ILLUPAKUDI - A CLAN TEMPLE

 


Illupakudi is an ancient temple located 5 kilometres from Karaikudi and is one of the nine clan temples of the Chettiar community. It is about 500 years old. The main gods in the temple are Thanthondrieswarar and Soundranayagi Amman.

One interesting feature of the temple is a tiny sculpture of Lord Vinayaga (Ganesha), only one inch in size, carved into pillar in the front hall. The details, like his fingers, eyelids, and nails, are very clearly shown

Lord Bairava is appears in a special form in the temple. A famous story about this temple involves Kongana Siddhar, a person who prayed to Lord Ainootreeshwarar of Mathur to learn the secret of turning iron into gold. He was instructed to pray to the Bairava here at Illupakudi, and when he did, Lord Bairava blessed him with the power.

Devotees come here to pray for various things such as family prosperity, marriage, having children, and to remove any bad luck or health issues. Women who are having trouble getting married often pray to Mother Varagi with special offerings like sandal paste, ghee lamps, and Abhikesh prayers.




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