ARULMIGU VAZHITHUNAI VINAYAGAR TEMPLE, KARUR

There is a famous Vinayaka Temple at Karur, and the name of the temple is Arulmigu Vazhithunai Vinayagar Temple, and the address of the temple is: Arulmigu Vazhithunai Vinayagar Temple, Vengakkalpatti, Collectorate Post, Karur-639 007, Tamil Nadu.

Phone: 094428 50167. This temple Lord Vinayaka serves as a body guard to his devotees. He used to follow his devotees like their shadow, and during their travels he would come along with them and would make them to reach safely to their homes.

As per legend, once when a young girl has lost her way, and when she reached this place, she began to get afraid of hearing strange sounds from this place. At that time, she has heard a divine voice, and it had asked her to walk to her place without any fear, and it further said, that Lord Vinayaka would protect her and would follow her till she safely reaches her place, and likewise, a bright light was formed in that place, and it began to follow her until she reaches her home. The next day morning, when she explained the incident to her parent and to the villagers, they quickly arrived the place, and to their surprise they could witness a self-emanated idol of Lord Vinayaka, and since the great Lord protected the girl all along her place, the Vinayaka came to be known as ‘VAZHITHUNAI VINAYAGAR’, the best companion Lord during the times of our travels.

After sometime, a small temple was built by the villagers, and from that time onwards, devotees began to visit this temple in large numbers, and still now, this Lord acts as a best body guard to his devotees. This temple is hugely crowded during Chathurti days, and during Sundays.

SONGS FROM THE ANCIENT TEXT, SRI VINAYAKA PONMANJARI

1. Salutations to Sri Vinayaka Who Holds the Divine Joy in His Hand as Modaka (a sweet Prasad item) and Who Always strives to Accomplish the Liberation of His Devotees towards that Divine Joy,
   Who Holds the Digit of the Moon as His Ornament and with a Joyful Spirit Protects the World.

2. Salutations to Sri Vinayaka Who is without any Master but is Himself the only Master for His Devotees, and Protects them by Destroying the (inner) Demons,
   To those who Surrender to Him, He Destroys the Inauspicious tendencies Quickly; I Salute Sri Vinayaka and surrender to Him.

3. Salutations to Sri Vinayaka to those who do not Bow down to God out of arrogance, He takes a Frightening form; His benign however form is like a Newly-Risen Sun,
   Who is always Fresh without any Decay, and is Saluted Reverentially by the Devas and the Devoted Persons; Who Extricates those who Surrender to Him from Difficult Calamities,

4. Salutations to Sri Vinayaka Who is the God of the Devas (Sureshvara), Who is the God of Prosperity (Nidhishvara), Who is the God with an Elephant Face (Gajeshvara) and Who is the God of the Ganas (celestial attendants) (Ganeshvara),
   Who is the Great God (Maheshvara); To His Refuge, who is Superior than the Best, I Continually place myself in devotional surrender.

5. Salutations to Sri Vinayaka Who is the Auspicious Power behind All the Worlds and Who Removes the Mighty (inner) Demons,
   Whose Huge Body signifies Prosperity and Boon-Giving and Whose Most Excellent Face reflects His Imperishable Nature.
   Who Showers Grace (Kripakara), Who Showers Forgiveness (Kshamakara), Who Showers Joy (Mudakara) and who Showers Glory (Yashaskara) to His Devotees,
   Who Bestows Intelligence and Wisdom (Manaskara) to those Who Salute Him with Reverence; I Salute His Shining Form.

6. Salutations to Sri Vinayaka Who Wipes out the Sufferings of the Destitute who take His Refuge; Who is the Receptacle of the Words of Praises of the Ancients,
   Who is the Former Son (the latter being Kartikeya) of the Enemy of Tripurasuras (i.e. Lord Shiva), and Who Chews down the Pride and Arrogance of the Enemies of the Devas,
   Who wields Terrible Power to Destroy the delusion of the Five Elements constituting the World (from the mind of His Devotees); Who Himself is Adorned with the Powers (behind the Five Elements) like Fire etc,
   From Whose Cheeks flow down the Juice of Grace; 

7. Salutations to Him Whose Praise similarly flows down like Juice from the Puranas

Whose Beautiful Form of Ekadanta is very much Dear to His Devotees, and Who is the Son of the One (referring to Lord Shiva) Who Put an End to (i.e. restrained) Antaka (i.e. Yama).
Whose essential Form is Inconceivable and without any Limit, and which Cuts through the Obstacles of His Devotees,
Who Continually Abides in the Cave of the Heart of the Yogis.
I Continually Reflect upon Him, the Ekadanta (another name of Sri Vinayaka).

8. Salutations to Sri Vinayaka Those who Read the Great Ganesha PONMANJARI with Devotion 
and Utter this in the Early Morning Contemplating on Sri Ganeshvara in their Hearts
will get Free from Diseases and Vices, will get Good Spouses and Good Sons, and with it He will get Long Life and the Eight Powers soon.

“SRI VAZHITHUNAI VINAKAYA NAMO NAMAHA”

WRITTEN BY

R. HARISHANKAR