This
temple is considered one of the Pancha Asana sthalangal on the banks of the Holy
River Thamirabarani, as per Thamirabarani Mahathmiyam. This is one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam and the birthplace of Kootryvanayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmar. This place Kalakkad was called Kalanthai during the 07th - 9th Century, which has been corrupted to the present name of Kalakkad.
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This temple is one of
the Thevara vaippu Sthalam. Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Shiva of this
temple. Sundarar mentions this place Kalakkad as Kalanthai.
வார் கொண்ட வனமுலையாள் உமை பங்கன் கழலே
மறவாது கல்
எறிந்த சாக்கியற்கும் அடியேன்
சீர் கொண்ட புகழ் வள்ளல்
சிறப்புலிக்கும் அடியேன்
செங்காட்டங்குடி மேய சிறுத்தொண்டற்கு அடியேன்
கார் கொண்ட கொடை
கழறிற்றறிவாற்கும் அடியேன்
கடல் காழி கணநாதன் அடியாற்கும் அடியேன்
ஆர் கொண்ட வேல் கூற்றன் களந்தை கோன் அடியேன்
ஆரூரன் ஆரூரில் அம்மானுக்கு ஆளே
…. சுந்தரர் திருத்தொண்டத்தொகை.. 07-39-06
Moolavar : Sri Sathyavaheeswarar
Consort : Sri Gomathi Ambal
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a 9-tier Rajagopuram approximately with 1500 stucco
images and a Temple Tank is in front. The second level Rajagopuram is of 3
tiers. Adhikara Nandi is in the Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and
Rishabam are under the mandapam before 2nd level Rajagopuram. A big
Vinayagar is on the left side and Dwarapalakas are on both sides of the
entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar in the Sanctum Sanctorum is of
swayambhu. Dakshinamurthy is only in the koshtam.
In
praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Natarajar with Sivakami (
Two sets – one in metal and the other with sandal paste applied ),
Chandikeswarar, Maha Lakshmi, Bairavar, Suriyan, Chandran, Saniswaran,
Navagrahas, Nagar, Vinayagar, Shiva Lingam, Brahmi, Navaneetha Krishnan,
Ayyanar with Poorna Puskala, Manickavasagar, Jurathevar, Kasi Viswanathar with
Visalakshi, Ayyappan, Vinayagar, Sankaralingam, Gomathi Ambal, Sankara
Narayanan, 63var, A Vijayanagara King, Saptamatrikas, Saraswati, Gangalar
sannidhi, Natarajar & Kali's dance Photos are under a tiled roof ambalam and
Veeramarthandan image. In Utsavar Natarajar, Gangalar, Shiva & Parvati,
Vinayagar, and Nayanmars.
Gomathi
Ambal is in a separate sannidhi, facing west. Ambal is in standing posture with
abhaya varada hastam.
Gangala murti
ARCHITECTURE
The
9-tier Rajagopuram is 135 feet tall and has approximately 1500 stucco images,
The floors are built with wood and have about 200 beautiful murals, portraying
scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharatha, Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam ( Siva
Leelas ), Siva’s marriage with Parvati, episodes from the lives of the Tamil
Nadu’s Saivite saints, Siva as Bhikshatana, Rati and Manmatha, Krishna Leelas,
the wedding of Saivite saint, Sundarar and so on.
The
total temple was built with 3 praharas. The temple consists of Sanctum
sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum
is on a upanam and kapota bandha adhistanam. The Vimanam above the prastaram
was built in the Bricks. The Vimanam is 3 tiers with vesara sigaram.
One
of the mandapam has the Musical Pillars. Also, Sundarar and Cheraman Perumal Nayanar are
on the pillars with Elephant and Horse sculptures at the bottom to signify that
both went to Mount Kailash.
Sundarar
The
mandapam in front of Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar was constructed during the Nayakas period and their images are on the mandapa pillars in Anjali hastam.
The Nayakas period mandapas are with Yazhi pillars.
A 13th-century granary was built to store the grains received from
temple lands.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
The
original temple may have existed before the 9th to 10th
Century since this temple is believed to be a Thevera vaippu sthalam. ( As per Thevara Vaippau sthalam details, this place was called Kalanthai, ArumozhiDeva Valanattu Kalappal ). The temple may have been reconstructed as a stone temple during the 13th Century Pandya period
and later received contributions, from the 15-16th Century Nayaka Kings and
Venadu Kings.
As
per the inscriptions ( Travancore Kings 1512 CE and Parakrama Pandiya’s 6th
reign year 1548 CE ), this place was called Vanavan Naattu Pachchatru Pokku
Kalakkad alias Chozhakula Vallipuram and Shiva was called as Puraverieechuvaram
Udaiya Nayanar. And Ambal was called as Angaya(r)kaN Nachiyar
The Travancore king ( name not given ), Kollam 688, 1512
CE, inscription ( SII- Volume - XLI, No. 132, AR. No. 131 of 1905 ) on the north wall of
the Satyavagrisvara temple, records that an order was issued when the king was
in a camp ( Pudhu Veedu ) at Vēļākurichchi. The king assigned the services of
some kudi as the fifteenth member in the temple at Kaļakkādu. The document was
written by Märttāndan.
The
sculptures in the temple belonged to the 16th century CE and they
included those of Boothala Veera Udaya Marthanda Varman, a king of Travancore
or Venadu. According to Dr. Balusami, “Boothala Veeran was an important king of
Venadu or Tiruvadi. He built a palace at Kalakkad, named it ‘pudhu veedu’ ( new
House ), and lived there for a long time. The front mandapam in the temple, with
pillars that emit music when tapped, was built by him.” He was also called Puli
Marthanda Varman.
The Travancore king (name not given), Kollam 676, 1500
CE inscription ( SII- Volume - XLI, No. 131, AR.
No. 130 of 1905 ) on the north wall of Sathyavaheeswarar Temple records the
Gift of land as dēvadāna to midday service in Puravarīchchuram temple in
Kaļakkādu alias Chōlakulavallipuram in Vānava nādu. The king made the gift when
he was in his camp at Vadachēri
Travancore king ( Vīra Mattāndan..? )’s
period 1532 CE inscription ( SII Volume
XLI - No. 133, AR. No. 132 of 1905), on the south wall of the central shrine in
the Gomati Amman temple, records that, the king gave permission to Ilaiyān
Mättändakkuțți to manage a
mathu called Vīramättändan and look after the distribution of free meals [ nīrākāram]there. Rāman wrote the document [ Kollam ] 708.
Ref
2. South
Indian Inscription Volume - XLI
Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 14th July 2011.
A
memorial stone was erected in Commemoration of coronation of King George –V,
emperor of India, by the Kalakkad public 12th December 1911- ஐந்தாவது ஜார்ஜ் சக்ரவர்த்தி அவர்களின் மகுடாபிசேகத்தின் நினைவாக இந்த ஞாபகச்சின்னம் நிறுவப்பட்டது.
LEGENDS
As
per the legend, Rama and Lakshmana came to this temple and worshipped Shiva of
this temple after Sita was abducted by Ravana. Shiva promised / Sathyam that Sita would get back soon. Later after
Ravana was vanquished and killed, Rama Sita and Lakshmana came to this temple
and worshipped Shiva as a part of thanksgiving. Hence Shiva is called Sathyavageeswarar ( one who keeps his promise ).
In
another legend, in the 13th century, Veera Marthanda Varman, the king
of Travancore, had a practice of worshipping Siva at Thiruppudaimarudur. Once,
he was unable to visit it due to floods in the region, when he heard a divine
voice, that a Shiva Lingam is under the Vanni Tree and the practice may be
continued for this Shiva Lingam, considered as Thiruppudaimarudur Shiva. The
King did as per the divine voice and later he built a Temple for Shiva. ( but
the temple was built by the Pandyas )
It
is believed that Suriyan worshipped Shiva at this temple. To signify this, during
March and September 2o, 21, and 22nd the Sun rays fall on moolavar.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from Regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pournami Poojas with
Vilakku Pooja, etc,.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to
20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
mobile numbers of the priest are +919952384732 and +919994396409 may be contacted
for further details.
The
Office No: +916369880175
HOW
TO REACH
This
place Kalakkad is on Cheranmahadevi to Nagercoil Bus Route, 11 km from Thirukkurungudi, 23 km from
Cheranmahadevi, 43 km from Tirunelveli, 51 km from Nagercoil and Kanyakumari,
Nearest
Railway Station is Nanguneri
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Pranala
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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