Avinashi - History

History

Avinashi is part of the ancient ‘Kongunadu’ which now comprises the districts of Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Karur and Namakkal, Dindigul, Nilagiri, Krishnagiri. This Place of Great historical importance was known as Thirupukkoliyur in the Sangam era.

This is one of the seven Shivastalams in Kongu Nadu; however this temple is better known as Karunaiyaaththaal temple. Avinashi is also referred to in inscriptions as Dakshina Varanasi, Tiruppukkozhiyur etc. Tirumular's Tirumantiram, Arunagirinathar's Tiruppugazh & Manikkavacakar's Tiruvacakam refer to this shrine. This temple is regarded as the first of the seven Tevara Stalams in the Kongu Region of Tamil Nadu.

Inscriptions here reveal that the Cholas, Pandyas and the Hoysalas have made extensive endowments to the temples

Sundaramoorthy Nayanar on his way to meet Cheramaan Peruman, the Nayanar happened to visit Avinashi. As he was passing through one of the streets, he heard two discordant notes coming from opposite houses, one echoing joy and another sorrow. The puzzled saint understood the cause for the strange phenomenon.

Two boys of the same age went to bathe in a tank from which emerged a crocodile and devoured one of them. There was being celebrated the "Upanayanam" (Thread ceremony) of the surviving boy, now 8 years old. Hence there was joy and mirth in the house. While the other people were unable to bear their sorrow.

Had their boy been alive, they too would be celebrating his "Upanayanam". Intensely moved by this, Sundaramoorthy Nayanar poured out of soulful song, praying to Lord shiva to resurrect the dead child. His prayer was answered .The empty tank started surging with water from which emerged the crocodile and ejected the child as a fully grown boy of eight years