Sunday, 20 September 2020

Swarna Kaaleeswarar Temple / Sri Sorna Kaleeswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு சொர்ணவல்லி சமேத சொர்ணகாளீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், காளையார் கோவில் / Kalayarkoil, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 254th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 10th Sthalam of Pandya Naadu. This place was called as “Kanapereyil – கானபேரெயில், since the Sangam period and continued up to 15th Century. As per inscription, from 16th Century onwards this place is being called as Kalayarkoil. In 1325 CE, Thimiski an Arab traveler, mentions this place as “Kaikan”1325. There is a proverb about this place is ..kaalai Theda... Somar Azhikka .. Chokkar Sukikka -காளைதேட.. சோமர் அழிக்க... சொக்கர் சுகிக்க”. 
 
The Sri Somesar Temple Rajagopuram is 155.5 feet tall and 93 feet wide, built in the 18th century by Maruthu Brothers and the smaller one Sri Swarna Kaleeswarar Temple Rajagopuram is 90 feet tall and 57 feet 8 inches wide built by Pandyas in the 7th Century.

As per Sekkizhar Periya Puranam Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirupuvanam

    பற்றார் தம்புரங்கள் மலைச் சிலையில் செற்
        பரமனார் திருப்புத்தூர் பணிந்து போந்து
    புற்றுஆரும் பணிபூண்ட புனிதனார் தம்
        பூவணத்தைப் புக்கு இறைஞ்சி புகழ்ந்து பாடிக்
    கற்றார்கள் தொழுது ஏத்தும் கானப்பேரும்
        கை தொழுது தமிழ்பாடிச் சுழியல் போற்றிக்
    குற்றாலம் குறும்பலாக் கும்பிட்டு ஏத்திக்
        கூற்று உதைத்தார் நெல்வேலிக் குறுகினாரே

Thirugnanasambandar, Sundarar, Vallalar, Kabiladevar, and Baranadevar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

    பிடியெல்லாம் பின்செலப் பெருங்கை மா மலர்தழீஇ
    விடியலேதடமூழ்கி விதியினால் வழிபடும்
    கடியுலாம் பூம் பொழில் கானப்பேர் அண்ணல்நின்
    அடியலால் அடைசரண் உடையரோ அடியரே
....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
    தொண்டர் தமக்கெளிய சோதியை வேதியனைத்
        தூய மறைப் பொருளா நீதியை வார்கடனஞ்
    சுண்டதனுக் கிறவா தென்று மிருந்தவனை
        யூழிபடைத்தவனோ  டொள்ளரியும் முணரா
    அண்டனை அண்டர் தமக்காகமநூன் மொழியும்
        மாதியை மேதகுசீ ரோதியை வானவர்தம்
    கண்டனை அன்பொடு சென்றெய்துவ தென்று கொலோ
        கார்வயல் சூழ் கானப் பெருறை காளையையே
...... சுந்தரர்
                                                --“சேடான
    வானப் பேராற்றை மதியை முடிசூடுங்
    கானப்பேரானந்தக் காளையே
...... திரு அருட்பா
   முலைநலஞ்சேர் கானப்பேர் முக்கணா னென்னு
    முலைநலஞ்சேர் மொய்சடையானென்னுமுலைநலஞ்சேர்
    மாதேவா வொன்று வளர்கொன்றை வாய்சோர
    மாதேவா சோரல் வளை
...... கபிலதேவர் ( பதினோராம் திருமுறை )
   நிலைத்திவ் வுலகனைத்து நீரேயாய் நின்றீர்
   நிலைத்திவ் வுலகனைத்து நீரேநிலைத்தீரக்
    கானப்பே ரீர்கங்கை சூடினீர் கங்காளீர்
    கானப்பே ரீர்கங்கை யீர்
....... பரணத்தேவர் ( பதினோராம் திருமுறை )

The 15th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

    கோலக் காதிற் குழையாலே – கோதிச் சேர்மைக் குழலாலே
    ஞாலத்தாரைத் துயரேசெய் – நாரிக்காசைப் படலாமோ
    மேலைத் தேவர்க் கரியானே – வீரச் சேவற் கொடியோனே
    காலப் பாசத் துயர் தீராய் கானப்பேரிற் பெருமாளே.

Moolavar                              Consort

Sri Somesar                        Sri Soundaravalli
Swarna Kaleeswarar            Sri Swarnavalli
Sri Sundaresar                    Sri Meenakshi

Some of the important features of this temple are...
The temple faces east with Two Rajagopuras.  The 9-tier 155.5-foot-high 93-wide Gopuram was built by Marudhu Pandyars and the 90-foot-high 5-tier Gopuram in front of Swarna Kaaleeswarar Temple was built by 7th Century Varagua Pandyan. There are three sanctums and the Centre one is the Paadal Petra Sthalam and Moolavar is of swayambhu. All three sannidhis have the  Balipedam, Rishabam, and Dwajasthambam. All three Ambal sannidhis are built in a row facing South. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.  

In the inner prakara, Vinayagar, Murugan and Chandikeswarar. In Prakaram Sahasra Lingam, Vallabha Ganapathi, Nalvar, 63var, Bhairavar, Saptamatrikas,  Vinayagar, Chandrasekar, Pancha lingas, Varuna worshiped Varuna Linga, Ashta Lakshmis, Senthil Murugan, Saneeswarar and Natarajar in Sabha mandapam.

Ambal Swarnavalli is in a separate Sannadhi with beautiful architecture. In Palliyarai, the Ponnoosal / swing is made of gold and ivory. 

ARCHITECTURE
All three temples Sri Someswarar Temple, Sri Swarna Kaleeswarar Temple, and Sri Sundareswarar Temple are built in a row facing east. The Sri Somesar Temple Rajagopuram is 155.5 feet tall and 93 feet wide, built in the 18th century by Maruthu Brothers and the smaller one Sri Swarna Kaleeswarar Temple Rajagopuram is of 9feet tall and 57 feet 8 inches wide built by Pandyas in 7th Century. 







HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Sundareswarar & Meenakshi Amman- When Varaguna Pandiyan (792 - 835 CE) struggled to find the way to Madurai after hunting, Lord Shiva guided him and gave darshan at this Temple. This Sannadhi was built in remembrance of the darshan. The sannadhi is located between Sri Kaleeswarar and Swarnavalli Ambal sannadhi. Parivara devata Sannadhis, Natarajar and Navagrahas are located near this Sannadhi.

In the front Mandapa statues of Sivaganga’s second king Muthu Vaduga natha Periya Udaya devar (1750 – 1772 CE – killed by the Britishers through the hand bombs), Ramanathapuram Mannar Kizhavan Sethupathi, Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu (1789 -  1794 CE).

The Temple has the Pandya, Ramanathapuram Sethupathis, Sivaganga Samasthana Kings, Marudhu Pandyas, and Nattukottai Nagaratar’s contributions. The 5-tier Rajagopuram was built by the 13th Century Varaguna Pandiyan (1251 – 1261 CE), but the temple claims as 7th Century.

From the Agananooru a Sangam Literature, Kanaper is the name of the place and Eyil means a strong wall… Kanaper was ruled by King Vengaimarban with a safe & strong wall, moat, and forest around it. When Vengaimarban challenged, Pandya King Ukra Peruvazhuthi captured the Kanaper with strength. Hence he was called “Kanapereyil Kadantha Ukra Peruvazhuthi”  

As per the inscriptions, this place was called Kanaper, and from 16th Century inscriptions Kalayarkoil. Lord Shiva was called as Kanaperudaya Nayanar and Kanaperudaya Nayanar Kalayar Somanathar. Ambal was called Nachiyar ThaNmenmulaiyal, Aludaya Nachiyar and Vinayagar's Names are added with Chella, Ariya, Sakthi, Ganapathy Peruman, etc. (Ref from Kudavayil Dr. Balasubraaniyan article)

Pandya King Sundra Pandya’s 12th year Reign inscription (AR 575 of 1902, SII, VIII- 166) records the endowment of Thirumanjanam (A sacred bath) and Naivedyam by Kizhavan Udaya Perumal Somanathadevar. For which a land 4 ma was gifted to this temple after exempting the Taxes

Pandya King Kulasekara Pandya’s 14th-year reign (end of 13th Century) inscription (AR 577  of 1902, SII, VIII – 169) records the gift of Lands to the dancers of the temple who are given with the title “Thalaikoli”, Nakkan Cheyyal alias Kalingaraya Thalaikoli, The Land was purchased and gifted to this temple. The tank/ kulam was rectified and the facility for the irrigation of dry lands from the tank. Taxes like Ponvari, Thattarpattam, and Inavari are also exempted. The land was measured by “Sundarapandiyan Kol” ( a measuring scale ) and the place was named Veerapandiya nallur. From the donated Land the Dancer  Kalingaraya Thalaikoli has to give Paddy of 2 kalam and money 14 kasu to the temple. This was signed by the Grama sabha members Rajasinga Theva, Nalla Singa Theva, Chozha Ganga Theva, Athigai Singa Theva, and Vazhuthi Singa Theva.

Pandya King Veera Pandya’s 14th Year reign inscription (AR 578 of 1902, SII, VIII- 170) records the endowment to Aadhichandeswarar sannadhi by three people, Alalasundara Thirumadam Mudaliyar, Pathiyilarila Nakkan Muvaayira Thalaikoli, Aalasundara Thirumadam…. Sambanda Perumal and Chokkan Sambandan towards the purchase of land and the payment of grains like Paddy and Varaku and panam 18 to this temple.

The inscription without King’s name and year (AR 581-C of 1902, SII, VIII- 175) records the endowment of  Naivedyam of Kariyamuthu, Adaikkaiamuthu, Neiyamuthu, Uppamuthu, Milakamauthu and Vasthiram to ....Kottathu Nachiyar ThaNmenmulayar, Aludai Nachiyar, Ariya Pillayar, Chella Pillayar for which the the kuruni paddy rice out of which 2 Nazhi Arisi choRu to be prepared from the income of the gifted Land. This was donated by the person who constructed the sannadhis.

The inscription without the name of the King (AR 582 of 1902, SII, VIII- 176) records the endowment of  Naivedyam and Thirupani to Kamkottathu Alidainachiyar, Thiruveethi Nachiyar, Nayanar Sundarapandyathevar and Azhakiya Chokkanar, by three people Thavachakravarthi, Vayiratharayan and Yathavarayan on Vishu and Thirukarthikai functions. The above-mentioned temples are built by these three donors. The income from the 50 ma lands measured through 16 Jan kol gifted as Gurudakchina / Thevathanam by Vikarama Pandyan. If nothing yields an equivalent amount of money of  2 Achchu, to be given to the Temple.

The Sundara Pandyan’s 10th-year reign inscription (AR 584 of 1902, SII, VIII- 178) records the gift of Land sale for 30 panam by the Thevan Thongan alias Malava Dheventhara Parayan with trees like and wells. This has to be utilized for the pooja in the name of a merchant Mangudayan Avudayan Perungarunaiyalan Sandhi. When others are signed Malava Theventhara Parayan had placed his thumb impression, since he was not educated. The mistakes are corrected by two persons. The next inscription (AR 585 of 1902, SII, VIII- 179) records the 30 panam gifted to the temple.

The inscription without King's name, (maybe the latest)  (AR 587 of 1902, SII, VIII- 182) records the Ilaiyathangudiyathan Kulasekarapuraththu Kalayar Kavala Peruntheru Thiruvepurudayan Thirumundamazhakiyan Azhakaiya Konar Azhakiya Chokkan reconstructed the Madapalli, which was found dilapidated condition on four sides. The required found were taken from the Treasury and for the balance, his own fund was used. The next inscription 587-A also records the reconstruction of the Kalanivasaludayan Adaikalangathaar Chidambaranathar Sannadhi and arranges for Naivedyam for which land was donated. 

The other inscriptions mainly record the donation of Lands and paddy, made to this temple and the trees grew like Neem, Aththi, Pungan, Puli/ Tamarind, Iluppai, etc. To our surprise, none of the inscriptions talks about the burning of the perpetual lamps or Sandhi Lamp and donation of Cows, goats, etc.

During the Pandya period, land was gifted to their Guru Dhabasvi Somanathar as Guru Dhatchina / fees.  The same Pandya King built the Ambal Temple with Cheppu Procession deity,

Marudhu brothers constructed the front Mandapa, Temple Chariot, gave 40 Villages and 2 lakhs worth of Gold jewellery to this temple between 1789 to 1794 CE.

In recent times an inscription  (Thanks to Saravanamaniyan PA and his team) dated to the 13th to 14th Century, on a slab stone was found near the Vinayagar temple of Kalayarkoil. The inscription is in the form of a song. The Details of the inscription are, although the Sanakathi munis learned the literature and practiced dhabas didn’t gain the Gnana. But they gained the real knowledge and Gnana from Lord Shiva as Dakshinamurthy’s Chin Mudra. The inscription reads as ….. 

    1.அருந்தவஞ் செய் நால்வற்கோராலின் கீழன பாற் கருந்தடஞ் சூ
    2. கானப்பேர்க் கண்ணிற்றிருந்தவறஞ் சொல்லுவார் போலச் ..
    3.ராந் திருந்தார் வெல்லுவாரென பிறபடை வெ

The 90 feet tall and 57 feet 8 inches width 9-tier Rajagopuram was built during Marudhu Pandyars.  It was said that Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple Rajagopuram can be seen from this Tallest Rajagopuram, even though the distance between KalayarKoil and Madurai is 63 KM, which may be seen at the horizon. There is a local folk Kummi -கும்மி song available on this Rajagopuram.  

   ‘‘கருமலையிலே கல்லெடுத்து
   காளையார் கோயில் உண்டு பண்ணி
    மதுரைக் கோபுரம் தெரியக் கட்டிய
    மருது வாரதைப் பாருங்கடி’’

   சாந்துபொட்டு பளபளக்கச்
   சந்தப்பொட்டு கமகமக்க
    மதுரைக் கோபுரம் தெரியக் கட்டிய
    மருது வாரதைப் பாருங்கடி’’

From 1800 to 1810 CE this place Kalayarkoil was a battlefield between Britishers and Marudhu Pandiyar. The Britishers declared war against the Marudhu brothers for helping  Oomaithurai, the brother of Veerapandiya Kattabomman to escape from the Palayamkottai Jail and declaring the freedom movement.  On 1st Oct 1801CE, the Marudhu brothers moved their 78000 soldiers towards the Kalayarkoil, to recover the Kalayarkoil and the temple, which was captured by the Britishers. During the  war, Chinna Marudhu suffered a bullet injury on his thigh and surrendered.  Periya Marudhu was forced to surrender. (If not surrendered Britishers threatened to demolish the Rajagopuram). All the family members along with the Marudhu brothers were taken to Tirupattur. When they were asked their last wish, the Marudhu brothers wanted them to be buried in front of the Temple Rajagopuram, All the orders they issued them both in written and verbal, as gifts to be continued and the same should be carried out with immediate effect. The Carnal agniu had assured to carry out and  hanged about 500 people including all their family members and soldiers on 24th October 1901 CE. Marudhu brothers  were brought dead with their heads cut state after three days ie on 27th October 1801 CE. As per their last wish they were buried in front of the Temple Rajagopuram on the same street. A Manimandapam was constructed in 2006 by CN Paramasivan of Coimbatore.

The temple thirupani and Neerazhi mandapam was built by Devakottai Jamin family. Now the temple is under the control of Sivaganga Samasthanam.

Ref
1. South Indian Inscriptions Volume VIII and
2. Annual report on South Indian Epigraphy Year 1902.

Inscription on the Floor
Sri Muthu Vaduganatha Periya Udayadevar with Maruthu Pandyar History from Military Record 
Chinna Marudhu  
 Periya Marudhu  
Kizhavan Sethupathi
Nattukottai Nagarathars- Contributions

Manimandapam
Manimandapam
PC -Saravanamaniyan P A- Manimandapam Inscription
Memorial with Rajagopuram of the temple

காளையார் கோயில் கரடிக் கருத்தான்
தங்களிடம் அடைக்கலமடைந்த ஊமைத்துரையைக் காட்டிக்கொடுக்க மறுத்து ஆங்கிலேயர்களுடன் போர்புரிந்து தங்கள் உயிர் நீத்த மருது சகோதர்கள் கட்டிய காளையார் கோயிலின் வெளியே கையில் துப்பாக்கியுடன் வேட்டையாடும் நிலையில் எதிரே கரடி ஒன்றின் சிலையையுடனும் காணப்படுகின்றது. துப்பாக்கியுடன் காணப்படுமிவரைக் கரடிக் கருத்தான் என அழைக்கின்றனர்அதற்கான காரணம்

வேட்டையின்போது கரடி ஒன்று பெரியமருதுவை பின்னாலிருந்துத் தாக்க முயற்சிச்செய்த, கரடியுடன் போராடி கரடியைக்கொல்கின்றான். அது கண்டு மகிழ்ந்த பெரியமருது கருத்தானுக்கு வளரி வீச்சு, துப்பாக்கிப் பயிற்சி மற்றும் தனக்கு தெரிந்த போர்க்கலைகள் அனைத்தும் கற்றுக் கொடுத்து, அவனை மாவீரனாக்குகிறார்.

பின்னாளில் மருதுசகோதரர்கள் கௌரி வல்லபரின் சதிச்செயலால் போரிலே தோற்றுக் காளையார்கோயில் காட்டு பகுதியில் மறைந்திருந்து வெள்ளையர்கள் மீது கொரில்லா தாக்குதல் நடத்திவந்தனர். வெள்ளையர்கள் மருது சகோதரர்களை பிடிக்க கௌரிவல்லபரின் ஆலோசனையின் பேரில் கரடிக்கருத்தானை தங்கள் வசம் இழுத்து, வெள்ளையர், சின்னமருதுவினை துப்பாக்கியால் சுட்டு, சின்ன மருது பெரியமருது இருவரையும் கொடூரமான ம்ய்றயில் கொல்கின்றனர்.

கௌரி வல்லபன் கரடி கருத்தான் சின்னமருதுவைச் சுட்டதைப் பாராட்டி, சின்னமருதுவை கரடியாகச் சித்தரித்து அவரை கருத்தான் சுடுவதுபோல ஒருசிலையை காளையார்கோவில் சின்னகோபுரத்தின் வாசலில் வைக்கிறான்.  மருதுபாண்டிய மன்னர்களைக் காட்டிக்கொடுத்த துரோகியின் சிலை கோயிலின் உள்ளே இருக்கக்கூடாது என்ற காரணத்தினால் வெளியே கொன்டுவரப்படுகின்றது. (பால பாரதி ஐயா அவர்கட்கு நனி நன்றி)

Karadi Karuththan..
A Man with a rifle and bear statue are in front of the Sri Sorna Kaleeswarar Temple in Rajagopuram. The Man with a rifle is called Karadikaruthan and the bear is the Chinnamaruthu. There is a legend behind this…

Karadikauthan was a servant under the Maruthu brothers and used to accompany them during hunting. Once Karadikathan saved Periyamaruthu from bear's attack. Later Maruthu brothers were defeated in a war by the Gouri Vallabar and they were forced to stay in the forest. From the forest, Maruthu brothers attacked the Britishers. The British with the help of Gouri Vallabar made Karadikathan a friend Captured Maruthu Brothers and killed them brutally. To mark the incident these two statues were installed inside the temple. The same was shifted outside the temple premises due to objections raised by the locals since Karadikathan was one of the people for killing the Maruthu brothers. (Thanks to Bala Bharathi Sir)



LEGENDS
This place was called 4 yugas Dakshina Kalipuram, Jyothivanam, Manthaara Vanam, Moshapratham, Agasthiya Kshethram, Thava Siddhikaram, Devathaaru Vanam, Bhooloka Kailasam, Mahakalapuram. Iravatha Kshethram, Anjinan Pukazhidam, Somanatha Mangalam, and Eraiyur. During Historic and Sangam period Kanapereyil, ThiruKanaper, Thalaiyilanganam. In Thevaram it was mentioned as “Kanaper”.

In Sundarar’s dream, when he was at Tiruchuli,  Lord Shiva came in the form of Kalai madu ( bull ) with Chendu in one hand and Chuzhi on the forehead and said that he is in Kanaper. Since Lord Shiva came in the form of “Kaalai madu” the place is called Kalayar Kovil.

As per the legend, Kali obtained the black color during the process of Killing Pandasuran. Goddess Kali worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and turned to Swarnam (Golden color) and Married Lord Shiva as Swarna Valli.

Iravatham Indra’s white elephant, came to this temple took a bath in Aanaimadu, and worshiped Kaleeswarar and Someswarar to get rid of the curse given by Nandhi.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosam, Maha Shivaratri, Thai Poosam, Margazhi Thiruvathirai, Pournami, Navaratri, Swarna Kaleeswarar Chariot festival in Thai poosam, Someswarar Chariot festival in Vaikasi and Swarna Valli Amman Chariot festival in Adi Pooram. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The landline number is +91 4575 232 516 and the mobile number is + 91 94862 12371 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:
Buses are available from from Karaikudi, Sivagangai, Devakottai, and Madurai to this place.
On the train route get down at Nattarasankottai on the Chennai to Rameswaram and Trichy to Manamadurai.
The temple is 17 KM from Sivaganga, 30 KM from Devakottai,  36 KM from Karaikudi, 56 KM from Ramanathapuram, 63 KM from Madurai, and 445 KM from Chennai.'
Nearest Railway station is Sivaganga.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

The Tallest is the Marudhu Pandyar's Gopuram
Swarna Kaleeswarar Rajagopuram



Murugan Sannadhi








Sri Swarna Kaleeswarar Temple Rajagopuram 
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

No comments:

Post a Comment