Pugazhimalai Bala Subramanya Swamy Temple, Velayuthampalayam,
Karur
Pugazhimalai Bala Subramanya
Swamy Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Murugan located at Velayuthampalayam
in Karur District of Tamil Nadu. This temple is one of the popular pilgrimage
destinations located towards the north west of Karur. This is an ancient
temple, situated atop a hillock at Velayuthampalayam nearby Cauvery,
constructed during the time of Cheras.
The temple had been praised in
the Thirupugazh hymns of Saint Arunagirinathar. Pugazhimalai is also known as Pughazhiyur
/ Pugazhur / Arunattan Malai. The Tamil Nadu News Print and Papers Limited
Company (TNPL) is about 5 KM from this place Velayuthampalayam and they had
done some contributions to this temple.
Etymology
Velayuthampalayam:
This place is called Velayuthampalayam
because of this temple. Lord Muruga has a weapon called Vel (Lance) in his
hands always. Velayuthampalayam means “the place where Lord Murugan holds Lance
weapon.
Arunattan Malai:
This place is also
called Arunattan Malai, which means it’s a natural hillock and not
manmade. This is also manipulated as Arunattan Malai which means the
hillock which belongs to the 6 regions i.e this was centrally located to 6
regions.
Other Names:
Other names for the place
are Pugazhimalai, Pughazhiyur and Pugazhur.
Legends
As per the legend, before
going to Palani, Lord Murugan stayed here as Bala Subramaniyar to bless his
devotees.
The Temple
This temple is on a small hill
with 350 steps from the base with a mandapam at the base of the hill. The
temple is facing north. There is a Mandapam
at downhill at the entrance of the steps leading to the Hill temple. Lord
Murugan vehicle, Peacock can be found in the Mandapam. Shrines of Malaipadi Ayyanar,
a guarding deity and Sapthakannaiyars can be found at the middle of the hill.
Stucco images of the Shiva’s
family depicts the story associated with Palani hills Murugan Temple and Stucco
images of Valli and Murugan in the forest with animals can also be seen in the
hill path. Shrine of Idumban can be found in the middle of the Hill. At the
side of the Idumban Sannadhi, there is an entrance to Jain Beds with Brahmi
inscriptions. Balipeedam, Deepa sthambam and peacock vahana can be found in the
front facing the sanctum. The Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum,
Arthamandapam and Mukha Mandapam.
Presiding Deity is called as Bala
Subramanya Swamy. It was told that the deity is worshiped as a small child in
the morning, as adult in the afternoon and aged in the evening. Shrines for
Meenakshi, Sundareswarar, Natarajar, Arumugar, Nagas, Sani, Navagrahas, Durgai.
Reddy Chettiar statues with his two wives are in the outer prakaram. (The Reddy
Chettiars might have done renovations to this temple). Sthala Vriksham is
Banyan Tree. Theertham associated with this Temple is Nandavanam (Garden) well.
Pugalur / Pugazhur Tamil Brahmi Inscriptions
Ancient Tamil Brahmi
Inscriptions dating to ancient Cheras have been found in the natural caverns
located in the Arunattan Malai. This place is located very close to Karur, the
ancient capital of Cheras. The inscription is in Tamil-Brahmi characters,
assignable to the beginning of the Common Era. It records the gift of a rock
shelter to a Jaina ascetic, by a Chera ruler, Ilam-Kadungo. While referring to
the Chera, the inscription talks about the names of three generations of the
Cheras are mentioned as Ko-Adan-cel-Irumporai, his son Perum-Kadungo and
Ilam-Kadungo, son of Perum-Kadungo. The same inscription is inscribed twice on
the face of the rock.
The first time the name of the
first ruler occurs as "Irumporai"; but in the second instance the
name occurs as "Irumpurai". This usage shows that the name
"Porai" is also spelt as "Purai" in the first century CE. Besides
mentioning the three generations of Chera rulers, the Pugalur inscription
mentions gold merchants from Karur, and a couple of names of commanders of the
Chera like Pittan and others. Among the three generations of Chera rulers
mentioned in this inscription, the second named Perum Kadungo, was the actual
ruler, when the record was issued, on the occasion of crowning the next as a
prince. The actual ruler Perum Kadungo is identified with Perum-Cheral
Irumporai, the conqueror of the Kolli and Tagadur.
Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from
6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
15 days Thaipoosam festival in
January-February drawing a huge crowd of over a lakh, 7-day Surasamharam in
October-November, Panguni Uthiram, Karthikai Deepam in November-December, Aadi
Kruthikai in July-August, Deepavali, Pongal, monthly Karthika and Sashti days
are festival days in the temple. Thaipoosam, celebrated during the first week
of February every year, is the most auspicious occasion at this temple when the
devotees carry ‘Kavadi’ to this temple. The deity, placed in the chariot, is
also pulled around the temple at night.
Singers
The temple had been praised in
the Thirupugazh hymns of Saint Arunagirinathar.
Prayers
Those worshipping the Vishnu
Durga in the temple with lime cup lamps are blessed to tie the knot happily.
Those observing the Sashti fasting is blessed with child boon. Devotees
believes that marriage obstacles will be removed if one prays to Bala
Subramaniyar.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at 500
meters from Velayuthampalayam Bus Stop, 1 Km from Velayuthampalayam Bypass Bus
Stop, 3.5 Kms from Pugalur Railway Station, 5 Kms from Paramathi Velur, 14 Kms
from Kodumudi, 19 Kms from Karur and 110 Kms from Trichy Airport. The Temple is
situated on Karur to Paramathi Velur Route.
Location
Location