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 said that the temple would be opened
around 16.30. Even though I had been to Kalugumalai when I was in
Thoothukudi, this time I 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.
Kalugumalai has the Vettuvan Koil,
Jain monuments, and the 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 said that this mandapa was extended during the 18th
Century. A Rudraksha Pandal and a 12 Rasi panel are 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 an excavated cave, belonging to the 8th Century by the 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 the 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 the 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 the temple Arulmigu Kalugasalamoorthy
and formed 5 streets around the temple
for the temple chariot procession. And the middle street was allotted as an agrahara. A Representative is still holding the permanent membership of the Temple's Trust.
Apart from regular poojas, annual
festivals like the 9 days of Kandhar Sashti, 10 days of Thaipoosam, and 13 days of Panguni Uthiram are celebrated grandly. 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 numbers of the temple are 04632 251225, 04632 25150,0, and the mobile number of the EO, Mr. Kartheeswaran, may be contacted for further details.
Official Website: http://kalugumalaitemple.tnhrce.in/
HOW TO REACH:
The place Kalugumalai is on the Kovilpatti to Sankarankovil bus route. All the buses will stop at Kalugasalamoorthy Temple. 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
The place Kalugumalai is on the Kovilpatti to Sankarankovil bus route. All the buses will stop at Kalugasalamoorthy Temple. 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---
Very good coverage
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Sir
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