October 2010 - Temples of Tamilnadu

Vaitheeswaran Koil is my family’s “kula deivam”. A few months back my uncle told me about Adhi Vaidhyanatha Swamy Temple near Vaitheeswaran Koil and mentioned that we should first pray at that temple before we offer prayers at Vaitheeswaran Koil. I visited this temple at Mannipallam village, in August 2010 and it was partially built. The main deity is Vaithyanatha Swamy and His consort here is Thayyalnayaki. Mannipallam village is about 6 Kms from Vaitheeswaran Koil. This village is about 2 to 3 kms from Thirupungur. Enquiries with the locals to know more about the temple drew a blank. I had an opportunity to visit this temple again in early October 2010. I enquired at Vaitheeswaran Koil and one of the priests told me that there were in fact five Vaithyanatha Swamy temples around Vaitheeswaran Koil and that they had featured in the latest edition of Sakthi Vikatan. Someone overheard my conversation with the priest and directed me to the temple office and meet Mr. Ramani, who is an electrician there. Mr. Ramani hails from Mannipallam and what he told me was very painful. He said that the village people could not rebuild the temple due to lack of funds and the temple was in ruins for a long time.

Adhi Vaithyanatha Swamy, Mannipallam

Shivalingam found below the main Shivalaingam

He was not sure if there were any tablets/inscriptions available to authenticate that this was the original site of Vaitheeswaran Koil. “Most of the granite slabs with the inscriptions have been used by the villagers in their paddy fields to build bunds. Some others have been taken away to be used in washing the clothes”. Some of the idols from here had been removed and used in some nearby temples. He said that anti social elements started using the temple premises for their nefarious activities. According to Mr. Ramani, on one occasion when a village elder questioned these people’s behaviour, one of those hooligans smashed the idol of Ambal with a heavy object and Ambal’s hand was broken in the process. Within a fortnight or so of this incident, the person whose broke Ambal’s idol was involved in an accident and lost one of his hands. This, according to Mr. Ramani, made the villagers believe very strongly in the temple Deity. The villagers then decided that the temple has to be re-built. Efforts towards this was initiated around 2002.

Ambal at Adhi Vaithyanatha Swamy temple Mannipallam

When they started to re-build this temple and the Shiva Lingam was removed, they found a second Shiva Lingam below this. Both the Shiva Lingams are now present in this temple. Mr. Ramani gave me the contact details of one Mr. Paramanathan, also a native of this village and a TN State Govt official. Mr. Paramanathan has been the champion for building the temple. Over the last eight years or so there has not been much progress made, mainly due to lack of funds.

Main Gopuram Seen from Vaithyanatha Swamy’s shrine

View of the Gopuram

They have not actively sought the help of others and have been managing only within their own resources.

Adhi Vaidhyanatha Swamy, Vimanam

Nandi at Adhi Vaithyanatha swamy temple, Mannipallam

Mr. Paramanathan can be contacted on +91-9444526253.

I appeal to my readers to send in their contributions for rebuilding this ancient temple. Please do tell your like minded friends and relatives about this temple. I am posting some snaps that I took at this temple and also some printed material in Tamil that was sent to me by Mr. Paramanathan.

Below are the printed materials that I have received from Mr. Paramanathan. I request my blogger friends to post this information on their blogs to help reach out to more people. Thank you all in anticipation.