3 weeks ago
Devotees Crawl Through One-Foot Passage at Century-Old Tamil Nadu Temple
In Tamil Nadu, a state in India, there is a very old temple called the Idukku Pillaiyar Temple.
It is more than one hundred years old.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, a popular Hindu god.
Most temples have a statue of the god inside, but this one has no idol at all.
To pray here, people have to squeeze through a very narrow stone opening that is only one foot wide.
The opening sits between two big stone pillars, so everyone has to crawl through carefully.
People believe that going through this tiny passage brings good luck.
They also think it takes away bad energy and helps with headaches and body pain.
Some people even believe it protects them from witchcraft and helps heal sickness.
That is why, even though it is a tight squeeze, devotees still follow this tradition.
The Idukku Pillaiyar Temple is a century-old Hindu shrine in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
The temple has no idol, and devotees squeeze through a one-foot-wide stone passage between two pillars to offer prayers.
The shrine sits on the 14-km-long Girivalam path and is known for its rock-cut architecture.
Local belief holds that passing through the narrow passage brings good fortune, removes negative energy, and relieves physical pain and migraines.
Some devotees also believe the ritual can ward off witchcraft and cure certain illnesses.
- Who
- Devotees of Lord Ganesha who visit the Idukku Pillaiyar Temple in Tiruvannamalai.
- What
- A century-old temple with no idol where devotees crawl through a one-foot-wide stone passage as a ritual of worship.
- Where
- Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, along the 14-km-long Girivalam path.
- When
- The report was published on August 06, 2026; the temple is described as century-old.
- Why
- The ritual is believed to bring good fortune, remove negative energy, relieve physical pain and migraines, ward off witchcraft, and cure certain illnesses.
Key facts
- Temple name
- Idukku Pillaiyar Temple
- Location
- Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu
- Age
- Century-old (over 100 years)
- Deity
- Lord Ganesha
- Passage width
- About one foot
- Setting
- 14-km-long Girivalam path
- Architecture
- Rock-cut
- Distinctive feature
- No idol in the temple









