Uthamapalayam Sri Parayadi Muthukarupanna Swami Temple, Theni

Address

Uthamapalayam Sri Parayadi Muthukarupanna Swami Temple, Theni

Uthamapalayam,

Theni district – 625 533

Phone: +91- 99409 94548.

Moolavar

Parayadi Muthukaruppanar – (Parayadi Muthiah)

Introduction

• Location: The temple is located in Uthamapalayam village, Theni District, Tamil Nadu, about 2 km from the Uthamapalayam bus stand.
• Alternate Name: It is also known as the Parayadi Shri Muthukaruppannaswamy Temple or Parayadi Muthiah Temple.
• Age: The temple is believed to be 1500 years old.
• Structure: The temple consists of two parts: one atop the hill and the other at the foot of the hill.

Puranic Significance

• Historical Background:
  • The temple is dedicated to Muthukaruppannaswamy, originally a guardian (security) to Lord Shiva.
  • In ancient times, there was a Shiva temple atop the hill. Muthukaruppannaswamy protected Lord Shiva from a witch who tried to take Shiva away. Muthukaruppannaswamy killed the witch, and after this event, he decided to stay at the hill permanently.
  • The original Shiva temple disappeared over time, and Muthukaruppannaswamy became widely worshipped in the region. A temple was constructed in his honor.
  • Parayadi Muthiah: The name of the temple comes from Parai (a type of rock) in Tamil, and since Muthukaruppannaswamy resides under a rock, the temple is known as Parayadi Muthiah Temple.
  • The temple has a perennial spring called Parayadi Theertham, located near the temple.

Temple Rituals and Worship

• Unique Worship Practices:
  • No Daily Abhishekam: Unlike many other temples, there is no daily abhishekam (ritual anointing). Instead, a special coating of ashes from Darba Grass mixed with cosmetics (Sandal, rosewater, civet, and five oils) is applied to the deity on New Moon Days. On Full Moon Days, butter is applied.
  • During these special days, women and children are not allowed inside the temple while the rituals take place. Additionally, seven types of fruits are offered as Neiyvedhyam (food offerings) to the deity and distributed as Prasadam.
• Shivaratri Rituals: On Shivaratri, special prayers are offered during the night. The prasadam during this festival is Vazhai Mattai (skin of a banana tree), believed to ensure that families continue to have children. The daily prasadam is a sweet pudding (payasam).
• Sanctum and Idol:
  • Before entering the main shrine, devotees first worship Mukthivinayaka.
  • The sanctum sanctorum is guarded by two fierce-looking deities: Deva Bhudagan and Akasa Bhudagan, who hold sickles and maces.
  • The idol of Muthukaruppannaswamy in the main shrine is depicted as a majestic Ugra Murthy (fierce form), with a moustache and holding a sickle in his hand, with one leg on a witch and holding her head.
  • The deity’s face and chest are made from Navapashanam, the same material used in the idol of Pazhani Murugan.
  • Due to the Ugra Murthy form, Muthukaruppannaswamy is believed to sweat profusely, and the temple priests use fans to cool the deity. A bowl of water is placed in the sanctum every night to quench the deity’s thirst, and this water is given as prasadam the following morning.
• Opening Ritual: Before opening the temple each morning, the priest knocks on the sanctum door three times before entering.

Beliefs

• Devotees pray to Muthukaruppannaswamy for boons of children, prosperity, and fearlessness.
• Vastras (clothes) and ornaments are often offered to the deity, along with sweet pudding (payasam) as offerings.

Special Features

• Navapashanam: The idol of Muthukaruppannaswamy is made from Navapashanam, a mixture of nine medicinal substances.
• Vimana: The vimana (tower) above the sanctum sanctorum is of Padma design.
• Agni Veerabadra Shrine: A separate shrine dedicated to Agni Veerabadra in the pose of killing Daksha. As Veerabadra is a form of Shiva, the first pooja in the temple is offered to him before moving on to Muthukaruppannaswamy’s shrine.
• Dakshinamurthy Shrine: This shrine is unique because there is no Banyan tree or demon disciples. Instead, Dakshinamurthy holds flowers in his hands, and devotees flock to this shrine during Guru (Jupiter) transition periods.
• Murugan Darshan: Lord Murugan gives darshan in his form as Balamurugan (child form).
• Navagraha Shrine: A shrine for the Navagrahas (nine planets) is located in a separate enclosure.
• Nagha Shrines: Shrines for the Naghas (serpents) are located under an Arasa Maram (Bodhi tree) in the form of anthills outside the temple praharam (outer courtyard).

Parayadi Theertham

• The temple is blessed with the Parayadi Theertham, a holy spring that flows at the foot of the hill, considered sacred by the devotees.

Festivals

Shivrathri is grandly celebrated in temple in February-March.

Century/Period

1500 Years Old

Managed By

Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE)

Nearest Bus Station

Uthamapalayam 

Nearest Railway Station

Madurai station

Nearest Airport

Madurai

Location on Map

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