Temple Travelogues - Aadhi Vinayagar(Nara Ganapathi) Temple

When i decided to start this temple travelogues post, i thought the most appropriate would be to start with Lord Ganesha's one. Lord Ganesha who has an elephantine face and a huge belly, due to his fondness of Kozhakkattai (indian rice cakes) is one of the most famous God. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. He is the benevolent protector of the innocent, yet the ruthless destroyer of all evils. Every religious ceremony is started only after invoking his blessings by reciting the shloka "Om Ganeshaya Namaha". All hindus first offer prayers to Lord Ganesh before starting any venture/work.

Me not being to be so different, also starting this blog by telling a story about Ganesha and starting with one of his own temple Aadhi Vinayagar Temple (also known as Nara Ganapathi temple) located at Thilatharpanapuri near Koothanur.

This is one of the temple in India(the other being NANDRUDAYAN Vinayaga temple in Devadhanam in East Boulevard road, Tiruchi - *to my knowledge *) where you can see Ganesha in Nar (human) form. Meaning, in this temple you will see Ganesha with a proper human head.
Now this temple - Nara Ganapathi Temple which is also called as Aadhi Vinayagar temple is located at Sithalapathi also known as Thilatharpanapuri village. To reach here, by road you can travel from Chennai via Pondicherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Sirkazhi and Mayavaram. This obscure village is located three kilometres south of Poondhottam village, enroute to Thiruvaroor when you travel from Mayiladuthurai(Mayavaram). This village(Sithalapathi) can be reached after going to Koothanur also (Saraswathi Temple - i will cover this in a separate post) from Koothanur its hardly 2 kms to this temple.

If you prefer to travel by train, then the nearest rail road being Mayavaram - you have to alight here and take a taxi from this place.

Sthalapuranam :

Here the main deity’s are Sornavalli Thayar and Muktheeswarar. Aadi Vinayagar(Nara Ganapathi) is not the main deity here, though this temple is famous and is known by Nara Ganapathi rather than by the main deity’s name in recent times.

The name Thilatharpanpuri came from Thil – Gingelly and Tharpanam means performing pitru poojas/karmas for the ancestors(a hindu ritual). The name came from coining these two words. The local story claims that performing the Pitru Tharpanam here absolves you of all your pitru Sabams (ancestral sins) and Doshams.

Hindu mythology goes on saying that, Ram when he came down to earth in human avtar was performing pitru tharpanams at various places by making four Pindams (pindams made of boiled rice scooping). These pindams after performance of tharpanam became worms everytime he did the tharpanam. Ram who got worried that his pooja’s are not getting the desired result (that is the pitrus are not getting the pindams he is offering) prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva came to Ram and asked him to go to Manthara vanam in earth where he is present in the form for offering prayers. Once he reaches Mantharavanam he should take bath in the HariSolMahanadhi and then perform the Pitru Tharpananam.

Ram, as told by Shiva came down to this place and after taking bath in the Hari Sol Mahanadhi, knelt by his right leg and made four pindams and started his pitru pooja. The Pindams which were becoming worms till now became four Lingams in this place. Because of this, Dasaratha Maharaja, father of Ram got his Mukhthi (attained divine abode) and hence the main deity got the name of Muktheeswarar.

After this episode of Ram doing his karma poojas and getting his ancestors all the mukthi, this place has become one of the main sthalas for such attainment. It is said to be equivalent to that of Kasi and Rameshwaram.

This temple also houses the Ram’s moorthy in the pragaram.

The original name of this place Thilathaipathi and Mathimuthami was sung by Gnyanasambandha Peruman in one of his songs. So this sthalam is noted also from saivasthalam and devaram perspective too.

The current name of Sithalapathi came from the name of Thilatharpanapuri and Thilathaipathi. Most of the people can identify this place with the name of Sithalapathi rather than knowing it as Thilatharpanapuri or Thilathipathi.

This is a must visit place for every Hindu. The Aadhi vinayagar temple is famous for monthly Sangada Hara Chaturthi festival. Coming to the birth of Lord Ganesha and his human form in this temple, again the mythology and the local story goes like this.

Once upon a time Mother Parvati wished to take a bath in Harisolmahanathi. She created a boy from Manjal (Turmeric) powder and after giving life to this boy asked him to stand guard outside while she took bath. Meanwhile, Lord Shiva returned home. When he tried to enter the house, the boy prevented him from doing so. In anger, Shiva beheaded the boy. When Parvati saw this, she burst into tears as the boy was made of her own thing and he is like her son. In order to console her, Shiva sent out his troops (gaNa) to fetch the head of anyone found sleeping with his head pointing to the north. (that is one of the reason there is a belief that you should not sleep keeping your head pointing to North - even today). They found an elephant sleeping thus and brought back its head. Shiva then attached the elephant's head to the body of the boy and gave him new life. He named the boy Ganapati, which means commander of his troops. He also granted him a boon that everyone would worship him (Ganesha) before beginning any work.

* --> If any one knows about other Aadhi Vinayagar Temple please do let me know.