Sri Kariya Ramar Temple with 18th Century inscription Stone, at Kariya Kovil, near Karumandurai, of Kalrayan Hills, Salem District, Tamil Nadu.

1^st October 2017.

For Lunch, we stopped at Kariya Ramar Temple at Kariya Kovil 11 Km from Karumandurai. An excellent hot launch containing Sambar rice, curd rice, and potato chips with SHRC’s special VADA was served by SHRC, thanks to the organizers. After Lunch, we had the darshan of Sri Kariya Ramar.

Moolavar: Kariya Ramar with Seetha and Lakshmanan.

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an old wooden Dwajasthambam/ Deepasthambam and a stucco Hanuman with Ramar and Lakshmana on his shoulders. There is a three-tier Rajagopuram at the entrance of the maha mandapam.

In sanctum Ramar with Seetha and Lakshmanan. Bronze statues are in front. Urchavars are in the antarala. Palipedam and Garudan ( Instead of Hanuman ) are in artha mandapam. Sanctum vimanam is like a rajagopuram.  There is a Chariot kept inside a shed on the right side of the temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, Artha mandapam and a maha mandapam. 

HISTORY  AND INSCRIPTIONS

Outside there are many statues of Nandi, rats, and similar statues scattered around. It was said that the rat was the symbol of the Vanakovarayars who ruled that area. Also, it was told the original temple might have been built during the Vanakovarayars period. Moolavars belong to the 15^th century ( Vanakovarayars period ).

The Historians also believed that this hill Malayalis ( not the Keralites) came from Kanchipuram and settled in Kalrayan Hills during the 7^th Century to safeguard Kariya Ramar Temple.

INSCRIPTION STONES

There are two inscription stones erected in front of this Kariya Ramar Temple. In one tablet,  the inscriptions are damaged completely and not legible to read. The other one belongs to the 18^th century, which speaks about land donated to this temple. The details are as follows.

Thallaaraiyak Gounder and Madurai Veeraiya Gounder donated land to this Kariya Perumal temple situated at Melai Chemparakkai village. The inscription is also reproduced as given below…

முன்புறம்

1. (வி) ரோகிறி வருஷம் மார்

2. கழி மாதம் 21 தள்ள

3. (ன) ரயகவுண்டர் மேல்ம

4. வீரையகவுண்டர் மேல்ம யுள்பட ச

5 (லை) நாட்டாரும் கரிய

6 (எ) பருமாளுக்கு மேலைச்

7. செம்பறக்கை திருவி

8. விளையாட்டாம்

9. படி நஞ்சை புஞ்சை

10. நாற்பாக்கெல்லை

11. யு(ம்) சகலமும்

12. த்தி (ர) சூரியர்வன (ர)

13. அ (கு)தம் பண் (ணின)

14  வர் கெ (ங்கையிலே)

பின்புறம்

15. க(ர)ராம் பசுவை

16. கொன்ற பா

17. வத்திலே (போ)

18. க(க)டைவர்கள்

Not legible to read

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Kariya Ramar came from Kanchipuram to Kariya Kovil full of sandalwood trees. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Poojas are conducted as per tribal type and not as per agama. The pooja is being conducted by non Brahmin Malayali priest. During pooja,  the Poojari covers his mouth with a cloth/towel. Vibhuti was given as prasad.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---