Virupatchi Arumuga Nayinar temple near Theni

Arulmigu Arumuga Nayinar temple , Kodangipatty , Theni Virupachi Arumuga Nayinar   Urchavar : Subramaniar   Amman / Thayar : -   Thala Virutcham : Vilwa   Theertham : Muruga Theertham (Theertha Thotti)   Agamam / Pooja : Shivagama   Old year : 500-1000 years old   Historical Name : -   City : Kodangipatti Theertha Thotti   District : Theni   State : Tamil Nadu

Tamil New Year day falling almost on April 14; Vaikasi Visakam in May-June, Tirukarthikai in November-December; Thai Poosam in January-February and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple.     Lord Muruga, Naga Subramaniar, Naga Ganapathy and Rudraksha Shiva in the temple were found from a field.

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 3.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. Sri Virupakshi Arumuga Nayinar Temple, Theertha Thotti, Kodangipatti-625 547, Theni district   Sri Vinayaka graces the devotees in the temple as Lord Selva Ganapathy.  The Vimana above the sanctum sanctorum is of Tridala design.  There are two Vilwa trees in the prakara before Lord Muruga’s shrine.  These are the sacred trees of the temple.  On the wall of the Theertha Thotti (Sacred Water Tub) are the sculptures of Saptha Kannikas the seven virgins worshipping Lord Muruga and Shivalinga and  Vinayaka.  There is a temple nearby for Chitra Gupta Nayanar recording the sins and noble deeds of the people.

Those facing adverse aspects of serpent planets, Mars (Sevvai) bathe in the Theertha and pray to Lord Muruga for relief.  People also pray for good education, growth in their enterprises and family prosperity.     Realizing their wishes, devotees perform abishek to Lord Muruga with milk, rosewater, sandal etc. and offer vastras. Lord Muruga appeared in the dream of a farmer and told him that He was in a particular spot in the fields of Virpakshi village.  He informed the king.  They found the idol, installed it and built the temple.  As the Lord was found in the Virupakshi Village, He is praised as Virupakshi Arumuga Nayinar. Lord Muruga with His six faces graces from the sanctum sanctorum.  His consorts Valli and Deivanai are not with Him.  Morning puja is performed with Theertha abishek.  Nearby is Lord Naga Subramanya with a seven hooded serpent serving as an umbrella.  First puja is dedicated to this Muruga and then only to presiding deity.  Those facing Naga dosha prays to Him performing Milk abishek.  It is  noteworthy that a Naga Vigneswarar also graces in the front mandap near Lord Selva Ganapathy. Lord Shiva as Rudramurthy graces from a shrine with a vimana.  There is no Nandhi before Him.  Those blessed by a Guru (Shivadiksha) wear Rudraksha on the forehead.  Lord Shiva here is wearing the Rudrakshamala as a Guru.  The idol is so made with the Rudraksha, a rare form not commonly seen in temples.  Those facing Guru adverse aspects (Jupiter) pray in the shrine on Thursdays offering garlands made of a pulse called Kondai Kadalai.  On the Aipasi Annabishek day in October- November, a Shiva Linga is made of the rice, pujas offered with flowers, vilwa and sandal.  This is dissolved in the river the next day.  People consider this darshan very important and lucky. The temple is situated on the western bank of Kottakudi River.  On the Tamil Near day, birth of Chithirai month falling almost on April 14, special pujas are dedicated to Lord Muruga, the day He was found from the fields.  There is a Vel the weapon of Lord Muruga, very old in age still exists in the temple but the sharpness broken.  The Theertha Thotti is opposite the temple.  The origin of the spring is yet not known but believed that is from the feet of Lord Muruga.

The Saptha Kannikas on their mission to kill a demon, killed a sage by mistake.  For relief from the dosha they incurred, they created a spring here and worshipped Lord Muruga who granted them the relief they required.  The Theertha-the sacred spring alone existed then.  A Muruga devotee was returning after a visit to Palni, a famous Lord Muruga sthala but could not proceed further from Virupakshi due to some riots in the place.  As he did not want to stay anywhere till he returned home, he prayed to Lord Muruga to show him a way.  A young boy came there, gave the traveler a Vel without a sharp edge and advised him to proceed as the Vel guided him.  He had a bath in the Theertha Thotti at Virupakshi, left the Vel on the bank and reached home.  People of the place, worshipped this Vel as Lord Muruga.