Subramanya Swamy Temple, Vallimalai – The Temple
Vallimalai Subramanya Swamy Temple is a rock cut hill temple, which is situated on the slopes of Javadhu Hills, on the banks of River Palar. Devotees can reach the temple by climbing a flight of 309 steps. The steps were built by Kirupananda Variyar. The steps are steep and pathway infested with friendly monkeys which are very bold and used to humans so cover all edibles properly. There are mandapams all through the way till hill top for the devotees to take rest. There are no shops enroute so please buy all pooja articles below itself and please stock water. The temple has provided water in the resting Mandapams, but quality is a concern.
The temple is over 1000 years old and has a relation with the Melpadi Shiva Temple. The entire hillock is an ASI Monument. Presiding Deity is called as Subramanya Swamy and is facing east. The garba griha of the temple is actually a cave formed between the two boulders seen above and the gopuram is built on the sanctum housing Murugan with valli and Deivanai. As you enter the temple on the left you see the sanctum for Valli she has a rope in the right hand and a stone for scattering birds in her right palm.
A short flight of stairs on the left leads us to the main sanctum where there are the idols of Subramanya, Valli and Deivanai in the Kalyana Kolam. There are also many sub deities and statues of Saint Arunagirinathar who composed the Thirupugazh and also a tunnel which supposedly leads up to Thiruthani and the Thiruthani temple sanctum also has the other end identified. The priest said he had travelled up to a short distance in this before he turned back due to snakes. The tunnel is now barred with a narrow opening and the whole floor re built and snakes are not a problem now.
As Valli did penance here to Vishnu, devotees are blessed with a Sadari with Vishnu pada as in a Vishnu temple. There is a short pathway around to go around the temple for doing Pradakshinam with a stunning view. While generally Lord graces from under a Vimana – tower above the sanctum sanctorum-here the Gopuram is above the sanctum. Lord Vinayaka is in front of the flag post-Kodi Maram. Vinayaka of the temple is revered as Lord Varasiddhi Vinayaka. Nambirajan-father of Valli and the nine warriors (Nava Veeras) of Muruga are in the front mandapam.
Mother is called as Valliammai and is facing east. Her shrine is located both at the base of the hill as well as hill top. Another shrine for Lord Murugan (Subramanya Swamy) can be found in the foot hills. The place from where Valli drove the birds to save the crops, the spring where she bathed, the mandapam where she ground the turmeric for bathing and the place where Muruga appeared to have water for his thirst (Kumari Theertham) are a little far away in a jungle like place.
Lord Vinayaka who threatened Valli graces here in the form of a hill, called Elephant Hill. As these are interior places in a jungle, those who wish to see them should go with necessary protection. Theertham of this Temple is Saravana Poigai and this large tank is situated in foot hill. There is another Theertham in the hill path called Kumari Theertham near the temple. Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) is Vengai Maram.
Thirupugazh Ashram is located at the uphill at about 3 kms of unpaved paths from the Murugan Temple. Thirupugazh swamigal, a famous saint who lived here for many years and attained siddhi. The place where valli as an unmarried girl meditated on Vishnu to marry Murugan can be seen on this path. There is another shrine of Valli in Ashram. She is called as Pongi (bubbling like a water body) another name of Valli. This shrine had been consecrated by Sri Sachidananda swamigal.
The Adhishtanam of the swamiji is situated inside a cave and is located near the Ashram. There is a natural rock formation like an elephant and Lord Ganesa has helped in the Valli Tirumanam. Lord Ganesa is in the form of a natural rock formation the Ganesa Giri and protects all the bhaktas. Little further up from the ashram, you can reach a place where Valli used to live and extract oil from the seeds and also a serene Shiva temple on top of the hillock housing a Shiva lingam called Thirumal Gireeswara.
On the west of the Ashramam, there is a spring which is called Suriyan Kana Sunai, meaning the pond that does not see the sun, i.e. the sun's rays never touch it. The story goes that Lord Murugan came as an old man and asked Valli to give honey and Thinnai maha (millet flour) to eat. On eating the same he had hiccups and asked for water from a pond which does not get either sun rays or moon rays. The water is perennial and is considered as Ganges water. There are references about this spring on palmyra leaf sources. Young women sprinkle this water on their head and pray to Valli for a good husband.
Valli Tavapeetham is the platform where Valli did penance. Near the Muruga temple Kirupananda Variyar has built this Tavapeetham. You have the Arupadai Murugan Sannidhi in this Tavapeetham. Variyar Swamigal used to say that every person born in this world should at least visit Valli Malai at least once and have a darshan of Lord Murugan. He used to repeat this in almost all his lectures.
There is another way to climb down and half way through that, there are caves, where Jain saints stayed and Jain Sculpture are present in the rocks which are also being maintained by ASI. Vallimalai had been one of the important Jaina centers during the early medieval period. According to Kannada inscriptions, the natural cavern was converted into Jaina adobe by prince Rajamalla of Western Ganga dynasty in the 10th century.
