TEMPLES

TEMPLES: There many temples with historical and artistic values are in Tiruppur district. Some of the temples are in the hills such as, Sivanmalai, Kaithamalai, Alagumalai and Thirumoorthy malai and some other temples are preserved by the A S I ( Archaeological Survey of India) such as Thirumurugan Poondi and Sukrieswara temple of Sarkar Periyapalayam.

1.MURUGAN TEMPLE,UTHUKULI,TIRUPUR

Once the famous saint Agastiyar came to this place for meditation but was not able to find water. He prayed to Lord Muruga to help him. Soon Lord Muruga appeared before him and thrust His lance (Vel) in the sand. Soon water spring came from the spot. That place is called “Uthukuli”, later on it came to be called as Uthukuli.No one knows when the temple was built in Kaithamalai, just they have the history. But only 200 years before some rural kings built the temple and five years before with the help of some donors the temple was rebuilt and now it is the Important spiritual place in Tiruppur District. Daily more than 200 people visit Uthukuli Murugan Temple. The Important things is that only in Kaithamalai that is Uthukuli the temple car is in the hill and devotees pull the temple car in the slopes. No place in the world where a temple car is pulled in the hill. Then the God is called as “Vetri Velayudha Swami” and the Temple is called “Kaithamalai Murugan Temple”. Uthukuli Murugan Temple is situated 15 kilometres from Tiruppur city.

2.Kadu Anumantharaya swamy temple, Dharapuram: It is situated at Dharapuram town, 45 kms. from Tiruppur and 32 kms from Palani. In the line distinguished paramahamsas established by the illustrious saint, philosopher, Shree Madhwacharya, there appeared in the 15th century, Shree Vyasa thirth (1447-1539) a saint par excellance who late become the royal preceptor of king Krishna deva raya on the most enlightened and benevolent rulers of the Vijayanagar empire. It is believed that this temple is one of the nine important sacred shrines for the Madhwa community. The temple is mostly worshipped by people belonging to Madhwa community. Hanuman is the son of Wind God (Vayu Baghavan). To represent this, an opening is leflt above the "Sanctum Sanctorum" enabling the presiding deity to enjoy wind, sun and rain alike. It is rare to find any notable temple in South India without a Vimanam or Tower above the Sanctum. The pillars in the mandapa are made up of wood with fine carving. During the ten Days festival (Vaikasi or May) there is a Car Festival function also.

3.SIVAN MALAI TEMPLE:

The Sivanmalai Temple is about 25 kms. from Tiruppur and the temple dedicated to Lord Subramanian in the hillock. The temple is built on the hillock of Sivanmalai and is accessed through aflight of 200 steps. The main shrine enshrines Subramanyar with Valli and Deivayanai.In Aadi (July - August) and Thai (January - February) there are two important festivals celebrated here. Thaipoosam, Panguni Uthiram and Skanda Shasti in the month of Aippasi (November) are the main festivals of this temple. It is believed that God Sri Subramania, the presiding deity of this temple appears in dreams to a spiritual man or woman and demand some offerings such as bicycle, silver coins, gold chains, movable and immovable things. The devotees will bring that to the Temple and worship the God Subramania and till now this is going on. Sri Arunagirinathar refers Sivanmalai by its ancient name Pattiari in Tiruppugazh. Legend has it that Murugan married Valli against the wishes of her kinsmen who pursued the couple to Sivanmalai; all of the tribal huntsmen who fought with the couple were slain. An ahast Valli requested Murugan to restore to life, a long list of her kinsmen and Murugan obliged and restored all the vedars to life.

4.SUKRIESWARAR TEMPLE, SARKAR PERIYAPALAYAM ,TIRUPUR CITY:

It is believed that the temple complex completed during 12th Century. The temple Complex consist of two separate towers, (Vimanam) one for Lord Siva and another one for Amman. The amman temple is placed on the right side of the Siva Temple is an example of Pandya dynasty. There are other structure such construction of “Vimana” on the Sanctum which indicate the Chola dyanasty.

The salient feature of the temple complex are (1) There are two “Nandi” in front of the Shiva Temple. (2) There are five "Lingas”, three being in the outside temple, one is Sanctum and another one is invisible (3) There is no Deepasthala Pillar (Lamp Post) which one can see in all Shiva temples in Kongu region (4) The main Gate is opened in South direction instead of East. (5) The Amman was placed on the right side of the Shiva temple.

The temple Complex located on the bank of Nallar River Stream which tributary of Noyyal River.

5.Avinashi Temple

Avinashi is a small town situated near Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. The town is famous for the Shiva temple constructed by Sundarapandiya is closely associated with the great Saiva saint Sundaramoorthy Nayanar.The word Avinashi means that which is indestructible History : This is one of the seven Shivastalams in Kongu Nadu; however this temple is better known as Karunaiyaaththaal temple. Avinashi is also referred to in inscriptions as Dakshina Varanasi, Tiruppukkozhiyur etc. Tirumular's Tirumantiram, Arunagirinathar's Tiruppugazh & Manikkavacakar's Tiruvacakam refer to this shrine. This temple is regarded as the first of the seven Thevara Stalams in the Kongu Region of Tamil Nadu. Inscriptions here reveal that the Cholas, Pandyas and the Hoysalas have made extensive endowments to the temples

Sundaramoorthy Nayanar on his way to meet Cheramaan Peruman, Nayanar happened to visit Avinashi. As he was passing through one of the streets, he heard two discordant notes coming from opposite houses, one echoing joy and another sorrow. The puzzled saint understood the cause for the strange phenomenon. Two boys of the same age went to bathe in a tank from which emerged a crocodile and devoured one of them. There was being celebrated the "Upanayanam" (Thread ceremony) of the surviving boy, now 8 years old. Hence there was joy and mirth in the house. While the other people were unable to bear their sorrow. Had their boy been alive, they too would be celebrating his "Upanayanam". Intensely moved by this, Sundaramoorthy Nayanar poured out of soulful song, praying to Lord Shiva to resurrect the dead child. His prayer was answered .The empty tank started surging with water from which emerged the crocodile and ejected the child as a fully grown boy of eight years

Architecture Ambal's sanctum is to the right of Avinasiappar's sanctum, unlike that in most temples. The Kasi Gangai Theertham—in the form of a well is considered to be of significance. The Kaalabhairavar shrine in this temple is held in reverence. Kaala Bhairavar is worshipped here with offerings of Vadai Maalai.

Festival: The car festival is the most exciting of the festivals in this temple. This temple's car is second biggest in SouthIndia and is noted for its fine wooden carvings. Since the old car was destroyed by fire in 90's, it has been rebuilt. The annual Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the month of Chittirai. Apart from Temple car festival, 63(Arubathi moovar Ula) is one of the notable festival in this temple. The festival chariot here is said to be on par with Tiruvarur.