Welcome to Sri Gurunathaswamy Website

Introduction

Sri Gurunatha Swamy Temple is located about 2 km north of Anthiyur which is a small town in Bhavani Council, Erode. It is said that this temple was constructed by a Chieftain belonging to Pandiya Dynasty of later years. However there is no archaeological evidence to support this. Sri Gurunatha Swamy is the family deity (Kula Deivam) of many Indians especially those whose mother tongue is Telugu. We are now attempting to bring to the public attention, the history of Sri Gurunatha Swamy temple a told by our ancestors.

At present, the temple is taken care of by the descendants of Late Sri S. Gurusamy Pujari. Incidentally, it is Late Sri Gurusamy Pujari's ancestors who settled down in this place and rebuilt this temple.

History of the Temple

It dates back to about 600 years when Arcot Nawab was ruling this region. Late Sri Gurusamy Pujari's ancestors were living in a place called Pichavaram near Chidambaram. They were praying to a God called "Sri Kutti Andavar" by building a small temple. At that time, the Nawab wanted to marry a girl from the Pujari's family. Accordingly the Nawab sent word through his soldiers to the Pujari expressing his desire. After the soldiers returned, the Pujari discussed with his family members but no one agreed to the Nawab's proposition. When the Nawab came to know about it, he got very angry and threatened the Pujari and his family that he would kill all of them if they did not agree to his roposal in few days.

While praying to their God, one of the family members went into a trance. Through him, the family members were advised to leave the place immediately taking along with them the three stone deities that they were praying to. Accordingly, all the members left the place overnight taking along with them the stone deities, hidden in a basket. Next day when the Nawab found out about this, he got infuriated and destroyed the whole place including the temple, horses and elephants' sheds.

The group travelled through many villages and struggled for survival but could not find food or proper place to live. Finally they decided to throw the stone deities in a nearby river and go elsewhere for survival. They threw the stone deities in the river ad next day morning with teary farewell to each other, they were about to leave with their bags. To their astonishment, they found the three stone deities in the basket belonging t a person named Sri Santhappan, a Vanniyar Kula Kshatriya. Since then, they all decided to pray to these deities as their family Gods. From that time, it has been the descendants of Sri Santhappan who were performing prayers and taking care of the temple. Even today, the eldest son or daughter born in their family are named as Santhappan or Santha.

Reaching Pudhupalayam, the present destination

The members approached a Chieftain belonging to Pandiya Dynasty who ruled the place at that time requesting for a place for them to settle down. The Chief readily agreed to give the stone hall, which is the present day temple, with a condition that they hould help him in case a war erupted. The members agreed to the Chief's demand and decided to settle down in that place raising cattle. As an evidence to this, the Pandiya emblem fish, is seen embedded in the walls of the stone hall.

Deities Names

The members lived there happily with their cattle. Every day they were praying to the three formless stone deities. As the days passed by, they wanted to give forms to all the three stones. They called the first stone deity as THE MOTHER" and named her Sri KAMAKSHI AMMAN. To give equal importance to both Saivam and Vaishnavam, they named the second stone deity as Sri PERUMAL. After much deliberation, they named the third stone deity as Sri GURUNATHA SWAMY. GURU means Eswaran an NATHAN means Lord Murugan. So combining both the supreme Lord Siva and his son Lord Murugan, they named the third stone deity as Sri GURUNATHA SWAMY. From then on, they were praying to Sri GURUNATHA SWAMY as their family Deity. Also, most of the Telugu speaking families started praying to Sri GURUNATHA SWAMY as Sri BALAGURUNATHAR and Sri UGGIRA GURUNATHAR.

Building of the Gopuram

Living in the stone hall, they constructed the Gopuram for the temple which took a long time for completion. An interesting incident about the construction should be mentioned here. Those days, they were paying wages to the workers by means of KOOLI KASU. They would mix coins with sand and give it to the workers without counting. Surprisingly those who worked hard would get more coins and laggards would get less. People believed that this is also Sri Gurunatha Swamy's will and even today some people call him as KOOLIKARA GURUNATHAR.

At that stage there was a confusion about who should perform the daily prayers. So one of the forefather's (4 generations back) of the present trustee took the charge and started the prayers and since then he became the PUJARI of the temple.

It was the period before India's Independence. After completing construction of three gopurams, they started to plan for safeguarding the deities and other things used for performing the daily prayers.

Preparation of KULLUKKAI (storage room)

In the middle of the temple, they built a storage room measuring 11x 11 x 11 feet and constructed an underground passage leading to the storage. They stored all the deities and things associated with prayers in the storage room. It'is interesting to note that this storage room did not have an entrance on any of the four sidesa At the top, there was an opening through which only one person to enter. Every year, a day before the Tamil Aadi festival, they would go the near the storage room with music. Only one of the Pujaris who has been following the fasting strictly would be allowed to go in. If anyone else tried to go in, they were bitten by the snakes safeguarding the place. This is true to this day. Even today people living in the area offer prayers to the "Paambu Putru" (snake mound) surrounding the Kulukkai.

Construction of Maha Mandapam.

The present front Mandapam was constructed by late Sri S. Gurusamy Pujari n his own efforts about 100 years ago and his descendants are taking care of the place till now. The Sabha Mandapam was constructed by Alampalayam Late Sri Nanja Mudaliar. His descendants are given due respect in the temple festivals even today.

Gurunathar Vanam

According to the legend, Sri Kamakshi Amman wanted to go to a nearby foret (Vanam) which is about 2 km away from Pudupalayam to do penance. Uthanda Munirayan who was well known for black magic refused to let her occupy the place. Sri Kamakshi Amman came back and told her son Sri Gurunathar about this. Hearing this Sri Gurunathar vowed to destroy Munirayan and called his Chief disciple Agora Veerabadhrar and told him go to the forest and destroy Munirayan. Veerabadhran went and advised Munirayan earnestly but Munirayan did not heed to Veerabadhran.

Uthanda Munirayan's end

In the present Gurunathar Vanam area, there ensued a big battle between Uthanda Muni and Veerabadhrar. Well versed in black magic, Munirayan enlarged his size and fought with Veerabadhrar. Veerabadhrar broke Uthanda Muni's hands and legs. Sri Gurunathar constructed a Maha Meru charriot and standing on the chariot he destroyed Uthanda Muni. To signify this event, even today, during the Aadi festival season, Sri Gurunathar goes to the Vanam in the Maha Meru chariot.

Munirayan's request

In his death bed, Munirayan requested Sri Gurunathar "O God! you destroyd my ego. You have relieved me from a curse that troubled me from my previous birth. Let our Mother Sri Kamakshi Amman do her penance here. May I have the permission to stand in front of your chief disciple Agora Veerabadhran who is taking care of ths forest?".

Sri Gurunathar replied thus "Muniraya! I am concerned about your food. My mother Sri Kamakshi, Sri Perumal and I are all pure vegetarians. For us pongal, fruits ad coconut are enough but what about you?".

Munirayan happily answered "Sri Gurudeva! Whenever devotees give you the naivedyam, please give one portion to me. That is enough" and Sri Gurunathar agreed to his request. Since then, this tradition of cooking Sarkarai pongal and offering to the Gods is ritually followed by all the devotees.

Sri Gurunathar in the Vanam

In the Vanam, Veerabadhrar and Uthanda Muni did their prayers to Sri Gurunathar in the form of a small stone. From that time onwards, till now, the stone is growing bigger and bigger in size. Devotees pray to Sri Gurunathar "Sri Gurunatha! just as you are growing, our family also should also grow well" and devotees prayers are always answered.

Vanam Temple

This is a very peaceful place with many trees. In an area of about 1 Acre, there is a hole of about 3 feet from the ground. In this, Sri Gurunathar is residing surrounded by beautiful nature.

Other Gods in the Vanam Temple

Sri Kamakshi Amman is in the penance pose. Opposite to Sri Amman are the tatues of Sitheswaran and Matheswaran. The nine Nayagis and Saptha Kannis are situated on the right side of Sri Kamakshi Amman. The front of Sri Gurunathar's Chariot is carried by people belonging to Vanniar and Kongu Velalar clans while the back of the Chariot is carried by Anthiyur Fishermen.

Parivaaram

During the Festival, the Umbrellas are carried by the relevant Heads of the families. Similarly, all the decorations for the Chariots. transportations, music etc are undertaken by the respective Heads.

Associated Temples

In the Velli Thiruppur Village Poraipalayam Vanam, every Friday evening special prayers are performed for Sri Periya Gurunathar. At this temple, people who are suffering from Black magic effects are cured. Every year on the Tamil month Panguni, 4th Friday, one day festival is celebrated here in a grand manner.

There is a Konnaimarathayyan Vanam nearby. Here during the Tamil Month Chithirai 4th Thursday, one day Chariot festival takes place. Also every Wednesday, at 6 pm, special prayers are conducted in this temple.

Prayers

Aadi Chariot Festival

comes to an end on the fifth Wednesday with Paal (Milk) Pujai.

Every year in the Tamil month of Avani, first Wednesday, the Vanniyar Kula Kshatriyas perform the Chidambara Pujai (also called Parambarai Aadhina Padithara Pujai). At the end of this Pujai, the Pujari goes into a trance and lights the Thiruvala Vilakku with cold water (not oil) and blesses the devotees. Devotees believe that all their requests are fulfilled because the Moolavar (Main Deity) himself comes and blesses the devotees in this festival.

Swamy goes to Vanam in the Maha Meru Chariot

Every year during the fourth Wednesday of the Aadi Festival, all the Gods go to the Vanam. Sri Kamakshi Amman in the palanquin, Sri Perumal in a small Maha Meru chariot and Sri Gurunathar in a big Maha Meru chariot go the Vanam. The whole day they remain in the Vanam. After the prayers are finished in the night, they return to the Pudhupalayam Temple and bless th devotees.

People belonging to Poyanmaar clan carry Sri Kamakshi Amman's Palanquin.

Sri Perumal's Chariot is carried on the front and back side by people belonging to Pudhpalayam Vanniyar and Kongu Velalar and Reddiyar clan. This year Sri Gurunatha Swamy has given permission for the renovation of Pudhupalayam Maha Mandapam, Japa Mandapam, Gopuram, and the four walls outside.

The Temple's Trustee Family along with the Tamil Nadu Temple Board have formed a Committee to do the renovation works.

We are now requesting all the devotees to donate generously towards the construction and renovation works of this temple. We request you to either send a Draft or MO to the temple Trustee or come to the Temple directly and get the receipt.

Assets of the Temple

This temple does not have any asset in the form of lands. Income is generated during the festival seasons by leasing out the cattle sheds and shops in the Andhiyur town. With this income, water facilities, sanitary facilities are done for the benefit of devotees coming for the festival. Even a small fraction of this amount is not used for the temple.

Cattle and Horse Sales

Every year on the 4th Wednesday of Aadi, Cattle and Horse sales take place. This special event lasting for four days from 4th Wednesday of Aadi to Saturday stared in 1951 and it attracts people in large numbers. Though there is no special place for this event, people living nearby give their Agricultural lands for the four days' event happily.

All the Government authorities also help in the success of his event. Access to the Temple The temple can be easily reached from Erode. An appeal We request all the devotees to come and help in the successful renovation of this temple and visit the temple regularly and get the blessings of Sri Gurunatha Swamy. C. BALAMURUGAN, M.A, B.Ed. P.S. Santhappan, B.A Temle Trustee Secretary (Parambarai rangavalar)

(This is a translation of the Temple History book written in Tamil by the Temple Authorities and published for the first time in August 1998).

Infomation about the Temple

Sthapagar - Late Sri S. Gurusamy Pujariyar

Parambarai Trustee - Sri. P.G. Santhappan

Parambarai Pujariyar - Sri. P.G. Pichhappan