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Lord Ganesh, the "Pillaiyar" of Tamil Nadu

The speciality of Tamil Nadu is the presence of innumerable Ganesh Temples (Pillaiyar Temples) virtually all over the state. 

One could find Ganesh Temples, large and small, at every nook and corner of the state. In fact, Lord Ganesh does not even require a proper construction of a temple for Him to preside over - Arasamaram (அரசமரம்) or the Bodhisattva tree is His favourite spot, blessing devotees while resting in open space beneath the tree.

Arasamaram Pillayar; Source: Wikimedia

Virtually ubiquotous Ganesh Temples in every street, along the riverside and beneath sprawling trees are a speciality of the state of Tamil Nadu. Lord Ganesh is uniquely known as Pillaiyar (பிள்ளையார்) in Tamil Nadu. As the eldest son of the universal parents Parvati and Parameswaran (Lord Shiva), Lord Ganesh is generally called "The son" - the word Pillai (பிள்ளை) in Tamil means son. He is called Pillaiyar as a mark of respect (the suffix "ar" or "yar" is generally added to names in Tamil as a mark of respect).

Another way to denote the "son" in Tamil is Kumaran (குமரன்). However, the name Kumaran denotes the younger son of the universal parents of Parvathi and Parameswaran, Lord Muruga or Lord Subramanya. Kumaran is not denoted as Kumaranar (குமரனார்) in Tamil - it is the elder son Lord Ganesh who is called Pillaiyar in Tamil as a mark of respect. 

As the elder son, Pillaiyar is a child deity. However, He is the genesis of everything in this universe - He is Pranavam (பிரணவம்), which is the source of everything. The entire universe and all living beings were created from Pranavam. And Pillayar or Lord Ganesh is the personification of Pranavam. His elephant face and his curled trunk signify the form of Pranavam, "Aum"!

Hence, praying to Lord Ganesh is akin to meditating on Pranavam, the universal source! 


Courtesy: This post is adapted from Deivathin Kural Part 1, Vinayakar

தெய்வத்தின் குரல், பாகம் ஒன்று, விநாயகர்


வாக்குண்டாம் நல்ல மனமுண்டாம் மாமலராள்

நோக்குண்டாம் மேனி நுடங்காது – பூக் கொண்டு

துப்பார் திருமேனித் தும்பிக்கையான் பாதம்

தப்பாமற் சார்வார் தமக்கு.

                                         -ஒளவையார்

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