Friday, 10 May 2024

Sri Ravimangalanathar Temple / ஸ்ரீ ரவிமங்கலநாதர் ஆலயம் / Hero Stone / காளமேடு, Kaala Medu, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu

The visit to this Sri Ravi Mangalanathar Temple, was a part of Visit to Rock arts, in Natural caves / Shelters, near Palani in Dindigul District on 3rd July 2024. Thanks to Thenkongu Sathasivan, who took us ( Mrs. Sakthi Prakash and Mr. Srinivasan ) to this temple.


This Shiva Temple is on the ancient Vanika Peruvazhi / Trade route. There are many specialities in this temple. The Shiva Lingam is of Dhara Lingam, which is rarely available in Kongu Mandalam, but it is quite common in Kanchipuram areas. In Koshtam, Indran is installed in place of maha Vishnu.

Moolavar : Sri Ravimangala Eswarar / Then Kalatheeswarar

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple facing west with an entrance also on the west side. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is a Dhara Lingam with 16 flat surfaces ( sodasha Lingam ) on a round avudayar. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Indran and Brahma.
In praharam Vinayagar, an ant hill, a Hero stone ( Details will be written in a separate post ), Murugan, Bairavar, and Chandikeswarar.


Dhara Lingam with 16 flat surfaces 
 Bairavar
 Chandikeswara
 Dakshinamurthy

ARCHITECTURE
The original temple was built with stone and the present structure was built with Bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a open mukha mandapam, now as thatched shed. The sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam, and pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam and pattikai. The Bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters with vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus. An eka tala vesara Vimanam of on the sanctum sanctorum. The 4 Maha nasis and 4 alpa nasis are on the greevam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma and Durgai are on the greeva koshtam.  



HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple belongs to Chozha period. A fragment inscription stone is kept in the temple. The inscription records the name Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Vikrama Devar… Also mentions a gift of land near the Vanika peruvazhi / Trade Route. Hope this temple might have received contributions from the Traders / merchants / Business people, who passed through the Vanika Peruvazhi / Trade Route.


The second line reads as - வணிக பெருவழிக்கு தெற்கு.. 

LEGENDS
As per the legend, Sri Kannappar ( Original name was Thinnan ),  one of the 63 nayanmar and an ardent devotee of Shiva. He used to offer the meat of the animals which he hunted in the forest. Shiva wants to show Kannappar’s bhakthi, to this world and tested him through flowing of blood from his eyes. First Kannappar removed his one of the eye and applied to Shiva. Now the flood started came from the second eye too. Kannappar, hold Shiva’s eye spot with his leg and tried to remove his second eye too. About to remove, Lord Shiva appeared before Kannappar and blessed him.

In another Legend, Shiva was worshipped by a snake with precious gems, and Elephant worshipped with flowers. Hence Shiva is being called as Kalahastheeswara. Also this is a parihara sthalam for Rahu and Ketu.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 in the morning.

CONTACT DETAILS
The mobile number +919976005118 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
This place is called as Kaala Medu. From Kolumam to Palani road, in Iravimangalam, take right towards Kavalapatti and at the Junction turn left road and the temple will be about a KM.
This Shiva temple is 3.7 KM from Iravimangalam ( on Kolumam to Palani Road ), 12.3 KM from Kolumam and 10 KM from Palani.
Nearest railway Station is Palani.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE




  Cairn Circles near the Temple 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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