Uthamapalayam Sri Parayadi Muthukarupanna Swami Temple, Theni

Address

Uthamapalayam,

Theni district – 625 533

Phone: +91- 99409 94548.

Moolavar

Parayadi Muthukaruppanar – (Parayadi Muthiah)

Introduction

Uthamapalayam Muthukaruppannaswamy temple is located in the Uthamapalayam village, Theni district, Tamilnadu. This temple is also known as Parayadi Shri Muthukaruppannaswamy (Parayadi Muthiah) Temple. The Temple is believed to be 1500 years old. It is around 2 Kms from the Uthamapalayam bus stand. There are actually two parts of this temple- one atop the hill and the other at the bottom.

Puranic Significance

There was a Shiva temple at the top of the hills in ancient days. Muthukaruppanna Swami was the security to Lord then. When a witch hunt tried to take Lord Shiva from here, Muthukaruppannaswami prevented his attempt and killed him. He then stayed here forever. The Shiva temple at the top of the hill disappeared in the days followed. Muthukaruppannar Himself became popular then in the region. A temple was built then. As he is under the rock – Parai in Tamil, He is named Parayadi Muthiah, Parai Adi (Parayadi) Muthukaruppanna temple. Hence this temple is known as Parayadi Muthukaruppannaswamy Temple or as called by the local people, Parayadi Muthiah temple. There is a perennial spring by the side of the temple called Parayadi Theertham.

There is no daily Abhishekam for this Murthy. Instead, a special coating of the ashes of Darba Grass mixed with cosmetics like Sandal, rosewater, civet and five different oils, is applied on Him on New Moon Days and Butter is applied on Full Moon Days. On both these days when the oil/butter is applied on this Ugra Murthy, women and children are not allowed inside. On these days, seven types of fruits are offered as Neiyvedhyam to the Murthy and distributed as Prasadam. The special Pooja on the Shivarathri is also very unique. Since Muthukaruppannar is the bodyguard of Shiva, the prayers are offered during night in which the prasadam is Vazhai Mattai (skin of banana tree). This prasadam is later offered to the devotees with the belief that their families will continue with progenies. The daily prasadam is sweet pudding (payasam).

After worshipping Mukthivinayaka, one can enter the main temple. The sanctum sanctorum is guarded by two fierce looking guards- Deva Bhudagan and Akasa Bhudagan with sickle and mace in their hands. In the main shrine, Muthukaruppannar appears is a majestic murthy with a moustache, holding a sickle in His hand with His left leg on top of a witch, holding her head in one of His hands. Thiruman (the Vaishnava mark) is sported on His forehead. His face and chest are made of Navapashanam (the same material used in Pazhani Murugan idol). Since He is an Ugra Murthy, profuse sweating is always seen on His body and the temple priests constantly use fans to cool Him. Every night, a bowl of water is kept in the sanctorum to quench His thirst. Before opening the temple in the next morning, the priest would knock on the door of the sanctorum and after three knocks, would enter inside and this water is offered as prasadam to the devotees.

Beliefs

Devotees pray for child boon, prosperity and fearlessness. Devotees offer vastras and ornaments to Lord with sweet pudding nivedhana.

Special Features

The idol of the presiding deity is made of Navapashana herbals the vimana above the sanctum sanctorum is of Padma design. Lord Mukthivinayaka blesses the devotees. Navagraha shrine is in the prakara. Nagar shrines are under Arasa Maram – Bodhi tree in the form of anthills. Deva Bhudhagan and Akasa Bhudhagan, the guardian deities are on both sides of the sanctum sanctorum. Sri Agni Veerabadra appears in killing posture of Daksha. As He has all Shiva attributes, devotees offer the first worship to Agni Veerabadra and then to Karuppanar. In the hill behind the temple, Lord Shiva blesses the devotees as Akasha Linga on a square peeta. Mother Parvathi sitting in a meditating posture is performing Shiva Puja with Lotus flowers, a rare darshan in this temple. The perennial Parayadi Theertham-holy spring is at the foot of the hills.

The Dakshinamurthy shrine in this temple is also quite different from other temples. There is no Kal Ala Maram (Banyan tree), no demon or Rishi disciples at his feet. Instead, He holds flowers in His hands. Apart from all Thursdays, people throng this shrine during Guru (Jupiter) transition periods. There is a separate shrine of Agni Veerabhadra (believed to have been created from Lord Shiva) in the pose of killing Daksha. Since Veerabhadra is considered as one of the forms of Shiva, in this temple, the first Pooja is always offered to Him, before commencing poojas in the shrine of Muthukaruppannar. Murugan gives darshan as Balamurugan. Navagrahams are housed in a separate enclosure. Nagas are installed in ant hills below the Arara tree (Bodhi) outside the praharam.