Monday, 22 July 2019

Arulmigu Kalugasalamoorthy Temple / Subramaniar Temple, Kalugumalai, Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu.

30th June 2019
It was planned to visit Kalugumalai after attending a friend’s daughter's marriage at Tuticorin on 30th June 2019. It was around 14.30 Hrs when I landed at Kalugumalai and this temple was found closed for Uchi Kala Pooja it was told that the temple would be opened around 16.30 Hrs. Even though I had been to Kalugumalai when I was in Thoothukudi,  this time want to visit from a heritage point of view. At Kalugumalai I was fortunate to Join the Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation's Heritage walk, organized by Mr Rajaguru. After visiting the Vettuvan Koil and Jain’s monument, returned back to Sri Kalugasala Moorthy Temple for darshan.


Kalugumalai has the Vettuvan Koil, Jain monuments and Sri Kalugasalamoorthy temple Heritage sites. The details of  Sri Kalugasalamoorthy (Sri Subramaniya Swamy) Temple are being written in this post and the Jain monument will be in the next post. Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Sri Subramaniya Swamy of this temple.

Moolavar : Arulmigu Kalugasalamoorthy
Consorts : Sri Valli & Devasena

Some of the important features of this temple are…
The temple faces the Southwest Direction ie Pothigai malai of India’s Western Ghats. The 40-pillar mandapa is in front of the sanctum sanctorum. The pillars have various reliefs. It was told this mandapa was extended during the 18th Century. A Rudraksha Pandal and 12 Rasi panel is on the ceiling of the mukamandapa.

Balipeda, Dwajasthambam and Peacock vahana are in a mandapa after the mukamandapa, in front of the sanctum. The sanctum is a excavated cave, belonging to the 8th Century by Pandyas. Moolavar Sri Kalugasalamoorthy is called Subramaniyar with a single face and 6 hands. The peacock is facing the left side against the usual position of the right side. His consorts Sri Valli Devasena are on both sides in worshiping moolavar Sri Subramaniar posture.

In prahara, Bhairavar is without a dog, also called Vaduga Bhairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran, Suryan, Natarajar, Urchavars (Urchavars are Chandrasekar, Bickshadanar/Pichadanar, Vinayagar, Somaskandar and Ambal), Arumuga Nainar and 63 var.

Sri Jambu Lingeswarar is in a separate temple like sannadhi with sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. Ambal Sri Akilandeswari is in a separate sannadhi. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Narasimhamurthy, Indiran, and Brahma. 
 
 Rudraksha pandal 
  Rasi mandala

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS:
It was believed that this rock-cut cave temple of Sri Kalugasalamoorthy shrine was excavated during the 8th Century by Pandyan Maran Chadaiyan Varaguna-I. In the same inscription, Parantaka Nedunchezhian and Parantaka Veera Narayanan's names are also mentioned. As per the inscriptions, this Big Village Kalugumalai was called Perunecuram, and the hill was called Araimalai. Araimalai was in Necuranadu in the sub-division of Mudikonda Cholavalanadu of Rajaraja Pandya Nadu.

The hill with this temple was under the control of Ettayapuram Zamindars till 1954 ( appointed by Madurai Nayaks ) ie till the abolition of the Zamindars system. The Ettayapuram Raja gifted this Village to this temple Arulmigu Kalugasalamoorthy and formed 5 streets around the temple for the temple chariot procession. And the middle street was allotted as agrahara. A Representative is still holding the permanent membership of the Temple's Trust. 

Apart from regular poojas, annual festivals like 9 days of Kandhar Sashti, 10 days of Thaipoosam, and 13 days of Panguni Uthiram are celebrated in a grand manner.  Arunagirinathar has sung 3 Thiruppukazh on Sri Kalugasala Moorthy of this temple.


LEGENDS
The epic Ramayana character Jatayu’s brother Sampati's curse was relieved after worshiping Lord Subramaniar of this temple and hence he is called Kalugasalamoorthy.  Sri Murugan went to Thiruchendur for Demon Surapadman samharam after his Pattabhishekam/coronation from Kalugumalai. Indira in the form of Peacock vahana to Sri Subramaniar. Sri Muruga Perumal in this temple is Sevvai -(a Mangalam/auspices), hence this place is called Guru Mangala Kshethram.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular Poojas, Two palliyarai/arthajama poojas are conducted every day one at Sri Kalugasalamurthy Temple and the other at Shiva Temple. 

CONTACT DETAILS:
The landline number of the temple is 04632 251225, 04632 251500 and the mobile number of EO Mr Kartheeswaran may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:
The place Kalugumalai is on the Kovilpatti to Sankarankovil bus route. All the buses will stop at Kalugasalamoorthy Temple Bus from there the Vettuvan Koil is about a km away.
Kalugumalai is about 22 km from Kovilpatti, 105 km from Thoothukudi and 70 km from Tirunelveli.
The nearest railway station is Kovilpatti.

LOCATION: OF THE TEMPLE  CLICK HERE

 Temple tank with Neerazhi mandapa
  Urchava mandapa
 Rainwater harvesting and let down into the temple tank
    Mandapa Pillar reliefs - center a stone ball in Simha's mouth 
A Design on the Stone Elephant
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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