Sri Vinayaka temple (more than 2000 years old)
During all monthly Chaturthi days, Lord Vinayaka is taken in procession mounted on the Mooshika Vahan around the temple. He also comes in procession on the Tirukarthikai Deepan day in November-December with Lord Chandrasekhara and Mother Umadevi. Chokkapanai will be burnt in the shrines of Lord Vinayaka and Marudangudi Nayanar. On Margazhi Tiruvadhirai day in December-January, Lord Nataraja and Mother Sivakama Sundari are taken in procession. The biggest festival in the temple is the Vinayaka Chaturthi in the month of Avani-August-September. This festival begins 9 days earlier with flag hoisting. Theerthavari is celebrated on the 10th day. During the midday puja, a preparation called Kozhukattai in Tamil in a big size is offered as nivedhana. Five Gods come in procession on gold and silver vahans at night.
This is an ancient cave temple built during Mahendra Pallava period 1600 years ago. Presently, the temple is under the administration of Nagarathar community. There are four Arjuna kshetras in South India – Tirupudai Marudur in Tirunelveli district, Tiruvudai Marudur in Thanjavur district, Sri Shailam in Andhra Pradesh and Pillayarpatti in Sivaganga district.
Greatness Of Temple: Among the few places celebrating car festivals for Lord Vinayaka, Pillayarpatti is one. Two cars-raths are used for Lord Vinayaka and Lord Chandikeswara. The Rath for Chandikeswara is pulled by women and children only. In the car streets, devotees do Anga pradakshinam-whole body circumabulating – on the 9th day of the festivals. While the car pulling begins, a sandal paste covering is offered to the presiding deity with 80 kg. sandal paste. As this event takes place only once in a year, the devotee crowd is huge. Maha Abishek also is performed that day.
During the Uchikala puja – midday puja, on the annual Vinayaka Chaturthi day in August-September (Aavani Tamil month), a single Kozhukkattai of a giant size prepared with a quantity of 18 measure of rice, 2 measures of Dhil-Ellu in Tamil, 6 measures of Dhal, 50 coconuts, one measure of cow ghee, 100 gms cardamom, 40 kg. Jaggery is offered to Lord as nivedhana. The whole mixture is packed in a cloth and placed in the rice basket (Anna Koodai in Tamil) in the temple kitchen. This will then be put down in a very big bowl and tied in the kitchen. The bundle will not touch the big bowl called Anda.
This will be boiled for two days continuously. This will be tied in a long wood and carried to the shrine for nivedhana. The next day after the preparation is cooled, it would be made into pieces and offered to devotees and people of the place as Prasad.
Devotees pray here for removal of obstacles in marriage proposals, for child boon and for good education
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