Kalamega Perumal Temple, Thirumohoor – History
The
temple is more than 2000 years old and has been referred to in akananuru,
Padhitrupathu, Maduraikkanchi and also in one of the five great epics of Tamil
literature, Silapathikaram. Inscriptions revels that a king called Pazhayan built
a fort and ruled the region. Sangam
literature details about this place
being prosperous during the time. The documentation from Ptolemy (c. AD 100 – c. 170) also refers to this place. Inscription from the
temple - South Outer wall's inside - Archaeological report on Epigraphy - 330
of 1918 - and Tamil Nadu State Archaeology's Madurai District Inscriptions -
Vol. I - page no. 229 - Sl. no. 141 of 2003 - identifies the builder of the
temple as Kaala Megam alias Kangeyan during the reign of Sadaiya Varman Sundara
Pandiyan (Later Pandiya king) in his regnal year 7 + 1 (i.e. after the 7th year
was over and the eighth year was in progress) which is identified as AD 1259.
This
inscription besides identifying the above speaks of an endowment of ponds and
adjoining areas duly specifying the boundaries of the land. The current
structure is believed to have been built by the Madurai
Nayaks. During the later part, there were
additions made by the Marudu
brothers, whose images are also housed in
the temple. Thirumohur was an impregnable fort during the period of British.
During the Carnatic Wars, there was an attempt made by a Muslim general, but it
was repulsed by the local devotees. The inscriptions from the period of Nayaks
have been recorded by the Archaeological survey.