Thirukkarisanadhar Temple, Kalavai – History
Ancient
relics and inscriptions relating to the village are found in the local Siva
temple named Thirukkaresvara temple. Probably the temple was built by one
Thirukkarai and hence the name Thirukkaresvara (on analogy with
Rajarajeshvara). The history of the village could be traced to the Sangam age.
The area was under the control of the Malaiyamans of Thirukoyilur where ruled
the famous chieftain Malaiyamans Thirumudikkaari who has been sung by eminent
Sangam poets like Avvaiyar,
Paranar, and Kapilar.
It is
not unlikely that Thirukkarai of this family built the Siva temple after whom
it came to be called Thirukaresvaram. The Sthalapuranam of the village seems to support this antiquity. Its
close link to Malaiyanur may be seen in the sequence. The temples in this
ancient village abounds in relics and inscriptions that refer to the period
dating back to the latter half of 10th century of the Chola Emperor
Raja Raja Chola, his great grandson Adhirajendra Chola and to Kulottunga.
In the
12th century, there are two records of Vikrama Chola, the son and
successor of Kulottunga. The first one dated 1122, mentions Kalavai as
Rajanarayana Chaturvedimangalam and the name of the God as
Thirukkarisvaramudaiyar. The offerings to God in the form of cooked rice
(Annam) and cooked vegetables were to be made from only out of the lands
allotted by the great rulers. It is known that in 1310, Malik Kaffoor invaded
southern countries and looted the properties of all temples that drained the
major wealth and economy of Tamil Nadu.
At the
time of Islamic invasions, the temple priests (gurukkal) and the villagers
built a wall made of black granites in front of the Sanctum sanctorum and kept
a similar lingam in the front posing as the original lingam in front of the
wall which was said to be destroyed mistaken as the main deity. They buried all
other Panchaloka Utsava Idols under the sand and retrieved after the situation
returning to normalcy. But they could not save the Amman Vigraham (idol). Dharmasamvardhini
Amman idol is nearly 800 years old.
Kumara
Kampana, the son of Bukka who established the Vijayanagara Empire invaded
Thondai Mandalam and saw to it that enough grants are given to perform regular
pujas. Subsequently, Krishnadevaraya sent Timmappa nayaka of Satirappadi on 20th
August 1526 to protect the temple. Kalavai town was historically known as
Narayana Chathurvedhi Mangalam and was colloquially renamed as Kalavai in the
11th Century. This small village has historic importance from the
time of Pallava Kings in the 7th Century A.D.
Ancient
relics and inscriptions relating to the village are found in Thirukkarisanadhar
Temple also known as Kottai Koil (Fort Temple). The place has always been
associated with the Kanchi Mutt and Kanchi Maha Swamigal who decorated the Mutt
as the 68th pontiff of the Mutt in this holy town. It was during the period of
Kanchi Mahaswamikal that this ancient but little-known village called Kalavai
shot into prominence and it continues to be a place of pilgrimage.
Even
before the Mahaswamikal was ordained as the head of the Mutt, two of his
predecessors attained Mahasamadhi within a short period and their Brindavan
temples are enshrined here. The Mahakumbabishekam for Thirukkarisanadhar Temple
was performed on 26th October 2015 in the august presence of Thava
Thiru. Sachidananda Swamigal also
known as Kalavai Swamigal with the Contributions and Support of people of
Kalavai, devotees and donors in the year of Manmada Varusham.
It is
very much astonishing that about 120 years back in 1895, the Maha
Kumbabhishekam was performed in the same Manmatha Varusham. The Vimanam of Amman
shrine was found damaged during renovation. So, it was rebuilt and the Amman
was placed in the sanctum back again during Kumbabhishekam which was performed
on 26th October 2015. Our revered Maha Periyava, the Saint who lived during our
times had often visited this temple and had a Dharshan of Thirukkarisanadhar
and used to meditate for a long time in front of Sri Dhakshinamoorthy in the
inner prakaram.