30th June 2019
It was planned to visit
Kalugumalai after attending a friend’s daughter 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 and it was told that the temple will be opened
around 16.30 Hrs. Even-though I had been to Kalugumalai when I was in
Thoothukudi, this time want to visit on heritage point of view. At
Kalugumalai I was fortunate to Join with the Ramanathapuram Archaeological
Research Foundation's Heritage walk, organized by Mr Rajaguru.
Kalugumalai has the Vettuvan Koil,
Jain monuments and Sri Kalugasalamoorthy temple Heritage sites. The details of Sri Kalugasalamoorthy ( Sri Subramaniya Swamy
) Temple is 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 is facing South west Direction
ie Pothigai malai of India’s western Ghats. The 40 pillar mandapa is in front
of the sanctum sanctorum. The pillars has the
various reliefs. It was told this mandapa was extended during 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, belongs to 8th Century by Pandyas. Moolavar Sri Kalugasalamoorthy is also called as
Subramaniyar with single face and 6 hands. The peacock is facing left side
against usual position of right side. His consorts Sri Valli Devasena are on
his both sides in worshiping moolavar Sri Subramaniar posture.
In prakara Bhairavar is without dog, also called as 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 8th
Century by Pandyan Maran Chadaiyan Varaguna-I. In the same inscription
Parantaka Nedunchezhian and Parantaka Veera Narayanan names also mentioned. As
per the inscriptions this Big Village Kalugumalai was called as Perunecuram
and the hill was called as 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 abolition of 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 Kandhar sashti, 10 days Thaipoosam and 13 days 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 as 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 as Sevvai -( a Mangalam / auspices ), hence this place is called as Guru Mangala Kshethram.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular Poojas, Two palliyarai / arthajama poojas are conducted every day one at Sri Kalugasalamurthy Temple and other at Shiva Temple.
CONTACT
DETAILS:
The
Land line number of the temple 04632 251225, 04632 251500 and mobile number of
EO Mr Kartheeswaran may be contacted for further details.
Official Web site: 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 Bus stop from there the Vettuvan Koil is about a KM.
Kalugumalai is about 22 KM from Kovilpatti, 105 KM from Thoothukudi and 70 KM from Tirunelveli.
Nearest railway station is Kovilpatti.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
The place Kalugumalai is on the Kovilpatti to Sankarankovil bus route. All the buses will stop at Kalugasalamoorthy Temple Bus stop from there the Vettuvan Koil is about a KM.
Kalugumalai is about 22 KM from Kovilpatti, 105 KM from Thoothukudi and 70 KM from Tirunelveli.
Nearest railway station is Kovilpatti.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Temple tank with Neerazhi mandapa
Urchava mandapa
Rainwater harvesting and let down in to the temple tank
Mandapa Pillar reliefs - centre 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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