Swarna Kaaleeswarar Temple, Kalaiyar Kovil, Sivaganga
Swarna
Kaaleeswarar Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva situated in Kalaiyar
Kovil of Sivaganga District, Tamilnadu, India which was ruled by the Maruthu
Pandiyar. There is a very
large Shiva temple. Kalaiyar Kovil is owned by the family of
the Raja of Sivaganga. It is run by their Devasthanam, and a trust of the Zamindar family of Devakottai. This temple enshrines Lord Swarnakaleswara as the
presiding deity accompanied by Someswara and Sundareswara with separate shrines
within the precincts.
Kalaiyar
Koyil (Also called as Thirukkanaper) is a highly revered Shivastalam in Pandya
Naadu. There are three shrines in this temple associated with the three
functions of creation, preservation and completion. This shrine is
regarded as the 10th of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya region of Tamilnadu. This
is one of the oldest temples of Lord Shiva known as Mukthi Sthalam, occupies 4
Acres of massive land with two majestic Rajagopurams built by Maruthu Pandya
brothers and Sundara Pandya of Pandya Dynasty.
Sambandhar,
Navukkarasar and Sundarar sang hymns on Kaleeswarar of this temple. All
the three deities are in different sanctums and Goddesses are also in separate
sanctums. Lord Kaleeswarar temple is in the middle, we see Lord Someswarar to
right side and to the left we see Lord Sundareswarar. Agasthyar, Ashtadhik Balakas,
Thirumal, Veerasena Pandiyan, Varaguna Pandiyan and Vikrama Pandiyan worshipped
Lord Siva of this place. Arunagirinathar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Murugan
of this temple.
This is
the 254th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 10th sthalam in Pandya
nadu. The temple Kalaiyar Kovil is in Sivaganga District. It is 16 km
(10 mi) east of Sivaganga, 35 km (22 mi) west of Devakottai on
the Devakottai - Manamadurai Road and 66 km (41 mi)
south-east of Madurai by Thondi Road.
Legends
Kali getting back her golden complexion:
The
legend has that Goddess Kali was afflicted with Brahmmahathi after beheading
the demon Chandasuran. In order to get rid of this curse, she
arrived on this sacred land, took holy dip in the Sivagangai Theertham and
prayed to Lord Shiva. Consequently, she was relieved from the sin of
Brahmmahathi and horrifying dark complexion. She regained her
original form and gorgeousness with golden complexion as Goddess Sri
Swarnavalli and married to Lord Kaleeswarar on this sacred land.
Sage Durvasa cursing Airavatham & Indra:
Another
legend has that Lord Indra’s celestial Vehicle Airavatham was cursed by Sage
Durvasa. Sage Durvasa offered a garland to Lord Indra, which was
used for the worship of Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi. Lord Indra
erroneously accepted the garland and placed it on
Airavatham. Airavatham shoved the garland on the floor and trampled
with its foot. Sage Durvasa was mounted with anger cursed Lord Indra
and Airavatham. In order to get rid of the curse Airavatham arrived
on this sacred land and created a pond – Gaja Pushkarani with its sharp teeth
plunged on the Earth. With this water Airavatham worshipped Lord Shiva and
got rid of the curse. Surprisingly, the water in this pond never dries up.
Lord Shiva appearing as Kaalai Maadu (Bull):
In
Sundarar’s dream, when was at Thiruchuzhi, Lord Shiva came in the form of
Kalai maadu with sendu in one hand and Chuzhi on the forehead and said he is in
Kaanapair. Since Iraivan came in the form of Kaalai maadu the place is called
as Kalaiyar Koil.
Etymology
Kalaiyar
Kovil derived its name from the Kaleeswarar temple of the place. Kalaiyar
is a corruption of the word Kaleeswaran. During the Sangam period, this place
was known as Kaanapair as is seen from the 21st verse in the Purananooru sung by Iyur moolakizhar, a poet of the Sangam
period. In the 9th Century A.D. Saint Sundara Moorthy nayanar described the
presiding deity in his devotional songs as Kaalai. Since then the deity
was known as Kalaiyar, with the Tamil suffix Yar added to it
denoting respect. The temple came to be known as Kalaiyar Kovil and
this was later adapted to the place also.
History
Sundaramoorthy
Nayanaar and Varaguna Pandyan are associated with this temple. Maruda Pandiyar
of the Sivagangai Samasthanam (Kingdom) has contributed immensely to the
maintenance of this temple. The British threatened to destroy this temple, in
order to force the Marudu Brothers (rulers) who were devoted to this temple to
surrender. The tombs of the brothers who were executed later on are seen
near the temple.
On 25
June 1772, the Company forces under Col. Joseph Smith and Cap. Bonjour marched
towards Kalaiyar Kovil. The second king of Sivaganga, Muthu Vaduga Natha Thevar (1750–1772) and Maruthu
brothers defended it. Rajah
Muthu Vaduganatha Thevar in anticipation of the English invasion made
preparation for defence. But Rajah Muthu Vaduganatha Thevar with the many of
his soldiers fell dead in the Kalaiyarkoil battle. The invading English forces
plundered Kalaiyarkoil and collected jewels worth 50,000 pagodas. Kalaiyarkoil
temple belongs to Sivagangai Devasthanam.
The
temple was kept locked and prayers stopped for some time. It was later re
opened and substantial repairs and development were done by Devakottai
Zamindar. In fact Shree AL.AR.RM.Arunachalam Chettiar, Zamindar of Devakottai
took up sanyasa from Koviloor and moved to the Vedantha madam at Kalaiyar Kovil. He was known as Shreelashree Zamindar
Arunachala Gnana Desiga Swamigal and his Samadhi is in the rear of the madam.
Shree
Zamindar Swamigal, Senior heir of Devakottai Zamindar Shri AL.AR.Ramasamy
Chettiar, Shri AL.AR.RM.Arunachalam Chettiar the then Zamindar of Devakottai in
succession had started Devakottai Zamindar Kattalai
Endowment after the demise of his father Devakottai Zamindar AL.AR Ramaswamy
Chettiar (now known as AL.AR.Trust) with a Registered agreement to Sivagangai
Devasthanam to conduct special daily, monthly poojas to God Sorna Kaleeswarar
and deity Sornavalli Amman. This is performed continuously by his successors. Now
Mr.AL.AR.K.VR Chinna Veerappan is the Senior Heir of AL.AR. Family is
performing the same.
Seat of kings:
Kalaiyarkoil was
the seat of the kings from very early days. King Vengai Marban ruled over this
area during Sangam period. It was the stronghold of rulers of Sivagangai. It
was also the seat of the freedom fighters like Muthu Vaduga Natha Thevar
and Maruthu brothers.
Temple Structure
A
lofty Rajagopuram (150 feet) and an imposing Theppakulam tank
(with a mandapam) named Aanai madu adorn this shrine. Airavatam the elephant of Indra is said to have created this tank. There are three
shrines in this temple associated with the three functions of creation,
preservation and completion.
The presiding deity lord Shiva is called as Kaaleeswarar, Someswarar, Sundareswarar and the Ambal his consort mother Parvathy is called as Swarnambikai, Soundara Nayagi, Meenakshi. Additional to that there are 3 separate shrines for both the male and female deities of famous Shiva temples in a mandapam outside the shrine.
The
first shrine is dedicated to Someswarar representing Sthoolalingam the 2nd
shrine is dedicated Kaleeswarar representing Saotchumalingam and the third
shrine is dedicated to Sundareswara representing Karanalingam.
There
are three Shiva Sannadhis with two Raja gopuram in single premises. The
sanctum Sanctorium is few feet below the ground level. The center Kaaleeswarar
is old and Paadal Petra swayambu lingam. From the tallest gopuram we can
see the Madurai temple Gopurams. There is a local kummi - கும்மி song
available for this Rajagopuram ("மதுரை கோபுரம் தெரியக் கட்டிய மருதுபாண்டியன்
வாராண்டி“).
Theerthams
Theertham
– Sivagangai Theertham, Gaja Theertham, Vishnu Theertham, Saraswathy Theertham,
Kali Theertham, Gouri Theertham, Rudra Theertham, Lakshmi Theertham, Sudarsana
Theertham. Gaja Theertham – Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva on this sacred land
after beheading the demon King Ravana. Lord Rama took holy dip in this pond and
worshipped Lord Shiva to get rid of Brahmmahathi. Sivagangai
Theertham – was originated at the will of Goddess Kali.
Temple
Opening Time
This
temple remains open from 5.30AM to 12.30PM in the morning and 4.00PM to 8.00PM
in the evenings.
Festivals
Kaaleeswarar's
festival is celebrated in the month of Thai where the car
festival is observed during
the Poosam. Someswarar's Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the Tamil
month of Vaikasi. The float festival also happens then. Aadi Pooram, is celebrated for Swarnavalli Amman.
Prayers
Worship
of Lord Kaleeswarar with his consort Goddess Swarna Valli Thayar provides abundance
of devoutness includes worship of Lord in 1000 Shivalayas, also eradicates sins
of the past and provide Salvation.
Connectivity
The
Kalaiyar Kovil temple is in Sivaganga District. It is 16 km (10 miles)
east of Sivaganga, 35 kms (22 miles) west of Devakottai on the Devakottai – Manamadurai Road and 66 km (41 miles)
south-east of Madurai by Thondi Road.
Buses are
available from Karaikudi, Sivagangai, Devakottai, and Madurai to this place. On
the train route get down at Naattarasan Kottai on the Chennai to Rameswaram and
Trichy to Manamadurai. Nearest Airport is located at Madurai, Trichy and
Thoothukudi.