VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Arunjunai Kaatha Ayyanar temple / அருஞ்சுனைக்காத்த அய்யனார் திருக்கோவில் / அருஞ்சுனை காத்த அய்யனார் / Theri Kaadu (Kudiraimoli theri) / தேரிக்காடு ( குதிரைமொழிதேரி ), Mela Pudukudi / மேலப் புதுக்குடி/ Kuthiraimozhi, Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu.

Thursday, 4 January 2024

Arunjunai Kaatha Ayyanar temple / அருஞ்சுனைக்காத்த அய்யனார் திருக்கோவில் / அருஞ்சுனை காத்த அய்யனார் / Theri Kaadu (Kudiraimoli theri) / தேரிக்காடு ( குதிரைமொழிதேரி ), Mela Pudukudi / மேலப் புதுக்குடி/ Kuthiraimozhi, Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Arunjunai Kaatha Ayyanar Temple at Mela Pudukudi, near Thoothukudi, was a part of “Temples, Heritage Sites and Archaeological Excavation Sites Visit around Thoothukudi”, between Dec 1^st and 2^nd December 2023. This temple is at Pudukudi, a Village inside the Therikadu, near Thiruchendur in the Thoothukudi District.

Moolavar : Sri Ayyanar

Consorts : Sri Poorna & Puskala

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

The temple faces east with Elephants and horses in front of the temple under a mandapam. The natural temple tank / Water spring is on the right side of the temple. Moolavar Sri Ayyanar is with his consorts on both sides in a sitting posture. Utsavars are in the antarala. Nagar and Lampstand in stone are at the entrance of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Stucco images of Ayyanar, Kalasamharamoorthy, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Vinayagar, Maha Vishnu’s Vamana avatar, Rama avatar, Kannappar Purana, Amman’s various forms, are on the Parapet wall of the mandapam.

In praharam, Pechi Amman, Navagrahas, elephant, Horse, Rishabam, Sudalaimadan, Isakki Amman, Parameswari Amman, Vannichi Amman, Karuppasamy, Periyandavar, etc.

Moolavar was like this latter images are installed in the sanctum

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, and open mukha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum was built with stone in the Gramiya style. There are no Kostas.

The praharam ceilings have stucco images of Shiva and Parvati’s Dances, Lions, Snakes, Kalinga Narthanar, 12 Rasis, etc.

Shiva and Parvati Dance, a sthala purana of Thiruvalangadu - Most difficult to make stucco sculptures on the ceiling
Lions - The most difficult to make stucco sculptures on the ceiling
Nagars - Most difficult to make stucco sculptures on the ceiling
Kalinga Narthana - The most difficult to make stucco sculptures on the ceiling

History & Inscriptions

It was said that the tree trunk was formed in the form of Ayyanar. Later, a separate temple was built, and Ayyanar, with Poorna and Pushkala images, was installed in the sanctum sanctorum.

This temple belongs to the Mela Pudukudi Gramam Ettu Pangu Nadar Community. The Daily newspaper owner, Pa Sivandhi Adhithanar, had donated to the construction of this temple.

Jeernodharana Ashta bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was performed on 26^th March 1980 and 06^th July 2003.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, during ancient times, this place was ruled by King Singavarman from Srivaikuntam. A lady called Kanakamani used to carry water from this natural spring of the temple. One day, while carrying the water, the water spilled on a Munivar, who was doing a dhabas. The Muni woke up from the dhabas, with anger, cursed Kanakamani that if anybody drank water from her, they would die, and further, she would die for the sin, which she had not committed. If she reveals this, she will die. Fearing the Munivar’s curse, Kanakamani begged for pardon. The Munivar said that he could not withdraw the curse; instead, he had given the boon of attaining Swargaloka after her death.

One day, Kanakamani, as usual, carried water from this spring to his home. On the way, a mango fruit had fallen into the pot, which she did not know about. King Singavarman was fond of this mango and directed his soldiers to guard the mango tree. The Soldiers are surprised that the ripe Mango, which was hanging from the tree, is missing. The soldiers searched everywhere and couldn’t find it. They were very thirsty and asked Kanakamani to give them water to drink from the pot. Remembering the Munivar’s curse, she refused to give them. The Soldiers suspected her and asked her to show the pot. When they inspected, they found the mango was in the pot. So they took her to the King, and the King, in turn, ordered her to kill her for stealing the mango. When she said that, she didn’t know how the mango came into the pot. A brave lady in the court also argued with the King that Kanakamani had not committed the crime (it is believed that the brave lady was none other than Pechchi Amman). The King didn’t accept her statement and ordered his soldiers to kill her.

Since Kanakamani was an ardent devotee of Sastha/Ayyanar, before dying, Kanakamani prayed to Sastha that he would be responsible for her death. Immediately, Sastha appeared before her and said, if she wished, he would give back her life. Kanakamani refused to get back her life, instead asking a boon that she should become the Spring, and cure the diseases of people who consumed the water after her death. Sastha granted her wish and stationed himself in this temple itself to bless his devotees along with his consorts.

Kanakamani used to take water from this pond.

Pechi Amman Sannidhi... Pechi Amman, who argued with the King for Kanakamani

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, Special poojas are conducted on pournami, Amavasya, and Panguni Uthiram Days. The people who worship Ayyanar as Kula Deivam do tonsuring, ear boring ceremony of their Children at this temple. And special poojas are done on these days.

Devotees worship Ayyanar for Child boon, to remove marriage obstacles, to get a good job, to flourish in business, etc.