Literally, translated, Karuppanaswamy means , "Dark God." Revered as the 'Kaaval Deivam' (God of Protection) across TamilNadu, He drives away the forces of evil, falsehood and treachery.
Sporting a thick moustache, riding a white horse and carrying a whip in his right hand, He is a fierce warrior, who punishes those who harass his devotees.
He protects His devotees and ensures justice and self discipline amongst His devotees.
He is said to ride on His horse through the entire area, blocking the entry of any evil across the entire landscape.
The Legend of Lord Karuppanaswamy
There are various legends in Hindu mythology about Lord Karuppanaswamy
1. He is said to have sprung from Lord Vishnu's hands and hence is also known as Kaiyannar (One Created from the hand).
2. According to another legend, Lord Rama had sent Devi Sita to the forest when she was pregnant and lived in Saint Valmiki's Ashram. While in the Ashram, she gave birth to a male child.
One day when she was going out for some chores of the Ashram, she asked the Saint to take care of her child in the cradle. The Saint was watching the child and meanwhile went into a deep meditation. When Devi Sita returned, she found that the Saint was in meditation and didn't want to disturb him to tell him that she was taking her child.
When the Saint was out of the meditation, he found the child missing. So he put some holy grass (Dherbai) in the cradle and with his mantra he made that as a child.
Later when he found that Devi Sita was having her real child, he asked Devi Sita to treat the new baby also as her own child.
Lord Rama was surprised to find two boys (Lavan and Kushan) with Devi Sita. To test the purity of the boys, he set a fire and asked the boys to cross the fire to reach Him. He told that whoever was his real heir would cross the fire unscathed. Unknowingly the boy brought up by the Saint, got stuck in the middle of the fire and burnt his body becoming very dark.
When Lord Rama was informed of the incident in the forest, He blessed the burnt boy to become his Escort God (Kaaval Deivam) and called him "Karuppannan."
That is the reason why Lord Karuppanaswamy has the Thiru Namam on his forehead.
Many temple priest still sing the devotional song "Dherbaiyil Pirandhavane" (born from the holy grass) in praise of Lord Karuppanaswamy.
3. According to a third legend, He is one of the 18 sons of Lord Krishna. Hence He is also referred to as "Shyamala Krishna Putra."
OM Karuppannaya Namah
OM Krishna Varnaaya Namah
OM Rakthaakshaaya Namah
OM Neela Vastraaya Namah
OM Divibhujaaya Namah
OM Sundaraaaya Namah
OM Katka Paaniye Namah
OM Danda Hastaaya Namah
OM Alankaara Shobithaaya Namah
OM Kukkuda Swaasaaya Namah
OM Bhaya Nirvaaya Namah
OM Dayaa Moorthiye Namah
OM Nisee Naathaaya Namah
OM Rogha Haraaya Namah
OM Maha Vikramaaya Namah
OM Tripundara Dharine Namah
OM Rudhra Puthraaya Namah
OM Bhima Amsaaya Namah
OM Divya Nethraaya Namah
OM Bhujangha Aaparannaangaaya Namah
OM Puravittaaya Namah
OM Suhaasanaaya Namah
OM Nupura Padhaare Namah
OM Kumkum Tilakkare Namah
OM Chandana Meniyare Namah
OM Kallada Vasthre Namah
OM Graama Padhukaavallare Namah
OM Ugra Nokkare Namah
OM Aksha Malare Namah
OM Kasturi Pottre Namah
OM SapthaKanni Kaavallare Namah
OM Swaana Aruguttaya Namah
OM Tadaaka Viruppare Namah
OM Nimbha Vriksha Amarvaaya Namah
OM Jataa Mukutaaya Namah
OM Kappu Kattraaya Namah
OM Veera Dhandaaya Namah
OM Ugra Mukhatre Namah
OM Vyagracharma Kassaaya Namah
OM Pothi Virukshapriyaaya Namah
OM Purusha Vichossaaya Namah
OM Mahakaalaaya Namah
OM Ekkaaraaya Namah
OM Amsaaya Namah
OM Amsapanaye Namah
OM Hari Shobithaaya Namah
OM Nava Bhooshanaaya Namah
OM Namah Sigathaaya Namah
OM Sarva Dhoothaya Namah
OM Ganapoojithaaya Namah
OM Dheeradhivyaya Namah
OM Raajaaya Namah
OM Raajitha Lochanaaya Namah
OM Kantha Priyaaya Namah
OM Karna Kundalaaya Namah
OM Gana Vallaaya Namah
OM Rudhra Shobhithaaya Namah
OM Rudhra Vadhanaaya Namah
OM Rudhra Vasaaya Namah
OM Vaadha Rudhaaya Namah
OM Yadhaa Kotiye Namah
OM Yama Vaanghiye Namah
OM Swaadishthaaya Namah
OM Swamy Sakaaya Namah
OM Ariney Namah
OM Aasaadhya Namah
OM Kaaka Laaya Namah
OM Abhya Naaya Namah
OM Kerkaaya Namah
OM Eeta Kaaya Namah
OM Bhootaroopa Tirathaye Namah
OM Trikaala Dharanaaya Namah
OM Sarvaraajanivithaaya Namah
OM Aathathirodaaya Namah
OM Gambiraaya Namah
OM Aadhibheemaaya Namah
OM Kaala Nidhaye Namah
OM Kshema Kshetraaya Namah
OM Bhasma Thruthaye Namah
OM Aghoora Roopine Namah
OM Kalinaashanaaya Namah
OM Kapaaline Namah
OM Kaparthine Namah
OM Hiranmayaaya Namah
OM Vishaam Pathaye Namah
OM Virupakshaaya Namah
OM Rathyaaya Namah
OM Ramanaaya Namah
OM Reetarupaaya Namah
OM Yavaasaaya Namah
OM Yamadharamarupaaya Namah
OM Yamagirajaaya Namah
OM Siva Suthraaya Namah
OM Vaasapathim Pirapave Namah
OM Kamba Naasaaya Namah
OM Karuppare Namah
OM Kam Kalariye Namah
OM Poghaaya Namah
OM Pranadhaaya Namah
OM Neela Venaaye Namah
OM Simsinna Dhiraye Namah
OM Chandaaya Namah
OM Ashtaaasaaya Namah
OM Ughraaya Namah
OM Krupakaraaya Namah
OM Sarvayakshaaya Namah
OM Veerabhadra Amsaaya Namah
OM KARUPPANA SWAAMIYE Namah
2. According to another legend, Lord Rama had sent Devi Sita to the forest when she was pregnant and lived in Saint Valmiki's Ashram. While in the Ashram, she gave birth to a male child.