Mala Koil / Hero Stambhas of Kampalathu Nayakars, at Sinjuvadi, Seelakkampatti, and Avaleppampatti, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to these Hero Stambhas, at Sinjuvadi, Seelakkampatti, and Avaleppampatti, was a part of “Temples, Hero Stones, Memorial Stones, Hero Stambhas (Mala Koil) and Heritage Sites Visit, around Pollachi”, on 31^st January 2026 and 1^st February 2026. Thanks to Mr Bala, Mrs Padma Jyothi, and Mrs Sakthi Prakash for accompanying me on both days.

These Hero Stambhas are also called Malakoil, especially in the Kongu region. The Kampalathu Nayakar Community people erect these Hero Stambhas in memory of their ancestors. Since their main job was to rear cattle, the Hero Stambhas had the bas relief of Cattle, killing the wild animals (Tiger, elephant, etc.), which showed their ancestors. In most of the Hero Stambhas, Krishna’s image will be at the top playing the flute and cattle around him.

Every year on “Thai Pongal day”, they used to bring their cattle and worship by offering sweet pongal to these Hero Stambhas. Also, it is a practice of doing a ritual to get relieved from diseases when the cattle are affected.   

197.10.A.

PLACE             : Sinjuvadi

LOCATION       : Aavulu Thathayan Kovil

TITLE              : Mala Kovil

PERIOD           : 16th to 17th century

DETAILS         :

This Hero Stambham is in the middle of the village, considering a Vishnu deity, and Vishnu-related stucco images are on the top of the parapet wall. This Hero Stambham is worshipped as “Aavulu Thathayan”. The Hero Stambham is in 7 tiers with sculptures on all four sides.   

 

197.10.B

PLACE             : Seelakkampatti

LOCATION       : At the entrance of the village.

TITLE              : Mala Kovil

PERIOD           : 16th to 17th century

DETAILS         :

The Mala Kovil/ Hero Stambham is open to the sky at the junction of two concrete roads. The Hero Stambham is slightly slanting towards the north. The Hero Stambham is of 9 tiers with sculptures on four sides.

Along with this, and on the right side of the road, some stones are erected like menhirs. It is said that these stones exists on this place since ancient times.

 

197.10.C.

PLACE             : Avaleppampatti

LOCATION       : Jotha Muthaiyan Temple

TITLE              : Mala Kovil

PERIOD           : 16th to 17th century

DETAILS         :

This Mala Koil is at the centre of the village and is called “Jotha Muthaiyan Temple”. A Garuda thoon is in front of the temple. A stucco image of “Jotha Muthaiyan” is on the top of the mandapam entrance.  3 Hero Stambhas and a flat stone slab are in the sanctum sanctorum. These Hero Stambhas have sculptures on all four sides. The Hero Stambhas are 9 tiers, 11 tiers and 7 tiers. These Hero Stambha sculptures are related to Shiva.

The flat stone slab is similar to Hero Stambham with sculptures. This is unique, in which a husband and wife are in Anjali hastam, in a standing posture, along with a Horse rider, a hero and his wife are carried in a palanquin and a fighting scene at the bottom and sati sculptures.   

 

The flat stone slab is similar to Hero Stambham with sculptures.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA --- 

Sri Sozhapureeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ சோழபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Sholinghur, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Sozhapureeswarar Temple at Sholinghur was a part of the 596^th week abhishekam to Shiva and Ambal, by the Ancient Shiva Temples and Sivamayam Group on 05^th April, 2026.

Moolavar  : Sri Sozhapureeswarar

Consort    : Sri Kanakakusambal, Sri Ponmulai Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Nalvar, Shiva & Parvati, and Murugan are on the top of the entrance arch. A Vinayagar temple is in front of the entrance arch. A 5-tier Rajagopuram is at the south-side entrance. Entrance to the Shiva and Ambal temple sannidhis is from the east and south. Vinayagar and Murugan, with Valli Devasena, are at the south side entrance mandapam. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Shiva, and Parvati as Rishabaroodar and Sri Valli Devaseana Subramaniar are on the top of the south side entrance mandapam. A balipeedam and a Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum and in the praharam. A Banalingam, Nagar, and Vinayagar are on the left side of the entrance to the antarala. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the inner praharam, Chandikeswarar, Nalvar, Natarajar with Sivakami and Manickavasagar, and Palliyarai.

Ambal, Sri Kanakakusambal, is in a separate temple that faces east on the north side of the inner praharam. Vinayagar is on the left side of the entrance to Ambal’s shrine. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhayavarada hastam. A maha meru is in front of the temple.

In the outer praharam, Shiva Lingam & Rishabam with Nagar, a Shiva Linga banam without avudaiyar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran, Suryan, Balipeedam, Dwajasthamabam with Rishabam, and balipeedam with Simham.

 Durgai

Chandikeswarar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram and the vimanam over the prastaram was constructed with bricks. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam/ maha mandapam, common for the Shiva and Ambal sannidhi. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada panda adhistanam, with jagathy, Muppattai kumudam, and pattikai. (Inside floor level was raised up to vedikai level, all three adhistanam components are not visible. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus.  

The brick vimanam is of one tala, greevam, and a vesara sigaram. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

 Prastaram nasi kudu

 Pilaster with Vettu pothyal

 A common ardha / Maha mandapam 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to the 10^th to 11^th century CE. Later received contributions from Vijayanagaras. Chozha and Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the Rajagopuram’s kalkaram, here and there. The temple was reconstructed in recent years. Water wash was done before the February 2026 Maha Kumbhabhishekam.

A new Rajagopuram was constructed after 300 years, and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 3^rd September 2009.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on, 01^st, September 1982, 09^th December 2012, and February 2026.

10th - 11th Century inscriptions on the Rajagopuram Kalkaram

10th - 11th Century inscriptions on the Rajagopuram Kalkaram - Kept upside down

10th - 11th Century inscriptions on the Rajagopuram Kalkaram - Kept upside down

LEGENDS

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar, Chaturthi, Kandar Sashti, Thai Poosam, Somavaras, Pournami, Amavasya, Sankadahara Chaturthi, Kirithigai, Ashtami, Sashti, Guru Poojas, Brahmotsavam, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Gurukkal Gautham may be contacted on his mobile number +919043334924 for poojas and further details.

HOW TO REACH

The Shiva temple is on the Bazaar St, the heart of Sholinghur Town. The temple is about 3 km from Sholinghur Bus Stand, 26 km from Thiruttani Railway Station, 29 km from Ranipet, and 30 km from Arakkonam Railway Station.

The nearest Railway Station is Thiruttani.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Bana Lingam, Nagar, and Vinayagar

 Bairavar

 Chandran

 Suryan

Nardhana Vinayagar

 Palliayarai

The newly constructed Vinayagar temple (completely with stone) is in front of the east side entrance

Yaga sala erected for the recent Maha Kumbhabhishekam

 --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---