View source for Thamaraikulam Pathi

{{No footnotes|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Ayyavazhi}}
'''Thamaraikulam Pathi''' ({{langx|ta|தாமரைகுளம் பதி}}), is one among the [[Pancha pathi]], the five holy places of [[Ayyavazhi]]. The [[Ari Gopalan Citar]], who wrote the [[Akilam]] was born here. 

Thamaraikulam Pathi was built by (present constructions) Pathi first Guru.Ponnaranainjavan Udaiyakutti in his land. Akilathirattu Ammanai Written by  Arigopalancidar in Thamaraikulam Pathi. This was considered as a Pathi because the Akilam was written down here, which was one among the incarnational activities of [[Vaikundar]]. When Ayya Vaikudar came out from the sea (after his first vinchai) he decided and planned to do meditation at here only. This is the first place he visited and started his first pathi. This is the First pathi in the All Pancha pathi's. During the times of Ayya Vaikunder, he was taken once in a year in a [[Vahana]] by the devotees to this Pathi.

==Prayers and Festivals==
[[File:Thamaraikulam Pathi.jpg|thumb|left|East view of Thamaraikulam Pathi.]]
Like the other [[Pathi]]s, the [[Panividai]]s are conducted thrice a day the special panividais are on every Sundays. The [[Kodiyettru Thirunal]] is celebrated here during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of [[Panguni]] starting from the second Friday of Panguni and last for eleven days. The [[Thirdu Eadu-vasippu]] here is celebrated here for seventeen days in the Tamil month of [[Karthigai]]. It was at the same time the same festival is conducted in [[Swamithope pathi]]. Since the [[Akilam]] was written down here, only during this fest the pathi is considered with high sacrament than Swamithope pathi. The Original Palm-leaf version of Akilam is readout here for seven days. Then worshippers as procession, used to bring it to Swamithoppe pathi on last Sunday of the Tamil Month of Karthigai and after completing it reading for seventeen days again return it to Thamaraikulam pathi and complete it by reading the rest in ten days. 
[[File:Thamaraikulam Pathi - Palliyarai.png|thumb|Thamaraikulam Pathi - Palliyarai]]
Another important festival celebrated by Ayyavazhi followers centering Thamaraikulam Pathi is the 'Vahana bhavani' (procession carrying Ayya in a Vahana) to Thamaraikulam from [[Swamithope pathi]]. It is a One-day-festival celebrated on the last Sunday of Tamil month Panguni. On that day people from [[Swamithoppe]] march in great numbers to Muttapathi under the leadership of [[Payyn dynasty|Payyan]] carrying Ayya in a [[Vahana]]. It was in practice right from the time of [[Vaikundar]].

==Location and religious status==

This [[Pathi]] is located 8&nbsp;km South-east to [[Nagercoil]] 7&nbsp;km North-west to [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]]. It was also located 2&nbsp;km south to [[Swamithope]]. It also lies 3&nbsp;km west to the historical [[Agastheeswaram]]. There is a direct bus service from [[Nagercoil]] and [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]] to here.

This is the place where [[Vishnu|Ayya]] commissioned the Citar to write down the [[Akilam]] by telling the first sullable{{typo help inline|reason=similar to sulliable|date=November 2019}} of '[[The Kappu]]', of Akilam, it was considered with equal importance with other Pathis. Also Akilam too accredit it as a '[[Pathi]]'.
[[File:Ayya vahana bavani.png|thumb|282x282px|Ayya vahana bavani with Village people & Guru Family members, January 2019]]

==Architecture and Structure==

As all other [[Pathi]]s, the [[Palliyarai]] here forms the inner and the central structure of the whole architecture. An inner corridor, which allows the worshippers to circum-ambulate, surrounds the Palliyarai. In front of this inner corridor, there is a hall in which the prayers are conducted. [[Sivayu Medai]] is located in the south-east of Palliyarai.

== Administration ==
Due to lot of issues now the temple is under administration/control of [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]], however daily panividai and festivals are handled by traditional Thamarai pathi parambarai Guru family members. Now the situation is better since its administrated by Government of Tamilnadu ([[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]]) and village separatists are not involved in temple administration. 
==See also==

* [[Pancha pathi]]
* [[Ayya Vaikundar]]
* [[Pathi]]
* [[Ayyavazhi mythology]]
* [[List of Ayyavazhi-related articles]]

==References==
* Dr. R. Ponnu (2000), ''Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and Struggle for Social Equality in South India'', Ram Publishers.
* G.Patrick (2003), ''Religion and Subaltern Agency'', University of Madras.
* N.Elango & Vijaya Shanthi Elango (1997), ''Ayya Vaikundar - The Light of the World'', Publisher: Authors.
* R. Shunmugam (2001), ''Nadar Kulathil Narayanar Avatharam'', Nadar Kulatheepam Publishers.
*https://www.thamaraikulampathi.com/

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{{Ayyavazhi large}}

[[Category:Holy cities]]
[[Category:Pancha pathi]]