Pugazhimalai Bala Subramanya Swamy Temple, Velayuthampalayam, Karur

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