Aranganadar Karamadai
Vaishnavite Temples, Coimbatore District
God
Aranganadar, Suyambu, facing east.
Goddess
Aranganayagi Thaayar, facing east
Other Gods
Garuda, Anjaneya, Aandal
Aranganadar Karamadai is an east facing with an entrance arch. An eighty feet Rajagopuram is being built. A British engineer wanted to run a railway line close to the temple and upset by this the locals prayed to the lord. The lord appeared in the Britishers dream on a white horse. Struck by this he dropped the plan and contributed a White Horse Vahana to the lord which is till in use. He also introduced a free train from Coimbatore on the day of the annual car festival which was discontinued only about 20 years ago. Unlike other temples where the lord is seen in a reclining posture, here only the face is seen.
Holy Water (Theertham) – Brahma Theertham, Garuda Theertham. There used to exist 8 other Theerthams in the form of wells around the temple which are not found or used now.
Holy Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Kaarai (Canthium parviflorum)
History
Aranganadar Karamadai dates back to the Chola Period, Karikala Chola (190 CE) having made significant contributions. Thirumalai Naicker built the temple walls and mantapams. Jayachamaraja Wodeyar built some mantapams. On his way to Melkote Ramanujar has visited and stayed in this temple.
Mythology
A cow of one of the locals was failing to yeild milk and upon following it he saw the cow shedding milk over a mound. Upon digging up he found the Renganadar Idol and the same has been installed here at Aranganadar Karamadai .
Directions
29 kilometers on the Coimbatore to Mettupalayam road is Karamadai. The temple is on a fork in the main road and near the Nanjundeswarar temple
Stay and Food
None locally except teashops. Nearest is Mettupalayam or Coimbatore
