10th May 2019.
This Ayyanar temple is in the midst of sugarcane field at Idaikattur one of ancient village of Tamil Nadu. Usually Ayyanar with Elephant as Vahana is called as Sastha or Sathan. He used to sit in a Rajaleelasana ie keeping left leg up with a yoga band ( yoga patti which passes through his hip ). He also holds a Chattai / Chentu ( crooked stick ) in his right hand. The worship of Ayyanar started since 3rd Century. The worship of Ayyanar and its Iconography took different forms in latter periods. At one stage the Ayyanar with his consorts Purana & Pushkala disappeared from worship, but still some temple Ayyanar is worshiped as Ayyappan.
Usually in Villages the Ayyanar temples will be at the end of the Village, worshiped as a guarding deity of the Village. Ayyanars will be in pair with ferocious look holding long swords in their hand. In Kongu area they are used to called as Chinna Annan and Periya Annan. Animals are also sacrificed for these Ayyanars. The guardians are Muduraiveeran, Pavadairayan, Karuppaswamy, etc.
Due to intrusion of sanscrit the worship of Ayyanar and Iconography also changed in large extent. Ayyanar has become Sathan and latter Sastha. Slowly from 12th Century, Ayyanar has become Ayyappan.
IDAIKATTUR ARULMIGU KARUVALUDAIYA AYYANAR TEMPLE:
The Ayyanar temple is facing east with two gigantic horses on that Karuppaswamy and Maduraiveeran are sitting. Dwarf assistants are shown at the base of the horse. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala, arthamandapam and a mukamandapam. Elephant vahana with palipedam are in the mandapam. Dwarabalakas, Vinayagar and Balamurugan are at the entrance of the sanctum. Ayyanar with his consort Purana Pushkala are in the sanctum. In Koshtam Dhakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar and Durgai. A two tier Vimana is on the sanctum. The Vimana has the stucco images of Shiva forms.
In the outer prakaram Sannadhi for Periya Nachiamman, Siriya Nachiamman, Irulappa Swamy, Irulayi, Chinna Karuppan, Periya Karuppan, Thottichi Amman, Samayan, Mariappan, Rakkayi Amman.
The original temple may belongs to 12th Century and reconstructed to the present form and Jinotharana ashtabhandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 24th May 2015. Some sect of the people worships this Ayyanar as their Kula Swamy.
HOW TO REACH:
Town bus route nos 99F from Periyar bus stand, 99M from Mattuthavani bus stand stops at Muthanenthal and from there share autos are available to Idaikattur.
All the busses to Manamadurai from Madurai stops at Muthanenthal.
Nearest Railway station is Manamadurai.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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