INTRODUCTION :
Lord Pavadairayan is one of the Tamil male deities. He is very popular within the villages. He is one of the Kaaval Dheivams of Tamil Nadu, India. He is the son of Goddess Angala Parameswari. He is also said to be the guard for Goddess Angala Parameswari.
Once Lord Shiva destroyed the fifth head of Lord Brahma, and then afterwards he got Brahmahathi Dosha. And then, Lord Shiva came to earth and roamed everywhere.
During this period, Pethandavan was a leader for Kalvikkadu. His job was to do robbery in other places and serve his people. Pethandavan and his wife Pethandachi prayed to Lord Shiva for a child and with the blessings of Lord Shiva, they had a male child and they named him "Kalvikaathaan" (the protector of Kalvikkadu). In course of time,Pethandavan become old and he ordered his son to take his position and to protect his region. But Kalvikaathaan was not interested in taking his father's job, and then he started to take a walk away from his region. He walked far away from his town.
As the time passed, the sun set and the darkness prevailed. Kalvikaathan saw a flame and was afraid with that, immediately the flame replied, that she was goddess Angala Parameswari.
Goddess Angalaparameswari and Pavadairayan
Angala Parameswari has asked him to construct a temple. As per the instructions given by Goddess Angala Parameswari, Kalvikaththaan constructed a temple for her.
Guardian God
Goddess Angala Parameswari was happy and her temple was built successfully with all the proper rituals. The temple was Melmalayanoor Angala Parameswari Amman Temple. She gave authority to him that he would be her Guard. Lord Pavadairayan serves as a family deity or Kula Dheivam for most of the people.
In Melmalayanoor Angala Parameswari Amman Temple, Lord Siva was sitting next to Goddess Angala Parameswari Amman inside the temple. And at outside the temple, Pavadairayan has a separate sannadhi, facing the Goddess Angala Parameswari Amman along with his two wives Aranatchi Amman and Muthunatchi Amman blessing their devotees.
Usually in the system of Kaval Dheivam, the deities will be outside the sannadhi of the main god. But Lord Pavadairayan is the only Kaaval Dheivam ,who has been given a status to sit in the lap of Goddess Angala Parameswari.
Worship of Pavadairayan
Lord Pavadairayan is worshipped mostly in the form of “stones” and "Trees". In most of the Goddess Angalaparameswari's temples, Pavadairayan has a separate Sannidhi in which people worship. There are only a few temples for Lord Pavadairayan.
Temples dedicated to him
1.Sree Paradhesiyappar Pavadairayar Temple, Vallam Padugai, Cuddalore
2.Sree Pavadairayan Temple, Madhuranthaganallur, Chidhambaram
3.Arulmigu Paavadairayar Temple, Erimedu, Budhangudi
4.Paradhesiyappar Pavadairayar Temple, Near Udayarpalayam Bus Terminus, Ariyalur
5.Angala Parameswari Amman-Pavadairayan Temple, Periyapattu, Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore
6.Angala Parameswari Amman - Pavadairayan Temple, Alangudi, Tiruvarur District.
Temple in Malaysia
1.Om Shree Maha Pavadairayan Aalayam, Bestari Jaya, Kuala Selangor, Selangor, Malaysia.
CONCLUSION
It can be said, that being the son of Goddess Angala Parameswari, he is having the power equivalent to that of Goddess Angala Parameswari. He is the deity who can be worshipped in all the families. Being a guard of Angala Parameswari, he also safeguards us from all sorts of difficulties in our life and eliminate our sins and causing happiness in our life. Let us pray to the great Pavadairayan and chant his nama ‘OM SREE PAVADAI RAYANE NAMAHA’.
R.HARISHANKAR
