Pillayarpatti, Sivagangai District, Tamil Nadu: Karpaka Vinayagar Temple Midhun Karpaka Vinayagar Temple is a 1600 year old Ganesha temple, located at Pillayarpatti, near Karaikudi, Sivagangai District of Tamil Nadu. Popularly known as Pillayarpatti Temple, Arulmigu Karpaga Vinayagar temple is one of the oldest cave temples in Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity, Desi Vinayaka Pillaiyar or Karpaka Vinayakar, is a 6 foot tall bas-relief carved out of an excavated cave. The inscriptions within this temple dates back between 1091 AD and 1238 AD. There are 14 Agama texts found on stone sculptures in the cave from 500 BC to 1284 AD. According to the stone sculptures the ancient names of Pillaiyarpatti are Maruthangudi, Ekkattoor, Rajanarayanapuram, and Thiruveenkaikkudi. The temple features two Rajagopurams, a vimana, and a beautiful temple tank. Karpaka Vinayakar Temple is also known by the names Desigavinayaga Pillaiyar Temple, Vinayagar Cave Temple, and often Pillayar Temple. Karpaka Vinayakar Temple Festivals: The 10 day annual Vinayakar Chaturthi festival is observed here during August – September. On the 9th day of Vinayaka Chaturthi, Desi Vinayakar is covered with about 80 kg of sandal wood paste (Santha-na-kkappu). Another ten day festival in honor of Kongu Nachiyamman, a village deity whose processional image is housed in the temple, is celebrated in the month of Vaikasi (May - June). Margazhi Tiruvathirai Festival is also held here in honor of Lord Nataraja and Sivakami during December - January. A TO Z INDIA ● JUNE 2023 ● PAGE 31