This temple is located at Ayyarmalai near Kulithalai in Karur District. This is a Padal Pethra Sthalam revered by Appar, Sambandhar and Vallalar. Lord Muruga of this temple was revered by Shri Arunagirinathar. This is on the southern bank of Kaveri believed to be more than 1500 years old. This temple must have existed even before the 7th century. There are about 50 stone inscriptions dating back from the 11th to 16th century. This temple was renovated, maintained and endowments were made by Chola, Pandya, Hoysala and Vijayanagar kings. This temple is at a distance of 9 kms from Kulithalai, 14 kms from Musiri, 41 kms from Karur and 47 kms from Thiruchi on Manapparai-Musiri route. The place was called earlier as Thiruvaatpokki and is now known as Ayyarmalai / Iyermalai. This temple was reconstructed by Kulothangan II
Moolavar: Sri Rathnagiriswarar, Sri Ardhanarishwarar, Shri Manikesar, Shri Maikozhundeesar, Shri Madhyanasokkar, Shri Vaatpokkinathar, Shri Ratnagirisar, Shri Rajalingam
Devi: Shri Kurambarkuzhali, Shri Surumbarkuzhali, Shri Aralakesi
Kshetra Vruksha: Neem tree
Puranik Name: Thiruvaatpokki, Ayyarmalai, Ayvarmalai, Shivaymalai, Ratnagiri
Present Name: Ayyarmalai
Sacred teertha: River kaveri
Kshetra Puran:
As per sthala purana, an Aryan king who had lost his kingdom came to this place in search of Gemstones. Lord Shiva who wanted to test him took the form of a brahmin. He asked the King to fill the tub with water from Kaveri for taking bath. Despite his best efforts the king could not fill the tub. The king became angry and he hit the brahmin with his sword. Then Lord Shiva appeared before him and stopped him from hitting him again. He gave him a precious stone. In Tamil, Vaal means sword and pokki means stop / remove. Hence this place got the name as Vaalpokki which later became Vaatpokki, as Lord Shiva stopped the sword. There is a scar on the shiva linga where the sword had stuck. Since Lord Shiva gave a ratna to the king, he is praised as Ratnagirishwarar.
According to the Puran during the war between Lord Shiva and Andhakasur, whenever a drop of blood fell from Asura’s body a new one sprang from it. So Lord Shiva created Goddess Yogeshwari from the flames coming from his mouth. She, along with the power given by sapta matrikas, swallowed the blood drops from the Asura before they fell on the ground and the asura was destroyed. Hence worshiping here along with Sapta Matrikas finds an important place in this temple. We find the shrine of Goddess Yogeshwari along with the Sapta matrikas in a cave at this place.
According to Sthala purana Lord Indra used to worship Lord Shiva at this place by entering through the nine holes opposite to the Moolavar. He used to come in the form of thunder and lightning. Even now we find the garland and vastra on Lord Shiva to be burnt on the next day. The milk that was used for abhishek turns into curd.
In our earlier blogs we had given an account of the trial of strength between Vayu and Adishesha. We had also mentioned that small precious stones from Mount Meru were blown away at that time. They fell at different places and formed shiva linga. The coral stone became a shiva linga at Thiruvannamalai. Ruby fell at Ratnagiri i.e. at this place, Emerald fell at Elongoi, Blue sapphire at Podigaimalai and diamond fell at Kodumudi.
A devotee named Vairagya Perumal of Kanchipuram took a vow that he will offer his head to Lord Ratnagirishwarar if he gets a child. When his wish was fulfilled he came to this place and cut his head while his feet stayed at the foothills, the head reached the top of the hill. There is an idol of his head in the temple. The idol is anointed with milk and honey and then a garland offered to Lord Shiva is put on it.
According to Sthala purana Pandavas stayed for a brief period during their exile. Hence the hill got the name AyvarMalai (Ayvar means five people meaning Pandavas, malai means hill)
Those who worshiped at this place:
Sage Agastya, Lord Indra, Lord Vayu, Goddess Durga, Sapta Matrika, AdiShesha, Sage Romesha and Jayantan and Lord Surya.
Special features:
1. The milk that is used for Abhishek of Shiva linga does not get spoiled till evening. It gets converted into sweet curd within a few hours.
2. On the first day of Karthigai, Lord Shiva graces with a crown of precious Manik.
3. Those who are not aware of their family deity, worship Lord Shiva at this temple as their family deity.
4. It is believed that at this place Shiva linga (Lord Shiva) is in the form of Navaratnas i.e. nine precious stones. Hence in the surrounding places, around the hill, one can dig out red and green colored stones.
5. There is a scar on the shiva linga made by a sword.
6. In this hill, people are not affected by snake bites.
7. At a particular place on the hill we don't come across any crow flying above that place.
8. The water from river Kaveri is brought by foot from a distance of eight kilometers for abhishek daily.
9. The temple and the parikrama are in the form of Tamil letter Om (ௐ).
10. The sun’s rays fall on the shiva linga through nine holes on the top in the month of Chitrai.
11. The shiva linga is on a rock surrounded by eight other rocks.
About the temple:
The temple is situated on a hill at a height of 1178 feet. One has to climb 1200 steps to reach the temple. As mentioned in the earlier blog, this is one of the three temples where one has to worship on a day to attain salvation i.e. one has to worship at Kadambar Kovil in the morning, Ratnagirishwarar temple at noon and Engoinathar temple in the evening. The temple and the corridors are in the shape of Tamil letter Om (ௐ), hence it is known as Shivamalai. As Lord Shiva is on the top of the hill he is praised as Malaikurindisar, and since worship is done in the afternoon, Lord Shiva is praised as Madhyanasokkar.
There are a number of small mandaps on the hill by the side of the steps for the devotees to take rest while climbing. There are a number of caves on the hill where sages are believed to be doing penance. There is an entrance arch with a stucco image of Shiva linga flanked by Lord Ganesha, Goddess Parvati and Lord Muruga. This is a west facing temple and the sanctum is in the shape of a linga. Sun’s rays fall on the moolavar through nine holes opposite to the shiva linga in the Tamil month of Chitrai. Shiva linga is in the middle of eight rocks on the ninth middle rock. Behind that temple there are elephants in eight directions. On the right side of the shiva linga there is a scar mark.
Koshtha murtis are Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Ardhanarishwarar, Lord Bhairav, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga.
There is a shrine of Lord Ganesha at the 107th step. There is another shrine of Lord Ganesha at the entrance of Mother's shrine. At the foot hill there are shrines of Lord Vinayaka, Lord Kuppuswami and Vishwakarma. Dhawajastambha and Nandi are at the entrance of the sanctum. There are Dwarapalakas on the entrance on each side. The steps are evenly paved and at every stage there is a shrine of Lord Vinayaka. On the way to the hill at one place we come across a footprint which is believed to be that of Lord Shiva.This place is praised as Ponnidumpaarai (paarai means rock). This is the place where Sambandhar received gold from Lord Shiva. When we climb up further we come across a cave in which there are idols of Sapta Matrika. Goddess Ambika is in a separate east facing shrine, thus we find that Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva face each other. Shrine of Goddess Ambika is at one level below Lord Shiva. There are shrines of Lord Surya and Lord Chandra with their wives which is very rare. At the foothill there is a shrine for Lord Anjaneya and shrine for Shaiva saints Naalvar. In the prakaram there are shrines of 63 Naayanmars, Lord Nataraja with Goddess Shivagami, Nandi and Lord Subramanya with Valli and Deivanai.
Prayers:
Devotees worship at this place for removal of marriage obstacles, child boon, mental peace, relief from health problems and success in business.
Devotees come to this place for relief from asthma, BP, body pain as they believe that the air that they inhale gives them relief due to the presence of medicinal herbs found around in this place.
Pooja:
Three times in a day at 10.30, 12 and 5. Pradosha puja and special puja on full moon, new moon, Mondays, Fridays, first day of Tamil months, during Guru transit, Shani transit, Tamil new year, English new year, Diwali and pongal.
Festivals:
Chitrai (Apr-May): 15 days of Chaitra festival
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Special pujas on Friday and Monday of Karthigai, Girivalam on full moon days
Thai (Jan-Feb): Thaipusam, Teerthawari
Timing: 6 am to 11 am, 4 pm to 8 pm
Address: Shri Ratnagirinadar Temple at Ayyarmalai (Thiruvaatpokki) at post Sivayam, Taluka Kulithalai, District Karur
Phone number: +91-4323245522
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