Perur is among the 100 heritage villages of Tamilnadu and is home to a number of old buildings belonging to the people of this region. Now slowly a number of these structures are giving way to modern ones and the heritage of Perur is getting destroyed very quickly. The houses of the priests have become modern and even the Pancha Mukha Vinayagar temple has acquired a very modern cum colourful look. A number of residents feel that it could have been left in its original form along with the nice well. Marble, granite, cement and garish colours are ruining Perur in the name of development and commerce. The dirt being dumped into the River Noyyal is taking place regularly.
The Patti Vinayagar temple is found amidst all the chaos at this heritage village. One can visit this slightly modernised shrine which is located on the way to the Padithurai on any given day. The environs are calm and one is sure to be engulfed in the serenity of the place very quickly. The self manifested Patti Vinayagar is Edamburi, one whose trunk is positioned on the left and he has been present on the banks of the River Noyyal for over 5000 years. It is believed that the Pandavas had offered their prayers to this benevolent Patti Vinayagar during the Dwapara Yugam. Another lovely Valamburi Vinayagar was installed long ago in the same sanctum with his trunk positioned on the right side. The temple has shrines for Lord Shiva and Parvathi alongside.
While drawing the attention to the finely sculpted stone pillars the Priest Rajesh shares some details which would enthuse the lovers of history, "Long ago there existed a Lakshmi Narayana temple in this region and these lovely pillars are part of the same. They contain good depictions of Lord Hanuman and a number of incarnations of Lord Vishnu on them. We are trying our best to maintain them well here."
Our country and the Kongu region in particular was known for its pastures and grazing animals. Since this region was a rain shadow territory, grazing was the main option besides dry land farming too. The grazers used to move around and during the nights they used to fence the cattle in an enclosure which was known as "Patti" and hence the name Patti Vinayagar, Patti Eswarar for the Gods of Perur which was blessed with grazing lands. While moving on the grazers used to put all the dried dung, burn it and let the cattle pass through it primarily to ensure that they were free from germs. These places are the old ashmounds known as "Sambalmedu" in Tamil. These practices are the precursors for the fire walks in our region. These practices continued until the eighteenth century. The application of the holy ash or Vibhuti is a consequence of this practice and the "Thiruneetru Padalam" of the "Perur Puranam" throws some light on this fact. Even today Vibhuti or holy ash is sacred only if it is made out of cow dung and that too the dung of the desi cow. A person was therefore considered to be germ free after a bath and he announced it through the application of the Vibhuti on his forehead and the upper parts of his body. The application of Vibhuti to Nindra Seer Nedumara Pandian by Thirugnanasambhar heralds this practice and it is eugolised in the "Periya Puranam" written by Sekkilar. Nowadays the descendents of the Palaya Kottai Pattakkarar are doing their bit to make authentic Vibhuti available.
The archaeological importance and the simultaneous existence of grazers, priests in the neighbourhood of small towns shows how rural and urban India co existed from time immemorial. Small industries and trading in agricultural products, textiles, implements and jewellery took place in these small towns which supplemented the villages. The famous Kachiappamunivar waxes eloquent about Patti Vinayagar in the Perur Puranam which was composed in the seventeenth century. For the ones who wish to offer their prayers to Patti Vinayagar and also wanting to see the sculpted pillars are advised to do so between 6 AM - 11.30 AM and 4.30 PM - 7.30 PM.
The Patti Vinayagar temple is found amidst all the chaos at this heritage village. One can visit this slightly modernised shrine which is located on the way to the Padithurai on any given day. The environs are calm and one is sure to be engulfed in the serenity of the place very quickly. The self manifested Patti Vinayagar is Edamburi, one whose trunk is positioned on the left and he has been present on the banks of the River Noyyal for over 5000 years. It is believed that the Pandavas had offered their prayers to this benevolent Patti Vinayagar during the Dwapara Yugam. Another lovely Valamburi Vinayagar was installed long ago in the same sanctum with his trunk positioned on the right side. The temple has shrines for Lord Shiva and Parvathi alongside.
While drawing the attention to the finely sculpted stone pillars the Priest Rajesh shares some details which would enthuse the lovers of history, "Long ago there existed a Lakshmi Narayana temple in this region and these lovely pillars are part of the same. They contain good depictions of Lord Hanuman and a number of incarnations of Lord Vishnu on them. We are trying our best to maintain them well here."
Our country and the Kongu region in particular was known for its pastures and grazing animals. Since this region was a rain shadow territory, grazing was the main option besides dry land farming too. The grazers used to move around and during the nights they used to fence the cattle in an enclosure which was known as "Patti" and hence the name Patti Vinayagar, Patti Eswarar for the Gods of Perur which was blessed with grazing lands. While moving on the grazers used to put all the dried dung, burn it and let the cattle pass through it primarily to ensure that they were free from germs. These places are the old ashmounds known as "Sambalmedu" in Tamil. These practices are the precursors for the fire walks in our region. These practices continued until the eighteenth century. The application of the holy ash or Vibhuti is a consequence of this practice and the "Thiruneetru Padalam" of the "Perur Puranam" throws some light on this fact. Even today Vibhuti or holy ash is sacred only if it is made out of cow dung and that too the dung of the desi cow. A person was therefore considered to be germ free after a bath and he announced it through the application of the Vibhuti on his forehead and the upper parts of his body. The application of Vibhuti to Nindra Seer Nedumara Pandian by Thirugnanasambhar heralds this practice and it is eugolised in the "Periya Puranam" written by Sekkilar. Nowadays the descendents of the Palaya Kottai Pattakkarar are doing their bit to make authentic Vibhuti available.
The archaeological importance and the simultaneous existence of grazers, priests in the neighbourhood of small towns shows how rural and urban India co existed from time immemorial. Small industries and trading in agricultural products, textiles, implements and jewellery took place in these small towns which supplemented the villages. The famous Kachiappamunivar waxes eloquent about Patti Vinayagar in the Perur Puranam which was composed in the seventeenth century. For the ones who wish to offer their prayers to Patti Vinayagar and also wanting to see the sculpted pillars are advised to do so between 6 AM - 11.30 AM and 4.30 PM - 7.30 PM.