The Adhi Vinayaka Temple, also called the Nara Mukha Vinayaka Temple, stands out as a one-of-a-kind shrine to Lord Ganesha. You’ll find it close to Koothanur town in Tamil Nadu, where it attracts both worshippers and inquisitive tourists from all over the globe. What makes this temple special? The answer is the human-faced Ganesh idol.
Unique Human-Faced Ganesh Idol
Unique #Ganesh temple where we can worship Nara mukha Vinayaka(Nara –Human,Mukha – face)
Adhi Vinayagar -Muktheeswarar #temple at Thila tharpanapuri, Near Koothanoor,TN
Initially,Goddess Parvathi created Vinayaka with Human head. Later,Shiva beheaded Vinayaka in anger.
1/n pic.twitter.com/W7BTCRXSq9— SK (@sk_diary1) August 20, 2020
The god’s face looks human, which is quite different from the elephant-headed Ganesha we’re used to seeing today.The idol in this temple is five feet tall, with a Naghabharanam (serpent ornament) wrapped around its waist. It shows an old version of Ganesha known as Nara Mukha Vinayak, which means ‘Vinayak with a human head’. This form reminds us of Ganesha’s original face before the tale of how he got an elephant’s head became well-known.
People think this temple goes back to the 7th century, making it one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest Ganesha temples. The worship of this Ganesha form reveals the deep respect for his human-faced avatar, which isn’t as famous but holds great importance in this area.
Also Read: This Temple In Ranthambore Is The Only One In The World Where Lord Ganesha Is With His Whole Family
The Legend Of Nara Mukha Vinayaka
Unique temple of Ganpati Bappa where Ganesha is worshipped in human face.
This form is known as Nara Mukha Vinayaka.Adhi Vinayagar Temple is in Muktheeswarar temple at Thilatharpanapuri, TamilNadu, Bharat.#GanpatiBappaMorya 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Q7NQSS9Wce
— Sonam Sharma 🚩🇮🇳🇨🇦🚩 (@twt_Sonam) August 23, 2020
Hindu mythology tells us that Goddess Parvati brought Lord Ganesha into existence. A famous tale recounts how Lord Shiva came home to find Ganesha standing guard at the entrance. Not knowing who he was, Shiva flew into a rage and cut off Ganesha’s head. Once he realised his error, he put an elephant’s head on Ganesha to make amends.
Yet few people know that Ganesha had a human head. The temple in Koothanur pays tribute to this human-faced version. Shiva had told his followers to look for any creature sleeping with its head pointing north. They came across an elephant, which led to the creation of Ganesha with an elephant’s head.
You can get to the Adhi Vinayaka Temple, which sits a few kilometres from Koothanur.People know this temple for its peaceful environment and profound spiritual meaning. If you want to see more of the area, Koothanur is near many other temples rich in history and lore.
Also Read: BMC Urges Ganesha Devotees To Avoid Congestion On 13 Vulnerable Bridges; Check List Here
You’ve got a few ways to reach the temple. If you’re going by train, get off at Mayiladuthurai station. It’s about 24 km from the temple. From there, hop on a bus or grab a taxi. If you’re driving, you’ll find the temple on the road between Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai. It’s about 18 km from Kumbakonam and 24 km from Mayiladuthurai. Flying in? The closest airport is in Tiruchirappalli, 110 km away. Once you land, you can take a bus or taxi to the temple.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
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