Karpaka Vinayakar Temple - Karpaka Vinayagar Temple

Hi friends I'm back with some information about the famous Karpaka Vinayakar Temple - one of the oldest of its kind in Tamil Nadu. Please read on to more on this ancinet Lord Ganesha temple...

Karpaka Vinayakar Temple, popularly known as Pillayarpatti Temple, is one of the oldest cave temples in Tamil Nadu. Located at Pillayarpatti, this 1600-year-old shrine of Lord Ganesh enshrines a six feet tall idol of Karpaka Vinayakar. Lord Ganesh is known here as Karpaka Vinayakar or Desi Vinayaka Pillaiyar.

In Karpaka Vinayakar Temple, Lord Ganesh is enshrined facing north and is portrayed with two arms and a trunk curled toward his right (valampuri mode). The temple is also famous for the rock cut images of Lord Shiva and Lingodbhavar, Marudankudi Eesar and his consort Vaadaamalar Mangai.

The pillars of Karpaka Vinayakar Temple are of pre-Pallava origin. The temple also features numerous inscriptions which date back to AD 1091 and AD 1238. The temple features a Rajagopuram, a vimana and a beautiful temple tank.

The annual Vinayaka Chaturthi Festival celebrated in Pillayarpatti Temple attracts large number of devotees from all over Tamil Nadu. The festival is held in the months of August and September for 10 days. On the 9th day the deity is covered with about 80 kg of sandal wood paste.

Karpaka Vinayakar Temple is also known by various names such as Desigavinayaga Pillaiyar Temple, Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, Cave Temple, and often Pillayar Temple. Karpaka Vinayakar Temple can be easily accessed from Karaikudi Junction Railway Station and Pudukkottai Railway Station. Pillayarpatti is just eight kilometers from the temple.

I'll be back to you with more information about Karpaka Vinayagar Temple and its history.

Ayurveda – the ancient Hindu science of health and medicine

Ayurveda – the ancient Hindu science of health and medicine

Ayurveda is the ancient Hindu science of health and medicine originated in India some thousands of years ago. Ayurveda is the combination of two Sanskrit words Ayu (life) and Veda (knowledge of). Ayurveda also had a tradition of surgery. Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita are the two early texts of Ayurveda. Both texts has detailed descriptions of the treatments and medicines used in Ayurveda.

According to the ancient Sankhya Veda (Sankhya theory of cosmology), Ayurveda is based on the five great elements (Panchabhootha) such as aether (space), air, fire, water, and earth.

Ayurveda medicine or Ayurvedic type of medicine is mainly divided into eight branches such as:

1) Kaya chikilsa (general medicine)
2) Shalya (surgery)
3) Shalakya (ENT and Ophthalmology)
4) Bala (Pediatrics and Gynecology)
5) Damshitra (toxicology)
6) Graha (Psychotherapy)
7) Jara (rejuvenation)
8) Vrishya (Aphrodisiacs)

Ayurveda is considered as the knowledge of the body and its needs. Ayurveda can provide one with the complete guidelines on daily routines, lifestyle, diet, and the types of activities one should undertake for a comfortable life.

Ayurveda is the knowledge of the body and its needs, and gives complete guidelines on diet, daily routines, lifestyle, and the kind of activities to be undertaken for a comfortable life. Ayurveda can help one to maintain a good physical well-being of his body. Besides this, Ayurveda also touches upon the spiritual and psychological dimensions of human existence. This is one of the main reasons why Ayurveda is becoming more and more popular in all parts of the world.

It is seen that nowadays Ayurveda has become much popular in the Western countries. The main Ayurvedic treatments in the Western countries include primarily massage, and dietary and herbal advice. Ayurvedic treatments are aimed at restoring the harmony and balance to the patient’s mind-body system.
Ayurveda