Kottai Muniyappan Temple, Kottai Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple, Kottai Veera Anjaneyar temple, Kottai Mariamman Temple, Kottai Vinayagar Temple, Sri Veeramathi Amman temple & Kottai Choleeswarar Temples at Perundurai, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

3^rd June 2019.

After worshiping our Kula Deivam Sri Veeramathi Amman at Talguni near Kolappalur, on the way to Chennai visited these Kottai Mariamman, Kottai Veera Anjaneyar, Kottai Vinayagar, Kottai Veeramathi Amman, Kottai Muniyappan, Kottai Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal & Kottai Sri Choleeswarar Temples at Perundurai.  Even though I had seen all these temples from outside, for the past 40 years didn’t venture inside the temple. I was a little curious to know, why these temples are added with Kottai-like initials. All the temples surround the new Bus Stand. The details of the Kottai Sholeeswarar Shiva Temple temple were covered in one of my posts.

As per the history, it is a fact that a Kottai / Fort existed in this place and who constructed is not Known. Some claim that the Fort was constructed by a Representative of Mysore King Wodeyar and Some claim that the fort existed since the early  Cheras and Chozhas. Early Chera King Kanaikal Irumporai ruled this region with Karur as the Capital. Chozha King Chenganan ( Ko Chengat Chozhan ) defeated Chera King at Kozhumam and Poonthurai Nattu Perundurai and lodged him at Kudavayil prison. He was ill-treated in the prison and even drinking water was not given. He wrote his condition in the form of a poem to Poigaiyar, a friend and a renowned poet. Poigaiyar composed the Kalavali Narpathu ( 41 stanzas ) praising Chozha’s war against Chera King. Chozha King Chenganan was pleased by the poem and released Chera King. Quoting this history some claim that the fort might have existed since the early Cheras / Chozha period. Hence the temples bear Kottai as a title.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

All the temples will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

Perundurai is on the way to Coimbatore from Erode. Frequent buses are available from various parts of Coimbatore and Erode District.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

SRI KOTTAI MUNIAPPAN TEMPLE

Now the Kottai Muniyappan Temple is at an elevated level with 21 steps and it was said that the original temple was constructed on the boundary wall/rampart of the Fort. The temple was reconstructed in recent years. At the base, a Muniappan is in a standing posture with a sickle on the right hand. Many Trishuls are erected in front of Sri Muniappan. During Ipasi month an 8-day festival will be celebrated in which goats and cocks are sacrificed to   Sri Muniappan. It was told that spirit/arrack also offered.

The top temple is facing North with a sanctum and a mukha mandapam. In front is an oonjal. On the east side abutting the Mukha mandapa there are three Muniappan Stucco images. All three are holding sickles in their hands.

Bottom Sri Muniappan 

KOTTAI SRI PRASANNA VENKATESA PERUMAL TEMPLE.

This Perumal Temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Deepa  Sthambam and Thulasi Madam are in front. The Sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum and a mukha mandapam. In the sanctum, Moolavar Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. The sanctum was built with stone up to prastaram and a three-tier Vimana is on the sanctum.  There are murtis in the Koshtam. Nagars are under a Peepal tree. Samprokshanam was performed about 3 years before. Outside the sanctum was paved with granite slabs and trees were also grown.

The Bhattar said that he is the 6^th Generation doing pooja to this Perumal. The period of construction is not Known and as per Bhattar, the temple may be more than 500 to 600 years old. This temple is under the Control of Kottai Choleswarar Temple, which is on the east side of the Bus Stand.

KOTTAI  SRI VEERA ANJANEYAR TEMPLE.

This Anjaneyar temple was originally small and was reconstructed in recent years, The sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum and a mukha mandapam. In the sanctum, Anjaneyar is in the form of a Bas-relief, in Vijayanagara Style. The present Bhattar claims that 4  generations are doing pooja to this Anjaneyar. The original temple may be Vijayanagara Period ie 400 to 500 years old.

SRI KOTTAI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE.

This Kottai Mariamman Temple bears a new look with a granite sanctum. Amman is in a sitting posture facing North.  An ekathala Nagara Vimana is over the sanctum.  The outside prakara is under construction. During November, the annual festival will be celebrated in a grand manner.

SRI VEERAMATHI AMMAN & SRI KARUPANASWAMY  & KOTTAI VINAYAGAR TEMPLE.

Do not know this Sri Veeramathi Amman is very old or not. This Amman is a Kuladheivam for a particular Community. Saptha Kannis are in a small sannidhi. Amman is in a sitting posture.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---