History

Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar Temple is an ancient rock-cut cave shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesha, located at Pillayarpatti in Tiruppathur Taluk, Sivaganga district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Pilliyarpatti is located 12 kilometers far, easterly to Tiruppathur, 3 kilometers far, westerly to Kundrakudi Murugan temple and 16km far, westerly to Karaikudi, and 47km far, north-easterly to Sivaganga town, the district head-quarters.

The presiding deity of the temple is Karpaka Vinayakar. In the cave temple, there are rock cut images of Siva and other gods as well as several shrines. The Āgama texts found on stones in the temple help date the temple between the years 1091 and 1238. A unique Tamil image of Pillaiyar found in the temple helps to verify this dating.
Pillaiyarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar temple was built by early Pandyas. Karpaga Vinayagar is carved out in a cave of Pillaiyarpatti Hillocks. Lord Thiruveesar (Shiva) is also carved in the rock of this cave. The age of the cave temple may be 2500 years or more. There are 14 stone Sculptures in the cave (dated from 500 BC to 1284 AD). These stone sculptures state the ancient names of Pillaiyarpatti such as Ekkattoor, Thiruveenkaikkudi, Maruthangudi, and Rajanarayanapuram. The image of Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar and that of a Siva Lingam were carved out of a stone by a sculptor named Ekkattur Koon Peruparanan who put his signature on a stone inscription, in Tamil Language used between the 2nd and 5th century, found even today in the sanctum. It is believed that the icon of Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar must have been carved around the 4th century AD.

The Vinayagar sannidhi (Sanctom Sanctorum) is a cave where the 6 feet of Karpaga Vinayagar has been carved inside that faces north direction. As this is a cave formation, there is no provision to go around for the pradakshina. Vinayagar’s trunk is curved at the right side (Valampuri Vinayagar) which is unique feature. There are deities in this temple such as goddess Karthiyayini (who arrange marriages), Nagalingam (who gifts offspring), Pasupatheeswarar.
This temple is the only one in Tamil Nadu which contains a 6 feet rock-cut Pillaiyar deity. The Thumbikai of Lord Pillaiyar is curled towards his right side and so the God is also known as Valampuri Pillaiyar.

The chettiyar community (Nagarathar – This temple is one of the nine important temples for Nagarathars) has kept the temple clean. Chettiars are the only community now whose subbranches are divided based on Sivan Temples. e.g. subbranches like Pillayarpatti Pirivu, Elayatrankudi Pirivu.

Vinayagar Chathurthi is this temple’s most important festival. It is 10 days long. Kappaukkattutual and hoisting temple flag begin before 9 days. On the 9th day car festival and much celebrated decoration of sandal covering ( Santha-na-kkappu) to Pillaiyar takes place.
The temple opens at 6 in the morning and stays open till 1 PM. The shrine is again opened at 4PM and is open till 8.30 PM.

As of today, the Pillayarpatti Nagarathar worshipers are involved in conducting daily worship services in the temple, as well as maintaining it. People from all over the state come to the temple for the worship of Pillayar, the Lord of Wisdom. It is one of the nine temples of the Nagarathar Chettiar community of Chettinad, Tamil Nadu.

The Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi festival, is celebrated for 10 days in a grand manner every year during the months of August and September. During that time, a large of pilgrims gather and participate in the Car Festival. Like all Shaivite temples, Pillayarpatti temple also has Lord Shiva as its presiding deity. The lord’s name is Arjunapureeswarar. This temple is most famous for the rock cut Vinayagar (Ganesha) sitting majestically inside a cave.