to Lord Shiva, requesting him for Gold. Lord Shiva asked his Bhootaganas to shower the gold on this place and Lord Shiv gave darshan at “Onru pathi” place. In remembrance of this, the 5^th day of the Chithra festival is celebrated at this place. Hence this place is called “Ponnidum Parai”.     

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular Poojas,  special poojas are conducted over 10 days festival starts on Hastha nakshatra day in the month Chithirai (April – May),  Somavarams (Mondays) in the month Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Thaipoosam and Theerthavari in the month Thai (February), Pournami (Full Moon Days), Amavasai (New Moon Days) and Pradosham. On Pournami days devotees circumambulate the hill, called Girivalam.

TEMPLE TIMINGS 

The temple will be kept open between 10.00 Hrs to 17.00 Hrs, since it is a hill temple, Gurukkal used to stay in the temple itself, during the above time.

CONTACT DETAILS : 

Gurukkal Mani's mobile number +91 9965273092, may be contacted for darshan and further details.

The temple office may be contacted over the phone at 04323 245 522 for further details.

Temple website: http://www.ayyarmalai.tnhrce.in/

Another website: http://www.ayyarmalai.in/

Email: eoayyarmalai@gmail.com

HOW TO REACH

From the Kulithalai Kaveri river bridge junction, all the buses going towards Manapparai pass through this hill.

The temple is 10 km from Kulithalai, 33 km from Manapparai, 41 km from Karur, 43 km from Tiruchirappalli, and 362 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Kulithalai,

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Three pillar Mandapa

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---