Sri Karunaiyaaththaal Temple – Avinashi

 

Sri Karunaiyaaththaal Temple is located in Avinashi town in Tiruppur district of Tamilnadu State.

Here Lord Shiva is Worshipped as Avinasiappar and his consort is Karunambigai

It is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams of Lord Shiva

The temple complex covers five acres and it houses two gateway towers known as gopurams, each facing the Avinasiappar and Karunambigai shrine.

There are also other temples on the premises

There is a shrine for Kaalabhairavar which is being worshipped here with the offerings of Vadai Maalai.

The main gopuram is of 7 tiers

The mandapam in front of Ambal's sanctum has interesting sculptural work. The pathways on the four sides of the sanctum sanctorum are decorated with the images of Nayanmars, Murugan Sannadhi in the northwest, and Karaiakal Ammaiar Sannadhi in the northeast. The large Nandi here and the carved image of a scorpion in the Ambal sanctum are of significance here.

This temple was built during the 7^th century

The theertham here is called Kasi Gangai Theertham and Sthala Vriksham is Paatiri.

Avinasi indicates the one that cannot be destroyed indicating Shiva's grace to his devotees. As per Hindu legend, two boys of eight years of age took a dip in a tank when a crocodile swallowed one of them. The mother of the boy pleaded with Sundarar to rescue his child and said that she was planning to do Upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) to the child when this incident happened. Sundarar, who was on his way to Tiruvanchikulam heard the incident and sung praises of Shiva in the temple. The boy was miraculously rescued from the clutches of a crocodile and this event is commemorated during the Mudalai Vaai Pillai Utsavam on Panguni Uththiram. There is a shrine to Sundarar on the banks of the temple tank and the bottom of the flagpost carries the image of the legend. Since the boy came out of the crocodile's mouth, the place is called Pukkoliyur. Brahma is said to have worshipped the Shiva here for a hundred years. The elephant of Indiran, Iravadham, is said to have worshipped at this temple for twelve years

Brahmotsavam festival is celebrated during the month of the Magam (February - March) and is the most celebrated here.

There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham, and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day), and Chaturthi.

Every year, at Panguni Uththiram, in the Tamil month of Panguni, people celebrate Sundarar's miracle as Mudalai Vaai Pillai Utsavam.

The procession of the 63 Nayanmars (Arupathi Moovar Ula) is another important festival celebrated here.

Vinayaka Chaturthi, Aadi Pooram, Navaratri, Aippasi Pournami, Skanda Sashti, Kartikai Deepam, Arudra Darisanam, Thai Poosam, Maasi Magam, Panguni Uththiram and Vaikasi Visakam are also celebrated here.

Timings

6.00 am to 1.00 pm

4.00 pm to 8.00 pm

How to reach the Temple

40 km from Coimbatore

14 km from Tiruppur