Kalugasalamoorthy Temple (Kalugumalai Murugan temple),
Kalugumalai, Thoothukudi - History
The
scholars have assigned the period of this rock cut temple structure to eighth
century A.D. based on its architecture. The images of the presiding deity were
excavated from the Southwestern corner of Kalugumalai. The images were installed and the leading pillared
halls were constructed during the 18th century. The temple finds mention in
Kandapuranam, a work by Kachiyappar.
Kachiyappar
mentions that there are only three sacred temples of Murugan where he faces the
South and this is the only temple where he faces south and also in seated
posture. The temple was under the control of Ettaiyapuram Zamindar under 1954.
The Raja gifted the village to the temple and formed five streets around the
temple to enable the temple car to pass easily. He also allocated a middle
street for the temple priests.
During
the Panguni Uthiram festival procession, the elongated conflict between two
castes in the region, namely, Nadars and Maravars resulted in riots, popularly called Kalugumalai riots of 1895. A total of ten people were killed, many injured and
the temple car and other property in the region were destroyed. In modern
times, the temple is maintained & administered by the Hindu Religious and
Endowment Board of the Government of Tamilnadu.