Chozhamudayar Koil / சோழமுடையார் கோவில் / Sri Chozhamudayar Eswarar Temple, கருங்கயம், Melkalingampatti, Araiyurnadu, Kollimalai, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Chozhamudayar Temple at Kolli Hills was a part of the Kolli Hills Heritage walk - “வல்வில் ஒரி தேச மரபு நடை... “organized by எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடை குழு, on 20^th and 21^st May 2023.

Moolavar : Sri Chozhamudayar /

                Sri Chozhamudayar Eswarar

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with a recent period Shiva Lingam on a round avudayar. Wooden dolls and Horse Vahana are in the ardha mandapam. A Chozha period Shiva Lingam, Rishabam, Two Vinayagars, and Navagrahas are in the outer praharam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The inscriptions are recorded and published in Salem – Namakkal Mavatta Kalvettukal, by Thanjavur, Tamil Palkalaikazhagam.

This Chozhamudayar temple is in Mel Kalingam also called Karungayam / Kangayam during the Chozha period. Now this temple is locally called Selamudayar Temple. The original temple was reconstructed in recent years, like a building and not as a temple. Some of the old temple’s stones with inscriptions are also used during reconstruction. The fragment inscriptions mention the words like Thoonipathakku, Karungkayathu Nakaraththu, etc,. These inscriptions belong to the 11^th Century. From these, it is confirmed that the old temple was constructed during the Chozha Period.

In addition to the above, Utama Chozha’s 16^th reign year inscription on the entrance side Column stone of Sri Arappaleeswarar Temple records that Uthama Chozha’s mother Parantakan Madhevadigal alias Chembian Mahadevi, gave 100 kalanju gold to 12 villages of Kolli Hill. From the interest received, special worship was conducted every month. Karungayam / Kangayam is one of the 12 Villages mentioned in that inscription. Hence it is assumed that the temple was built during Chembian Mahadeviyar’s period. 

Only the Swayambhu Shiva Linga Moolavar and the Rishabam are the remains of the Chozha period Temple. The Shiva Lingam and Rishabam are installed outside the temple and in their place, new Shiva Lingam and Rishabam are installed in the sanctum Sanctorum and Ardha mandapam.

LEGENDS

It is believed this this temple was built as a pallipadai temple for Kandaradita Chozha ( 950 -  956 CE ). But there is no proof to prove the same.

It was also said that in this area Ariyur Nattu Melkalingampatti youngsters are recruited for the Chozha army.

There is a Vattaparai with pada available in this place. It is believed that 18 siddhars did penance on this Vattaparai.

This poster claims it is the Kandaradita Chozha's Pallipadai Temple 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Amavasai, Fridays etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAIL

Poojari V Sekar +919751481246 and +91 9443721246 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This temple is about 5.5 km from Sri Arappaleeswarar Temple, 49 km from Namakkal, and 85 km from Salem.

The nearest Railway station is Namakkal- Mohanur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Present Rishabam and Shiva Lingam 

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--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---