Bala Subramanya Swamy Temple, Vellimalai – The Temple
The
temple of Lord Muruga at Vellimalai, on the 200 feet hill, comprises of about
30 acres area. The top surface has an area of one acre where the temple stands
and 106 steps have been recently constructed from the lower plain. The
presiding deity here is Balasubramanya enshrined as a monolithic image facing
east in the sanctum of the Vellimalai temple which is accessed through a flight
of steps. The temple is a small one, the image of Balasubramanya is said to
face the Shiva temple (Sthanumalayan) at Suchindram. On top of the hill are the
Nandippadam and the Murugappadam believed to be imprints of the feet of Nandi
and Murugan here.
From the
top of the hill the major part of the green Kanya Kumari District can be
viewed, which will be a mind-blowing experience for nature lovers. This temple
is coming under the Tamilnadu Hindu charitable trust. The tower of Gopuram over
the Garbhagraham is about 30 feet height. The sculptures and other designs on the
tower were made by the temple artisans of different places in Tamil Nadu. These
sculptures were cherished similar to the images found in the six abodes of
Muruga.
Idols of
Vinayaka, Muruga and Ayyappa are fixed on the entrance Gopuram. The entrance
Tower rests on two pillars. One can see on the left pillar an image of a lady
carrying a lamp and other puja materials. In the right pillar, a sculpture of a
maiden carrying abisheka is carved. These exquisite carvings were designed
under the supervision of Mr. Mahadevan, son of Subbiah Pillai who hailed from
Eraniel. There are 99 steps from the entrance tower at the foot of the hill
lead to a plain surface on the eastern side. Then there are seven steps leading
to main Mandapam of the temple.
There
are two exit doors, one in the north and another on the southern side of the
point portion of the Mandapam hall. The devotees and musicians would sit near
the south exit door and sing bhakthi and carnatic songs during Mandala Puja
times. For the convenience of the devotees to have the ‘darshan’ of the idol,
two parallel iron rods are fixed in the middle of the hall or mandapam, the
right side for males and the left for females. The idol of Muruga is installed
with his peacock Vahana.
The main
deity is so sculptured to represent the adolescent stage of Lord Muruga with
smile and peaceful look on his eyes. The charming look of the deity would make
the onlookers to forget this materialistic world and try to dissolve in the
heavenly bliss of the Almighty Lord Muruga, stands in the Garba Graha to bless
the devotees. It is believed that the enchanting look of this deity has no
parallel in any of the deities of Muruga elsewhere in this district.
On the
south-western side, there is a banyan tree. It is the Sthala Vriksham or the
holy tree of the place. At the corner of the temple, the Sannidhi of Siddhi
Vinayakar is established. Adjoining this structure, Sastha Sannidhi is
maintained. On the northern side of the temple, Siva Temple is erected, the
idol facing the west. The Navagraha Temple is situated at the Eesana of the
temple plot. The madapalli or temple kitchen is arranged on the southern side
of the Mahamandapam. There are four lean steps in front of the eastern entrance
door of the temple.
There is
another door on the southern side of the surrounding wall of the main temple.
The Devasom Office building is situated on the southern side of the surrounding
wall of the main temple, facing east. The steps (99) leading to the front door
of the temple have two restring Mandapams. These Mandapams are constructed on
7.11.2003 by Mr. Kamaraj Chellappan.
Before
the reorganization of the States in 1956, Kanyakumari region was under the rule
of Maharajah of Travancore. This temple was under the jurisdiction of Kochi
Devastanam which had made some renovation work in the temple first. After the
integration with Tamil Nadu in 1956, this temple came under the control of
Tamil Nadu Temple Endowment Department. The temple is under the category of
non-integrated temples of the Temple Endowment Department. With the permission
of the Endowment Department, the Temple Development Committee looks after the
administration of this temple.
The
department appoints the Senior and Assistant Priests of this shrine. The
garland maker and the watchman are appointed by the Department. The Senior
Priest or Pujari does the rituals and various pujas in the morning and evening,
while the junior performs the pujas in the noon time. The last Jeernotharana Ashta
Bandana Kumbabishekam was performed on 2.7.2001. The “Sri Vivekananda
Ashram” is located nearby of this temple. Swami Ambikananda, who is a direct
disciple of holy mother Sarada Devi, started this Ashram. This ashram is the
branch of “Sri Ramakrishna Mutt” Charity. “Thiru Vilaku Puja” (Lighting
worship) and religious classes are the services associated by this ashram.
