This
place Kathitha Malai locally called Kaithamalai, is about 2 KM from
Uthukuli, once famous for the Butter. During my School Days, about 60 years
before we had been to this Hill, Sri Vetri Velayuthasamy Temple by
bicycle. During that time there were no steps or roads to the temple. There was a
lot of improvement in the temple and the approach road from the base.
Moolavar : Sri Vetri Velayuthasamy
Consort : Sri Valli and Devasena
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple is on a small Hill with an approach road and a footpath to reach the base
of the temple. The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The Temple
is on an elevated level with 45 Steps. A Deepa sthambam is in front of the
Rajagopuram, Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Mayura Vahana are in front of the
mukha mandapam. Moolavar Sri Vetri
Velayutha Swamy is in a standing posture, holding a spear ( Vel ) in the right
hand and the left hand in the kadi hastam. A Swayambhu
Murugan installed by the sage Agathiyar is in the form of a Shiva Lingam, on
the right side of Deity Murugan.
Dwarapalakas
are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. The Nava Veeras are in the mukha
mandapam. They are Veeramarthandar, Veerapurantharar, Veera Mahendran,
Veeratheerar, Veerabahu ( Captain ), Veeranthakar, Veerakesari, Veeraakkathar,
Veera Maheswaran.
In
praharam, Sri Valli Devasena ( on the back side of the Sanctum sanctorum ), Bilva tree, Idumban, and Chandikeswarar. Mayura Siddhar Samadhi is on the back side of the temple with an ant hill over the
Samadhi. It was learned that 3 snakes reside inside the ant hill, and give
darshan to the devotees occasionally.
ARCHITECTURE
The
Sri Vetri Velayuthaswamy Temple consists
of sanctum sanctorum antarala, ardha mandapam and an open mukha mandapam. The
sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta
kumudam, and Pattaikai. The bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are with
kalasam, kudam, palakai and pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam.
A two-tier brick Vesara vimanam is on the bhumi desam. Stucco's image of Murugan’s
various forms is on the Tala and Greeva Kostas. There are no images on the Deva
Kostas.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As
per the architecture, the temple may belong to the 17th to 18th
Century. The cement concrete mukha mandapa with stucco images on the top of the parapet wall has been added in recent years.
Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was performed in July 2017.
It
is believed that the 14th - 15th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns
in praise of Sri Vetri Velayuthasamy. But the hymns couldn’t be traced.
LEGENDS
As
per the legend once the sage Agathiyar along with Narada and Devas, visited
the Murugan temples of the Kongu region. After reaching this place Agasthiyar was
feeling very thirsty and didn’t find any water source to drink. Agasthiyar
prayed to Muruga to help him. To Agathiyar’s prayer, Muruga immediately
appeared before him and hit the earth with his spear/vel, which created a pit, and water gushed out in the form of a water spring / Utru – (ஊற்று in
Tamil ). Hence this place was called Utru+kuzi – ஊற்று+குழி - which has been corrupted to the present name of
Uthukuli.
This
is one of the Parihara Sthalam for Rahu and Ketu. Devotees pour milk and egg into
the anthill to get relief from dosha.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from 3 kala regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Kandar Sashti with
Thirukalyanam, Panguni Uthiram Chariot festival, Kiruthigai, Karthigai Deepam,
Tuesdays, Fridays and all other Murugan’s auspicious days.
Chariot
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 13.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00
Hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The
landline number +914294 262052 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
The
Kathitha Malai Sri Vetri Velayuthasamy Temple is about 2 KM from Uthukuli Bus stand, 3.6 KM from Uthukuli
Railway Station, 16 KM from Tiruppur Railway Station, 25 KM from Chennimalai,
40 KM from Erode, 67 KM from Coimbatore and 457 KM Chennai.
Nearest
Railway Station Uthukuli.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Footpath entrance
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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