Balasubramanya Swamy Temple, Kozhundhu Malai,
Thirunelveli
Balasubramanya Swamy Temple is dedicated to Hindu
God Murugan located at Kozhundhu Malai in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. The temple is on a hill to the South of Cheranmahadevi
in the Panagudi road.
Legends
Murugan darshan to a devotee in Balaka form:
Lord
Tiruchendur Muruga appeared in the dream of a devotee then living in this place
and directed him to perform his penance in Kozhundhu Mamalai. The devotee,
taking the command of Lord reached this place, worshipped Lord Muruga for a
long time and had his darshan as a Balaka – infant. A temple came into
being in this place later.
When
Indrajit applied the Nagasthira – a bow targeting the enemies with snake
mantras – all the monkey army including Lakshmana fell swooned. Hanuman
immediately set out to bring the herbals from the mount in North. As he
could not find the herbal plants, to avoid delay, he simply took off the very
Sanjeevi Mount from its base and flew to Lanka. Some parts of the mount
fell in many places and this is one of such hills with rich herbal properties.
Hence, the name of the place is Kozhundhu – green herbal leaves – Mamalai –
hill, Kozhundhu Mamalai.
The
Temple
Lord
Muruga grants darshan to devotees from the sanctum sanctorum in standing
posture. He is holding weapons in the upper hands and the lower two are
blessing the devotees with his Vel – the leaf shaped spear – in the
right. As Lord is in his infant form, He is praised as Bala
Subramanya. As the temple is near the hill (Malai in Tamil), people call
this Malai Koil. Koil means temple. Lord Vinayaka graces from his own
separate shrine.
There is
a shrine for Idumban the custodian deity in the southeast of the temple. Lord
Shiva with Mother Parvathi and Mother Gangai Amman bless the devotees from
their shrines southeast of Idumban shrine. There is a small well in the
northeast corner of the temple. During the monsoon, water overflows in the well
tasting very deliciously as green coconut. Hence, it is called Ilaneer Kinaru –
green coconut well.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Poojas
Special abishekams
and pujas are dedicated to Lord Balasubramanya on the last Friday of each Tamil
month. On these days the temple is open throughout the day. Lord will
be in his alluring best. Devotees undertake special fasting on this day –
Shukrawar. They continue this worship on every last Friday of the month
for wedding, child and job boons.
Festivals
Aipasi
Skanda Sashti in October-November; Tirukarthikai in November-December; Panguni
Uthiram in March-April and Vaikasi Visakam in May-June are the festivals
celebrated in the temple.
Prayers
Devotees
pray here on the last Friday of each Tamil month continuously for six months
for wedding, child and job boons. Devotees do the cheek boring on both sides
called Alagu Kuthal, carry Kavadis and perform abishek to Lord Muruga.
Contact
Sri Balasubramanya
Temple,
Kozhundhu
Mamalai,
Cheranmahadevi,
Thirunelveli District
Mobile: +91 93600 98318
Connectivity
Cheranmahadevi
is 19 kms far from Thirunelveli. Kozhundhu Mamalai is 2 kms from Cheran
Mahadevi on the Kalakkad road. Bus facility is available. Nearest Railway
Station is located at Thirunelveli. Nearest Airport is located at Thoothukudi
and Thiruvananthapuram.