A few weeks ago, I chanced upon an interesting article on Ayyanar Temples in the online archives of The Hindu.
For the non-Tamil readers: Read the short article if you have time, this post will make more sense.
Last week I had to take a day off work to go to my village (Kalliampudur, near Vijayamangalam in Perundurai Taluk of Erode District) for the 69th anniversary of a special puja that my family conducts annually on Chiththirai Sadhaya Nakshathram.
When I drove past the boundary of my village, I noticed that the statues that stand outside the Ayyanar Temple were freshly painted.
I stopped on my way back that evening and took some pictures.
The temple is the small white single-storeyed building behind the Banyan tree.
That’s my car with the obligatory garland that is usually hung in front of cars at the end of a puja or a visit to a temple. There probably wasn’t another garland to be hung on my brother’s car which is parked behind mine - or it fell off by the time we got out of the village 
This is the temple as seen from under the Banyan tree. A few of the local kids got curious and came to see what was up.
These were the statues that grabbed my attention as I drove past in the morning.
I have to confess that I have never been inside an Ayyanar temple.
I do not know which one of these is Ayyanar and Karuppusami, if those are who they are. Neither of them is on a horse and they don’t have a whip or sickle (aruval). I just thought the statues looked good. Note the white and black dogs and the snake charmer and the cobra with the unnaturally large hood.
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Quaint, and romantic pictures, especially to a thorough-city-bred.
This is really interesting Vijay, although it took me forever to follow the links which set my head spinning, trying to digest it all.
I couldn’t get the photos to load separately to look in more detail. They seemed to try but never succeeded.
Thanks for sharing and trying to educate your Western readers about your culture. That’s what is so great about the blogosphere. You stay in the same spot but learn about the rest of the world.
regards
jmb
WOW! What a beautiful temple! What gorgeous colors!
I live within a few miles from a temple here in Nashville.
It’s not colorful like that one but is VERY beautiful.
The picture from this article doesn’t even begin to do it justice.
http://imagesnashville.com/current/dep1_sub5_article1.php
Thanks for sharing those pictures with us! :-D)
Thanks Lois.
You can see some better photos of some famous temples in Tamil Nadu here and here.
i want to see the full size photo of AYYANAR APPAN WHO IS FOUND IN THE VILLAGES NEAR ARANI ORFNORTH ARCOD DISTRICT
IS AYYANAR AND KARUPANNA SWAMY SAME
WHAT IS GIVEN AS NEYVEDHYAM FOR AYYANAR
Hi,
This is mohan from kalliampudur, i am very very happy to see our temple
in internet.
hai, i am Babu,a recident at muthu nagar in kalliampudur.indeed kalliampudur is a beautiful
village, especially the small mount popularly known as “kunnangkal” gets the attraction of many
in surrounding areas.
I see your photos in the net about ayyanar.Ayyanar is not GOD. HE IS FOUNDER AJIVIGA RELIGION.HE LIVED IN THE TIME OF BUDDHA AND MAHAVEERA.PLEASE READ A,G. BARAVA “S
“AJIVIGA-VANISHING RELIGION”
Ayyanarappan and Karuppasamy are not same.
Neyvedyam to lord ayyanar is dryed rice called aval pori and sarkarai. You may offer anything with your whole heated love and obedience.If time permits i shall get a copy of lord Ayyanarappan.
i am very happy to see my village.this temple very near to my house .i am very exited
hi……am very happy 2 seeing my village temple…………its very near to my house