page_title: Karpaka Vinayakar Temple
section_title: History and Architecture
hierarchical_section_title: Karpaka Vinayakar Temple / History and Architecture
caption_attribution_description: English: Pillaiyarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple Gopuram Sideview
context_page_description: Karpaka Vinayaka Temple or Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar Temple is an ancient rock-cut cave shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesha, located at Pillayarpatti in Tiruppathur Taluk, Sivaganga district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Pilliyarpatti is located 12 kilometers far, east to Tiruppathur, 3 kilometers far, west to Kundrakudi Murugan temple and 16 km far, west to Karaikudi, and 47 km far, north-east towards Sivaganga town, the district head-quarters.
  The presiding deity of the temple is Karpaka Vinayakar. In the cave temple, there are rock cut images of Siva and other gods as well as several shrines. The Āgama texts found on stone inscriptions in the temple help to date the temple between the years 1091 and 1238 B.C.
  Above the ancient cave temple, a typical South Indian temple with large gopuram has been constructed in later centuries.
context_section_description: Pillaiyarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar temple was built by early Pandyas. Karpaga Vinayagar is carved out in a cave of Pillaiyarpatti Hillocks. Thiruveesar (Shiva) is also carved in the rock of this cave. There are 14 stone Sculptures in the cave (dated from 400 to 1038 AD). These stone sculptures state the ancient names of Pillaiyarpatti such as Ekkattoor, Thiruveenkaikkudi, Maruthangudi, and Rajanarayanapuram. The image of Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar and that of a Siva Lingam were carved out of a stone by a sculptor named Ekkattur Koon Peruparanan who put his signature on a stone inscription, in Tamil Language used between the 2nd and 5th century, found even today in the sanctum. It is believed that the icon of Pillaiyarpatti Pillaiyar must have been carved around the 4th century AD.
  The Vinayagar sannidhi (Sanctom Sanctorum) is a cave where the 6 feet of Karpaga Vinayagar has been carved inside that faces north direction. As this is a cave formation, there is no provision to go around for the pradakshina. Vinayagar’s trunk is curved at the right side (Valampuri Vinayagar) which is unique feature. There are deities in this temple such as goddess Karthiyayini (who arrange marriages), Nagalingam (who gifts offspring), Pasupatheeswarar (who showers all wealth).
caption: Pillaiyarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple Gopuram Sideview
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