ஈச்சனாரி விநாயகர் கோயில்Eachanari Vinayagar Temple

Sthala Mahātmyam

Eachanari Vinayagar is among the most popular Ganesha shrines of the Kongu region, in Eachanari village about 12 km from Coimbatore. Its origin legend holds that the great idol, some six feet tall and about three feet wide, was being carried by cart from Madurai for installation at the famous Perur Pateeswarar temple when the cart's axle broke at this very spot and the image could not be moved further. Taking this as the deity's own will, devotees built the temple where he had chosen to settle, and the place-name is linked to this event. Believed to date from around the 16th century, the temple is built in typical Dravidian style with a tiered gopuram. The deity is dark-hued with a tilak on the brow, and the body of the image was clad in gold in 2004. A daily Ganapathi Homam is central to worship here. The temple draws its largest crowds during Vinayaka Chaturthi, when special abhishekams, decorations and processions are held and thousands of devotees gather to seek the Lord's blessings.