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Thursday, October 1, 2015

Religious Places near Suruli Falls, Theni

Religious Places near Suruli Falls, Theni
Kailasanathar Temple
Kailasanathar Cave Temple in Theni, near the Suruli Waterfalls is 800 m above sea level. The falls are surrounded by beautiful and rare specimens of flora and fauna. Suruli Waterfalls are on the way to the Periyar National Park, 123 km from Madurai. The falls originate from the Megamalai hills and descend from a height of 150 feet.
Kailasanathar Temple is a cave temple has 18 caves and is located at a height above the Suruli Falls. The waters of the spring are supposed to have curative powers due to the medicinal herbs and plants that grow in the area.



During the Tamil months of Aadi (July – August), Thai (January – February) and Chithirai (April – May), various seasonal festivals are celebrated at Kailasanathar Cave Temple
Lord Vellai Vinayakar temple is a cave temple.  He is as famous as Lord Pillayarpatti Vinayaka.  Circumambulation of the hill on Poornima day makes devotees healthier.  There also some hills on the way called Navagraha Kundru – hills of nine planets that relieve the devotees of adverse planetary aspects.
The antiquity of the temple dates back to 2000 years.  Sage Agasthya had sung the glory of Lord Kailasanathar and the sacred spring in his hymns.  Sage Sattnatha had performed penance here.  Western Ghats stand as a cover frame to this mount.  An old and long iron chain available in the hills shows that a big car was pulled around the hill about 500 years back.  Many epigraphic evidences are proof of the antiquity of the temple.



Lord Vellai Vinayaka in the temple is a Kudaivarai Vinayaka. Lord Shiva in the temple graces in the form of a Shiva Linga. The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.


Sri Kailasanathar temple arch is on the Periakulam-Theni main road.  A tar road leads to the foot hills.  Lord Vellai Vinayaka and Chandra Linga greet the devotee at the foot hills.
Suruli Velappar Temple
The Suruli Velappar Temple, closer to the falls, is dedicated to Lord Kartikeya/Muruga, a deity who is associated with hills, has been built near the falls. In Chithirai (April – May), devotees carry pots of milk on Saturdays to perform the abishekam (ablution) to the deity.    
The spring
The spring near the temple known to possess high medicinal value, is a favorite spot for having a dip.
Abubacker Masthan Dargah
The Abubacker Masthan Dargah, the tomb of the Muslim mystic who lived in 1630 in Suruli, is a Muslim place of pilgrimage. This is very close to the Kailasanathar Cave Temple.