Pachottu Avudayar Temple / Sri Aruthra Kabaleeshwarar Temple / Arudra Kapaleeswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு பச்சோட்டு ஆவுடையார் திருக்கோயில், மடவிளாகம் / Madavilagam, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Arudra Kapaleeswarar Temple at Madavilagam Village near Koduvai, was a part of “Kongu Nadu Heritage Visit to Temples, Hero stones, Ayyanar and Jyeshta Devi Sculptures around Kangayam” in Tiruppur District. Sri Raghupathi Narayana Perumal Temple is on the south side of the Shiva Temple. This place is also called as Parpathyur.

Moolavar  : Sri Arudra Kapaleeswarar / Arudra Kapaleeswarar

                /Pachottu Avudayar

Consort    : Sri Prakala Nayaki / Periya Nayaki

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

The temple is facing east with a a Deepa sthambam. A bas relief of Lizard worshiping a Shiva Lings is at the base of the Deepa Sthambam. Vinayagar and Nagars are  under a Peepal tree is also in front of the temple. A mandapam is at the entrance of of the temple. Stucco image of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar and Murugan are on the top of the mandapam. The temple complex is about 3 feet below the out side ground level. Balipeedam Dwajasthambam and nandhi are in-front of the temple. In Sanctum Sanctorum Moolavar is believed to be of swayambhu. Pradhana vinayagar and Nalvar are in the artha mandapam. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In Prakaram Kannimoola Ganapathi, Kalyana Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Ambal Periya nayaki, Saneeswarar, Nagars with sthala Vruksham, Navagrahas, Utsava mandapam, Thanthondreeswarar, Kala Bhairavar, Chandran, Suriyan, Temple tank and Chandikeswarar.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The Temple is about 2 feet higher than the inside ground level. The Adhistanam is of simple pada bandha adhistanam with threepatta kumudam.  A 3 tier stucco Nagara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Lord Shiva as Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the two tiers of the Vimanam.

The sanctum sanctorum was built with stone up to prastaram. The Sanctum walls are supported with Brahma kantha pilasters with Kalasam, kumbam, palakai, and veetu pothyal. The prastaram is with Nasikudus. An viyyalavari / Yazhivari is shown above the prastaram. The padmam is shown in the valapi. Bas relief like a Child coming out of crocodile’s mouth ( The sthala puranam of Avinashi Temple ) are on sanctum walls.

    

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Kongu Pandiyas, Kongu Chozhas and Vijayanagara King Devaraya. As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was mentioned as “Pachottu Avudayar”, “Pachottu vudayar”, “Pachottu Aludayar” and “Parpathyur udaya Nayanar”.

Vijayanagara King Devaraya-I’s 1408 CE, year inscription records that this insction belongs to his son Kumara Ariraya Udayar ( Hariharan-III ). The Kangeya nattu Alambadi Village full ( Taxes of Housing plots, House Taxes to Kanikkai vari / Tax – amount to be paid to the King and his officials ) and Veera Chozha Valanattu ( Then/ south Kuruppa Nadu ) Katrankanni Village lands ( nearly 5 ma Thadi – paddy field  / fertile lands  with periphery limits are also given )were gifted to Parpathy Pachottu udayar. Pappini and Madavilagam was a single Village during that period. Now Pappini has become a separate village.

This inscription without King’s name and year is in the form of a song, which praises Kangeya nattu Karaiyur Pattakaran Chakkarai Uthama Kaminda mandradiyar. This song is in the form of a lady who loves the hero and tells his glory to her friends. In the song She compares him with Rama and he was worshiped by his enemies and he didn’t offered his two shoulders. Now see, the cold breeze is blowing…. The breeze will destroy me like a garland in the hands of a monkey.

சரங்கொண்டிலங்கை சமைத்தபெற் றான்டரி யாரிறைஞ்ச

உரங்கொண்ட காரைமன் னுத்தம சோழன் னுபையபுய

மிரங்கும் படியரு ளான்மட வீரினி யென்னுயிரைக்

குரங்கின்கை யிற்ப்பட்ட பூமாலை யாக்குங் குளிர்தென்றலே

This inscription is similar to the first inscription belongs to Vijayanagara King Devaraya-I, ( 1408 CE ), This inscription records that the gift was by the King himself. The tax in the name of Devaraya levied on Ezhukarai Nadu and Pathinen Vishayam. One Panam and Mirasu kalathilamuthu padi to this temple by each Village Big Village Small Village  Kalpattur. Pattali vaddakai Villages also to give one panam per year.

The 12^th Century Rajakesari Tribhuvana Chakravarthi ( Kongu Chozha ..?),’s 12^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a Sandhya Deepam  at Vinayagar temple at Parpani, by the Rajarajapuram ( Dharapuram ) officials ( Perumal Urimaiyar )  gifted an achu and the same was received by Sivabrahmins.

The 13^th Century Kongu Pandiyar Veera Pandiyan period inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp at this temple after receiving ( money … ?) from Chozhiyan Sivan Perundevi by the Siva Brahmins.

The 18^th Century inscription on the Deepa Sthamba mandapam, records that the Deepasthambham was installed on 19^th day of Margazhi Month Ananda Year,  during Vangarayar period by Kangeya Nattu Damodara Mudaliar’s son Vaidhyalinga Mudaliar.      

Inscriptions

LEGENDS    

The Lord Shiva is worshiped as the Kula Deivam by the Kongu Vellalars of  Sub Sects Thodai, Kadai, Keerai and Kannanthai Kulam.

It is believed that Ambal as parvati did a penance at this place Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Pichadanar, holding an unbaked mud pot. Hence called as Pachai- odu Avudayar – Pachottu Avudayar. Ambal as Annapoorani gave food to Lord Shiva.

As per the experts Madavilagam  means a place where army soldiers stayed and Madams / Mutts existed in this place. The mutt belongs to Pasupata sect of Shiva worship. The Gangar’s ruled Kongu during 6^th Century. So it is believed that Pasupata sect of worshiping Lord Shiva came during their period. The places where the Pasupatha mutts functioned in Kongu regions are Karaithozhuvu, Perur near Coimbatore and Sevur.

As per the legend the temple tank was created by Lord Shiva through his leg nails scratch. Once in 12 years an unbaked mud pot will appear filled with Vibhuti. Hence Lord Shiva is called as “Pachchai Ottu Avudayar”. Here Pachchai is not means the Colour, but pot made up of mud mixed with water, wet and unbaked.

But as per the other legend, Lord Shiva plucked the 5^th head of Brahma and head ( Kapalam – மண்டை ஓடு  in Tamil ) sticked with his hand. With that head hanging Lord Shiva found very difficult and couldn’t do any thing. As per the advise of Maha Vishnu, ma Parvati sprayed food on the street. The head left Shiva’s hand and started eating. Before the head completes eating Lord Shiva had taken bath in the temple tank and the head couldn’t stick back.

The arudra refers here as nakshatra ( There are different version of Rudra, one says Rudras are one form of Lord Shiva, another says they are sons of Kashyapa and Aditi and in Vamana purana they are son of Brahma and Surabhi and they are Nirrti, Shambhu, Aparajita, Mrigavyadha, Kapardi, Dahana, Khara, Ahirabradhya, Kapali, Pingala and Senani ). This Arudra is added to Kapala ( the head of Brahma ) and Lord Shiva is holding the wet Kapala of Brahma, Lord Shiva is called as “Arudra Kapaleeswarar” in Sanskrit. And in Tamil as “Pachchottu Avudayar” and “Pachcottu Aludayar”. ( பச்சை+ஓடு+கபாலம்- பச்சைஓட்டுகபாலம் – பச்சோட்டு கபாலம்- பச்சோட்டு கபாலீஸ்வரர் ) 

Believed that a pot with vibhuti appears in this tank once in 12 years

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas special poojas are conducted on Pournami ( full moon days ), Amavasai ( New moon days ), Maha Shivaratri,  Karthigai Deepam,

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The Temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs to 19.00 Hrs. 

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile numbers 

HOW TO REACH

The temple Sri Arudra Kapaleeswarar Temple is at Madavilagam.

The temple is 8 KM from Kangayam Bus stand, 26 KM from Koduvai, 40 KM from Palladam, 36 KM from Tiruppur, 40 KM from Dharapuram, 80 KM from Coimbatore and 460 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Tiruppur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Reference : http://kongukalvettuaayvu.blogspot.com/2018/05/

Avinashi Temple sthala purana ( a boy comes out of the mouth of crocodile )

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---