Sri Valeeswarar Temple / Kapaleeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கபாலீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Sevur, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

3^rd February 2019.

We decided to close our  3^rd Feb 2019, day’s  Kongu Temples Heritage Visit with Sri Valeeswarar temple at Sevur. It was around 16.00 hrs when we reached Sevur and the temple was not opened. A nearby flour grinding shop owner helped us to get Sivachariyar’s mobile number and called him. We sat in front of the temple, with a decision to visit inside the temple and go back home. At last, around 17.30 hrs the Sivachariyar came and opened the temple. During the  13th Century Hoysala King Vira Someswaran period the place was called Chembiyan Kizhanadi Nallur. 

Presiding deity   : Sri Valeeswarar, Sri Kapaleeswarar

Ambal               : Sri Aram Valartha Nayaki or Araperunselvi

The salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. A Garuda thoon or Deepasthambam is in front. A bas-relief of Vali worshiping Lord Shiva is at the base of the Deepa Sthambam. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of  Sri Kapaleeswarar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, and Ambal Aramvalartha Nayaki. In Shiva Sannidhi’s koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Brahma.

In the outer prakaram, sannadhi for Thiruthala Vinayagar, Natarajar Mandapa, Naalvar, Bala Dhandayuthapani, Saneeswarar, Navagrahas, Kalabairavar, Suryan and Chandran.

ARCHITECTURE

All these main sanctums are in parallel to each other with a common muka mandapam and facing east with balipeedam and Vahanas. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was reconstructed in recent years and most of the inscriptions were lost. Only a few that too grounded and the letters are not legible. The details of the inscriptions are taken from the inscription book. The original Temple had 12 inscriptions. The inscriptions belong to 12^th Century Kulothunga Chozha-I & Veerachozhan, 13^th Century Virarajendra, Hoysala King Vira Someswaran & Kongu Pandiyar Vira Pandyan and 16^th Century Mysore ViraNanjaiyar. As per the inscriptions, Moolavar was called "Kapaleeswarar" and Ambal was called "Araperun Selvi". During the 13th Century Hoysala King Vira Someswaran period the place was called "Chembiyan Kizhanadi Nallur". 

The inscriptions mainly mention about donation of gold, money, materials like pillars ( by Thattan  Sirukooththan Maaran), etc, towards the burning of Temple Lamps,  Neivedyam, and Pooja. The Servant maid Araiyan Valli of Vanavan Kokizhaanadikal (maybe from Chera princes), the wife of Vira Rajendran also donated gold towards the burning of Lamp.

The Murugan Sannidhi was built during the Veerapandiyan period and Vinayagar Sannidhi was built during the 12^th Century Veerachozhan period. A Tripuranthakar statue was also donated during the Virarajendra period.

The Taxes levied on Soola (Soola a Kannada word that means Dhasi ) were removed during Mysore king ViraNiranjaiyar. Also during the Chozha period caste discrimination existed as Idangai and Valangai.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, the Sthala Purana story is related to Vali and Sugriva. Both meditated and Vali got the boon of getting the half power of his opponent. By killing a Brahmin, Vali got the Bramahathi dosha/curse. He was relieved after installing and worshiping Lord Shiva of this temple.

Maha Vishnu and Brahma also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 19.30 Hrs. Since the timings are not strictly followed, the Gurukkal may be contacted before visiting the temple.

CONTACT DETAILS:

This temple is attached to the Sri Venkatesa Perumal Temple and comes under the Tamil Nadu HR & CE Department Control. The HR&CE officer may be contacted on his land line +91 4296 289270 and the Gurukkal mobile number is 90439 67779.

HOW TO REACH:

Sevur is about 8 KM from Avinashi and 48 KM from Coimbatore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---