Karupparaya Sami of Onnipalayam

Karupparaya  Sami  of Onnipalayam

By

P.R.Ramachander

   Once upon a times Sidhas in Tamil Nadu  used to  fly from one place to another by putting a mercury tablet(Rasa Mani  in their mouth) .People believe that a  Sidha called Bogar   went from India   to China using this method  .Once it seems one sidhar was flying like this from  Podigai mountain  carrying a  very rare medicine. When he reached Onnipalayam, it seems the   rare medicine fell down inside the forest. He got down     and went on searching. Since he did not get it he started   doing Thapas(penance)    aimed at Lord Shiva. Some evil spirits    started     troubling him. Then by his magical powers   he created  Karupparaya Sami  and ordered him to protect him.. The people of the village   understood the power of Karupparaya   Sami  and built four walls and eight pillars    around him. And inside they built a small temple    for him..There was a small hermitage   behind this temple. People from other areas used to come   and  used to stay in the hermitage  and do worship to Karupanna sami

      The temple faces east and outside you see Nagar(serpent)  god. Opposite to the temple there are three   stone swings of the god and his horse steed. f you climb four steps   you can see  God Karuppanna swami , He wears a turban, has a cloth tied on his hip, fearsome moustache ,He carries  a scythe(arrival) in    his right hand and a mace(Gadhai) in his  left hand. There is no roof over him .But one huge Bilwa tree  and wild lemon tree give him shade People do worship themselves offering him  two betel leaves, three  betel nut , one lemon fruit and one rupee.  Devotees believe that he would keep them safe  and all   good functions in their home would   go along without any problems.

    On his right side  is Kannimaar sami  and on the left side beyond the  bilwa  and lemon tree  there is a mud statue of Thannasi appar   and few small  village gods.

    The god is only once worshipped in the morning.On full moon, new moon, monthly siva rathri   as well as on maha   sivarathri days  lot of  pilgrims come to visit him.

    Devotees believe that the Sidha    is still doing  penance in the adjoining   forest.

Onnipalayam  is 6 km from Karamadai   which is  in Coimbatore district. You can get bus auto etc from Kara madai .You can see   the God any time you go there.