Kallazhagar Temple, Alagarkoil, Madurai – The Temple
Kallazhagar
temple is situated in a picturesque locale. The hill nearby resembles the shape
of a cow, and hence the name Vrishabhadri. The temple is surrounded by two
forts, the outer one being Azhagapuri and the inner one Hiranyapuri. The
southern gateway to the fort, the Hiranya kottai Vaasal is the main entrance
here. The Thirumalai Nayakar mandapam is a grand structure while the Anna
Vahana Mandapam has sculptures describing scenes from the Puranas. The Kalyana
mandapam has life sized images of Narasimhar, Krishna, Garuda, Manmathan,
Rathi, Trivikrama and Lakshmi Varaha. The flagstaff here is gold plated.
The Aryan mandapam houses Yalis with non-removable stone balls in their mouths
as in Trivandrum.
Kallazhagar
temple covers an area of about 2 acres (0.81 hectares) and has a
five-tiered gopuram (gateway tower). The temple in enclosed in a
rectangular enclosure with huge granite walls. The central shrine houses the
image of the presiding deity, Uragamellayan Perumal in reclining
posture on a snake bed
similar to that of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy
temple. The images of Sridevi
and Bhudevi are also housed in the sanctum. There two life
size images of Narasimha, the avatar of Vishnu. One of them is shown holding the demon
Hiranya and other slaying him.
The
temple houses some rare Vijayanagara sculptures similar to the ones present
in Soundararajaperumal Temple,
Thadikombu, Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathi
temple, Srivilliputhur Divya Desam and Jalakandeswarar Temple,
Vellore. The architecture of the
Azhakar temple corresponds to any of those of south Indian temples, with large
gopurams and pillared mandapams. The gopuram of the Karuppu swamy shrine depicts the
passionate side of human relationship in the form of beautiful statues.
Apart
from these, it also depicts the evolution of cultural aspects of the local
society including a depiction of an Englishman in British police uniforms.
There is another half built gopuram on the southern side of the temple which
has been used as an artistic backdrop in a few Tamil movie songs. The temple
contains a shrine for Kaaval Deivam (protecting god) Karuppu Swamy,
depicting the intense human relationship in the form of beautiful statues. The
Main Gopuram (gateway tower) of which contains the shrine of protecting god
Karuppu Swamy remains closed. Only once in a year the door is opened for the
worship of Sudarshana Chakra, the divine wheel of Lord Vishnu.
There
are various legends associated with this. Only Once in a year, the door is
opened and Sudarshana Chakra (Or Chakrathaazhwar as the temple devotees mention),
the famous Vishnu's wheel, passes over through the open door. Not even the
Lord's Utsava Murti (deity for processions and festivals) goes through
this passage. This is a centuries-old practice. The style of the buildings
denotes 3rd or early 4th Century construction.
The
grand main tower at the entrance is believed to have been built by the Pandya
Kings. According to the historical scriptures, Malayadwaja Pandyan, son of
Kulasekhara Pandyan, was the earliest known monarch to patronize the temple. Sundara
Pandyan beautified the 'vimana' of the shrine with gold plates. After the
Pandyas rule, the Nayakas patronized the deity. It is said that Lord
Yamadharmaraja, daily comes to this sthalam in the night to worship the
Perumal. The Perumal is also named as "Parama Swamy”.
Some
research scholars opine that this was earlier a Jain temple, (the Somaskanda Vimanam for instance)
but was later converted into a Vishnu temple. During archaeological excavations,
many Jain caves and inscriptions were found in the same hill around this
temple. However, the famous Vaishnava works in Tamil; belonging to the early 4th to 6th
Centuries points to this temple as a Vishnu temple.
The
famous Silappadikaram that belongs to the 3rd Century AD, points out to
this temple as a Vishnu temple. During 2013, while cleaning the area in front
of Karupanna Samy shrine, a big Theppakulam was discovered, filled with sand
and covered with dense undergrowth.
Since
the presiding deity is of the temple is Alagar (the beautiful), the
temple is called Alagar Kovil. This is an
important Vishnu temple, about 18 km northeast of Madurai,
at Alagar Hill. This is one of the most ancient temples
in India and round the temple are ruins of
an ancient fortified town. The recently renovated gopurams of this
temple look resplendent. The Mahabharata says that this temple was visited by
both Yudhishthira and Arjuna. It is said that Garudalwar, the chief
disciple of Ramanuja, regained his eyesight by worshipping the deity here.
Don’t miss the 2,000 years old Sudarsana-chakra in this temple.
The
Vimanam (the tower above the sanctum sanctorum) of Sri Kallazhagar Perumal
Temple is called as ‘Somasundara Vimaanam’. Somasundarar is the form
which is taken by Lord Shiva to marry Meenakshi Amman. As the remembrance
of it, the Vimaanam is said to be the “Somasundara Vimaanam”. The
Pushkarani (Temple tank) of Sri Kallazhagar Perumal Temple is called Noopurangangai and
the holy tree is called Jyothi tree, Sandalwood tree.
The main
deity of this temple is called Alagar, Maliruncholai Nambi and the Utsavar (processional
idol) is called Alagar or Sundararajan. The stunning idol is made of gold and
silver and is an exquisite example of South's craftsmanship. Both the Moolavar
and Utsavar are found along with the Panja Ayudham (5 weapons) namely the
Sangu, Chakkaram, Sword, bow and Gadha, in their hands. There is a shrine for
Kalyana Sundaravalli, the divine consort of Alagar, in the southern enclosure.
There is another shrine in the north dedicated to Andal, Sundaravalli Nachiyar
also known as Sridevi. Other important shrines are of Sudarshanar and Yoga
Narasimhar.
Vairavar,
who is the "Shethra Balagar" of this sthalam (God of the temple) is
said to be the powerful. There is another shrine nearby, dedicated to village
God Karupannaswamy, the God of the local tribals, Kallars. There are finely
carved eighteen steps, which are worshipped by the devotees. It is nowadays
closed and you should enter via the North gopuram. The place is also known for
its holy springs called Silambaru and Noopura Gangai. According to local
folklore, these springs originated from the anklets of Maha Vishnu during his
incarnation as Trivikrama.
The
Moolavar here is Azhagar, in a standing posture facing east. Azhagar is also
known as Sundararajar, Parama Swamy and Rishabadrinathar. Azhagar is considered
to be the tutelary deity of the Kallar tribe of this region; hence the name
Kallazhagar. Thaayaar here is Sundaravalli. Songs of the Tamil Siddhar (Bhoga
Siddhar) describe the Azhagar malai hill and refer to the 18 step Karupannaswamy.
Inscriptions from the period of Rajaraja Chola are seen here as well as those
from the 16th century Vijayanagar period, the Hoysala and the Nayak periods.
Mandapams (Halls):
·
Car
mandapam
·
Elephant
vehicle mandapam
·
Sixteen
pillared mandapam (Aandal mandapam)
·
Kondappa
Naicker mandapam
·
Thirukalyana
mandapam
·
Kodaithirunal
mandapam
·
Ponveintha
Perumal mandapam (Constructed by Sundara Pandyan)
·
Aryan
mandapam (Padiyetra mandapam)
·
Maha
mandapam (Alangara mandapam)
·
Vasantha
mandapam
·
Madhavi
mandapam (Noopura Gangai – Rakkaayee Amman Temple)
Moolavar:
The
Moolvar found in this Sthalam is Sri Azhagar. Other names of this perumal are
Kallazhagar, Maalangkaarar and Maalirunsolai Nambi. The perumal gave his Prathyaksham
for Malayathuaja Pandiyan and Dharmadeva. Moolavar is in Nindra Thirukkolam
facing his thirumugham in East direction.
Thaayar:
The
Thaayar is Alarmelmangai Thayar / Sundaravalli. She is also called as "Sridevi".
She has her own separate Sannadhi in this temple.
Specials:
The Speciality
of this sthalam is Vibhuti (Tiruneeru) Prasadam which is generally not given in
Vaishnava temples but given only in Saivites temples.
Vimanam:
Somasundara
Vimaanam. Somasundara is the form which is taken by Lord Shiva to marry
Meenakshi. As the remembrance of it, the Vimaanam is said to be the
"Somasundara Vimaanam".
Sthala Viruksham (Tree):
Sandhana
Maram (Sandal wood tree).
