Friday Temple Visit - Week # 92
18th November 2022
வாரம் ஒரு கோவில் தரிசனம்
by S. Subramaniam
Sri Avinashi Lingeswara Temple, Tirupukkoliyur (Avinashi), Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Location:
The famous Shiva temple Sri Avinashi Lingeswara Temple, is located in Avinashi a town which lies about 40 kms from Coimbatore and 10 kms from Tirupur. River Nallar flows in the close vicinity of the temple.
Uniqueness:
The temple is believed to the oldest Shiva temple in the Kongu Nadu region of Tamil Nadu. The chief attraction of the temple is the 70 feet high Deepa sthambham (Lamp Post).
Salient features:
The presiding deity of the temple is Sri Avinashi Appar or Perung Kedili Appar. Names of Devi Parvati in this temple are Sri Karuna Ambika and Sri Perung Karunai Nayaki. There are several Sthala Theertham or Holy Waters of the temple such as the Kasi Kinaru, Thamarai Kulam (the Lotus Pond) and Naga Kanni theertham etc. The Holy tree or the Sthala Vriksham of the temple is the
Pathiri tree known in English as the Yellow Snake tree.
Name of the place / Lord
Vinasam in both Sanskrit and Tamil means that which is perishable. Avinashi means imperishable. Thus the Lord of the temple came to be known as Avinashi Appar and the place, his abode as Avinashi. In ancient times, the place was also known as Thirupukkaliyur.
Being the first among the seven Shiva Sthalams of Kongunadu it is also known as the Karunaiyaathaal temple.
The Tamil saying goes – Kasiyil Vasi Avinashi meaning that what a devotee derives by worshiping the Lord at in Kasi (Varanasi / Benaras), he/she will derive half of the benefits by worshiping the Lord at Avinashi.
History:
The temple is a very ancient one as it has been documented that Devi Parvati had worshiped the Lord here.
The temple was originally built by the Kings of Chola dynasty. The present structure belongs to the 10th century CE. The main tower was first built during the period of King Sundarapandian and later reconstructed by the King of Mysore.
Link with Kasi / Varanasi
The Lord Avinashi Lingeswara enshrined in this temple is believed to be an offshoot of the one in Kashi (Varanasi). For this reason, Avinashi is also known as Dakshin Kashi.
The Theertham (holy water) in the “Kashi Kinaru” and the idols of Lord Avinashi Lingeswara and Lord Bhairavar are believed to have been brought from Kashi.
Legends
Legend 1 of 3 - Relating to Devi Parvati.
The legend has it that Goddess Karunambikai did her penance and worshiped the Lingam under the Pathiri Tree here. The Pathiri tree of this temple would blossom only during the annual festival called Brahmotsavam festival and not during other days of the year.
Legend 2 of 3 - Relating to Sage Vasishta
According to scriptures, it is said Sage Vasishta worshipped in this temple to seek respite from the adverse effects of Sani Bhagwan (Planet Saturn). It is believed that he installed an idol of Sani Bhagwan in this temple. This idol is now worshiped as Anugraha Murthy.
Legend 3 of 3 - Relating to Saint Sundara Murthy Nayanar.
Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar, who had come to worship the Lord at this temple had come to know about the grief of a family as the young boy of that family had been swallowed by a crocodile three years ago.
Sundarar rendered a soulful Pathigam pleading Lord Shiva to resurrect the dead child. As he sang the fourth stanza, his prayers were answered. A crocodile emerged from the temple tank and ejected a fully grown boy of seven years. This story is depicted beautifully in the form of paintings and reliefs in this temple.
The temple
The temple is spread over an area of 1.5 acres (6,100 m2). The main rajagopuram is on the east side with seven tiers and is over 100 ft tall. Avinashi temple is a repository of fine carved architecture throughout its structure. The intricate carvings depicting various events in Hindu mythology can be seen here
At the back of the shrine is carved a figure of scorpion, which is said to have the efficacy to cure a person, from even the bite of a venomous snake and sting of scorpions.
A Deepa Sthambam can be seen in front of the temple. A special fact about it is that it is shaped out of a single stone. Towering over 70 feet, the lower part depicts the carvings of the boy's rebirth off the mouth of the crocodile, Sundaramurthi Nayanar and Lord Ganapathy.
Other deities:
There are two Devi shrines in the temple, one in penance under a Mango (Pathiri) tree and the other with the Lord in the sanctum sanctorum. Here the Goddess is unusually placed on the right side of the Lord instead of the left side, as is the tradition in other temples.
In this temple, the shrine of Lord Kala Bairavar is aesthetically designed and occupies a special significance among devotees. There is an unique practice of offering Vada malai (garland of Vadas) to Kala Bhairavar on Ashtaami days of worship.
Amongst others, idols of Vinayakar, Murugan and his consorts, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy and the Navagragam can be seen in the corridors.
Literary mention
It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Sundarar. The temple also finds mention in Tirumular's Thirumantiram, Arunagirinathar's Tiruppugazh and Manikkavacakar's Tiruvasakam
Contact
Executive Officer
Shri Avinashi Lingeswarar Temple
Avinashi - 641 654
Tirupur District. Tamil Nadu, India
Phone: 04296 - 273113
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