Pillayarpatti. The now famous Ganesa of Chettinadu region. 6 Lakh people worshipped yesterday.. In my younger days people rarely visit there and it was visitied mostly by Nagarathars who belong to that temple and a few devotees from the nearby areas. My father used to take us there and Kundrakkudi every chathurthi and Krithigai. Used to stay close to Ganesa for long time thrice a month. ( had such oppertunities like this with Mahaswami, kamban Adippodi, Suddananda Bharahi but - anda vayasula avargal arumai theriyala. Realise that while writing Ramayanam)
They allowed people to go inside after removing shirt till 1991. Now this is not allowed due to heavy rush of piligrims.
Kanchi Mahaswami while staying in Ilayathangudi, asked to Dr R N to study the cave and the famous "Ezhukattur Kon" was found then. The cave was originally assigned to 5th C. The ezhukattur kon was found in Maangulam epigraph of 2nd C also. Further the "Otrezhuthu" found here was supposed to be the oldest but now more otrezhuthus of earlier time also found in other places. Hence some people place Pillayarpatti to 2nd C also but all agree that it is not later than 5th C.
The main deity is siva who is known as"Thiruveesar" in the later epigraphs. But the entrance to the cave has the Vinayagar panel who is referred as Thesi Vinayagar in the later epigraphs.
During the handing over of the temple to Nagarathars by Pandyas, the other siva shirine- Arjuna vaneswarar - Marudeesar became the main deity. Unfortunately this part was completely renovated and has no traces of any antiquity.
The practise of making the biggest Kozhukkattai fo Pillayar was there earlier also. The temple may be of Siva, even during the building time itself, but the Ganesa pannel and harihara pannel also dated to that time itself.
Hi Sankar, Where exactly the inscription was found, is there a possibility that the inscription was there before the cave was excavated? Just a thought.