Kalipatti Murugan Temple, Mallasamudram, Tiruchengode,
Namakkal
Kalipatti Murugan
temple, also known as the Sundhara Kandhaswamy Kovil, located in
Kalipatti village, Mallasamudram, near Tiruchengode in Namakkal District. It is
located at about 25 kms North-East of Tiruchengode and 25 kms South West of
Salem. It is one of the seven richest temples in the district.
The
temple is backed by significant history and is considered as sacred as Arupadai
Veedu Murugan shrines. Here, instead of the Vibhuti (holy ash),
devotees are given black ash made of sugarcane. This is supposed to have
medicinal properties and supposedly been used for snake bites even,
historically.
The
temple was founded in the late eighteenth century by Pazhani Kavundar and later
(around 1820) was built up by Katteri Lakshmana Kavundar. The hut in which the
founder worshipped his kaadi is now the Idumban shrine, a part of the expanded
temple complex. It includes the Raja Gopuram and a peacock shrine all enclosed
within a compound wall.
The Raja
Gopuram was modernized in 1978. There are two temple chariots, Chithra Thaer
and Vinayaka Thaer, which are pulled around the temple during
festival. The annual Thaipoosam festival in January is very popular and is
attended by thousands of pilgrims from the surrounding villages that bear Kaavadi
in fulfillment of vows.
The
cattle fair held during the festival is one of the biggest in the Kongu
country. More than 50,000 heads of cattle are sold and bought in this fair.
Entire families from various parts of the district will travel in bullock carts
to attend the fair. On these days, large offerings of agricultural produce,
money, and jewels are made to the temple.
There are chatrams of pilgrims. The Arya-Vaisya Chathiram is known as Rasipuram Pattabhi Chettiyar Chathiram and conducts special worships at the temple during February. Murugan temple at Kalipatti is located at about 25 kms from Tiruchengode to Salem route.
