Kadaipillai Ayyanar of Melur

Kadaipillai Ayyanar of Melur

By

P.R.Ramachander

Melur is a small village near Sri Rangam. People say that this temple is a very old. It seems once upon a time, a bird called Kadai Kuruvi (?) used to take bath in river Cauvery and sit on mound near by. Some villagers who noticed this went near the mound to investigate. To their surprise, they found a box near the mound. In side the box was an Ayyanar Statue in the yogic pose. They consecrated the statue in their village. Since the God was found out by Kadai Kuruvi, they named the Ayyanar as Kadaipillai Ayyanar.
This was the time when Kallanai (Grand Anicut) was yet to be built. Kari kal Chozha who was the king at that time was passing through this village for finding out a proper place to build a dam. He was followed by many people riding in horses and elephants. It seems when they were crossing the temple of Ayyanar, all the elephants and horses lied down on the floor and refused to move. Ayyanar entered one of the soldiers. He told the king, “I like your horses and elephants. If you give some of them to me, I would solve the problem”. The king agreed and all his horses and elephants began to walk. After going back to his capital, the king arranged to build a gigantic elephant statue in front of the temple and three very big horse statues behind the temple. These statues are still there.
Another strange thing also happened at this time. A man called Chivandhiyandi konar from Sri Rangam used to bring his cattle to graze near the temple. One day Ayyanar met him in a human form and asked him to daily offer milk anointment to him. Konar refused. In one hit Ayyanar killed Konar. That day he appeared in the dream of the wife of Konar and told her, “Your husband disobeyed my orders. So I have decided to keep him with me. I want you and your descendents to be priests at my temple.” They obeyed and till today the priests of the temple are from Konar caste (Yadavs of Tamil Nadu).
Ayyanar sits in side the sanctum in yogic pose. Below him there is a Ganesa statue. On both sides of the sanctum there are guards. Outside the gigantic elephant stand and behind the temple are the three horses. By the side of Ayyanar are Manavala Mamuni, Ekambara Nadhar, Kamakshi Amman, Katha Parimanachami, Chivandhiyandi Konar, Madhurai Veeran and Periyannachami. Opposite Ayyanar statue there is Karuppanna Chami. His eyes are made a peculiar stone. Wherever we stand, it appears as if he is staring at us. In this temple the worship is to Ayyanar and not Ganesa as is the custom in other temples. The statue of Chivandhiyandi Konar also gets worshipped.
There is a three day Sivarathri festival in the month of Masi (February-March) Vegetarian worship is offered to Ayyanar .However Goat , cock and pig are sacrificed to please Karuppanna chami. For Karuppanna chami, the festival does not take place every year. After every festival, The God is asked when he wants the next festival. The chamiyadi replies on behalf of Karuppanna chami.
In the sanctum besides the Uthsava statues of Ayyanar his queens Poornambikai and Pushkalambikai stand.
People routinely pray Ayyanar for early marriage and children. It seems he fulfills their wishes. It seems that once there was a big flood in river Cauvery. While neighboring villages raised their banks, Melur people only prayed their God. To the surprise of every one, while all other villages were damaged, water did not enter Melur village. People had an immediate thanks giving festival.