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 contains  Sambar rice, curd rice, 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 is facing east with an old wooden dwajasthambam / Deepasthambham 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 in side 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

Out side there are many statues of Nandi, rat, alien  like statues are scattered around. It was told that the rat was the symbol of Vanakovarayars who ruled that area. And also it was told the original temple might have been built during Vanakovarayars period. Moolavars belongs to 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 7^th Century to safe guard 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 18^th century, which speaks about a land donated to this temple. The details are as follows.

Thallaaraiyak Gounder and Madurai Veeraiya Gounder donated a 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 with full of sandal wood 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 cloth / towel. Vibhuti was given as prasadam.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---