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.