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. Lord Ganesh is seen with two arms and a trunk curled towards his right side (Valampuri Vinayagar). Vairavan Kovil or Vairavan Swamy Temple in Vairavanpatti is just 2 km away. Karpaka Vinayakar idol is facing north which is said to be the direction of Lord Kubera – the God of Wealth. Karpaga Vinayagar idol is in meditation posture here with Shiva Lingam at his right hand (most Ganesha idols usually have mothakam in the right hand); hence Ganesha is also called Yoga Vinayagar (Ganesha with meditation and all fortunes), the one who grants success to all requests of his devotees. Arulmigu Karpaga Vinayagar Temple also enshrines Tiruveesar, a Shiva Lingam carved into the cave wall, and Marudankudi Eesar with his consort Vaadaamalar Mangai. A five-headed snake wearing a lingam on its neck is an important carving here. The temple also enshrines Pasupatheeswarar (who showers all wealth), Nagalingam (who gifts offspring to human beings), and Goddess Karthiyayini (who arrange marriages). A TO Z INDIA ● JUNE 2023 ● PAGE 30