Thirumalai Mahadevar Temple, Munchirai, Kanyakumari
Thirumalai
Mahadevar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Munchirai
in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. This temple is part of the famous Shivalaya Ottam. This
shrine is the starting point of the holy Shivalaya Ottam, a run through twelve
Shiva temples undertaken on Shivarathri. The stone carvings available in the
temple dates back to the eleventh century AD, during the reign of Rajendra
Chola I. The deity of the shrine is called Munchirai Thirumalai Thevar and
Soolapani.
Legends
Temple standing here in all Yugas:
As per
Hindu Mythology, this temple stands through all the four Yugas. In Kirudayugam
it was known as Sreesylam, in Threthayugam Swamy Sylam, in Dhwaparayuga
Bavyasylam and in Kaliyuga Sivasylam. The temple is believed to have found
mention in Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Uthachi, Mother of Thirumalai Nayak prayed to Lord Shiva
for Off Spring:
Uthachi,
the mother of Thirumalai Nayak had no off-spring and as such she undertook a
penance at a place surrounded by a fort near Thirumalai. As a result she
brought forth a male child. The new born was named after the deity of Thirumalai.
The fort is known as Uthatchikkottai and can be seen very near to the
Thirumalai Temple. Later Thirumalai Nayak presented golden Angi and crown of
182 tolas each to the deity when he visited the temple.
Sage Vyakarapadhar worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Sage
Vyakarapadhar visited this place and worshipped Lord Shiva here.
The
Temple
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Temple
Opening Time
The
Temple remains open from 5.00 AM to 11.00 AM and 5.00 PM to 8.00 PM.
Poojas
& Festivals
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Prayers
The
priests perform daily rituals like Palliunartal, Abhishekam, archana, neivedhyam
etc. Abhishekam or bathing is done with milk, curd, ghee, honey and the juice
of tender coconuts.
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 11 Kms from Vilavancode, 8 Kms from Marthandam, 7
Kms from Kuzhithurai, 15 Kms from Thiruvattaru, 10 Kms from Nattalam, 21 Kms
from Thuckalay, 19 Kms from Colachel, 35 Kms from Nagercoil, 56 Kms from Kanyakumari,
22 Kms from Eraniel and 46 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station
is located at Kuzhithurai (7 Kms) and Nearest Airport is located at Thiruvananthapuram
(46 Kms).