30th June 2019.
It was planned to attend a marriage on 30th June 2019 at Thoothukudi where I worked for more than quarter century. Utilizing the opportunity decided to visit Kalugumalai. Even-though I had been to Kulugumalai when I was in Thoothukudi, this time want to visit on heritage point of view. At Kalugumalai I was fortunate to Join with the Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation's Heritage walk, at Kalugumalai organized by Mr Rajaguru.
From the inscriptions the Big Village Kalugumalai was called as Peruneccuram and the hill was called as Araimalai. Araimalai was in Neccuranadu in the sub division of Mudikonda Cholavalanadu of Rajaraja Pandi Nadu. Kalugumalai has the Vettuvan Koil, Jain monuments and Sri Kalugasalamoorthy temple Heritage sites. The details of Vettuvan Koil is being written in this post and the rest will be in the subsequent posts.
As per the inscriptions the Vettuvan Koil was excavated in 8th Century during Pandyan Maran Chadaiyan Varaguna-I. The inscription also mentions the Pandya Kings Parantaka Nedunchezian and Parantaka Veera Narayanan. The Vettuvan Koil is an unfinished one, yet it’s beauty is un comparable with any other Temples. Unlike the stone temples this Vettuvan Koil was excavated on the east side the Kalugumalai to a depth of 7.5 Meters from top to bottom.
The Koil consists of sanctum Sanctorum and an arthamandapa. A recent period Installed Vinayagar is in the sanctum Sanctorum. Out side the sanctums wall with adhistana is not completed. The Koil starts with prastharam. The prastharam is of kabotha style with Karnakood with niches. The Vimana is of two tiers. The second tier starts with yazhivari. Nandhi / Rishaba are in the 2nd tier on all the 4 corners. The Kabotha on both tiers are with Kodikarukku and maiya karukku. In front of Karnakoodu Various deities are carved. They includes Dhakshinamurthy playing Mridangam ( an unique feature of this Koil / Temple), Brahma, Vishnu, Narasimhar, Uma Maheswara, Apsaras, Devas, etc.
The Bhootha ganas are just extraordinary sculptures. One is not the same as the other in style, reactions and face expressions. They were some playing musical instruments, some playing with snakes, some playing with each other by pulling their head, ears, some wearing accessories, wearing beard, some are eating, some are laughing, some are crying with big mustache. Bhoothaganas includes ladies also.
The Sikaram is of 8 face carved with karukku and Mahanasi. The Top of the Sikaram consists of Padmam and Kannadhi chattam. The stupi is missing.
The Temple / Koil architecture is little different from the Pallava architecture. By seeing the sculptures of this Temple, it may conclude that this may not be possible by an ordinary sculptor and he might have possessed an extraordinary talent. There are two legends associated to this temple name as vettuvan Koil. The Vettuvan Koil is under the care of Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department.
LEGEND: A sculptor father and son went a temple festival and son got missed there in the crowd. The lone father came back and started doing the Jain sculptures. After some years, the Son, who possessed his father’s qualities started this temple. On seeing this the people told to the father about the talent of the young sculptor. The father got angry and throw his chisel, which cuts the young Sculptor and died. On seeing this the young sculptor, the Old Sculptor recognizes his son wept. Hence this Koil was called as Vettuvan Koil.
HOW TO REACH:
The place Kalugumalai is on the Kovilpatti to Sankarankovil bus route. All the buses will stop at Kalugasalamoorthy Temple Bus stop from there the Vettuvan Koil is about a KM.
Kalugumalai is about 22 KM from Kovilpatti, 105 KM from Thoothukudi and 70 KM from Tirunelveli.
Nearest railway station is Kovilpatti.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Kodi karukku
Uma Maheswara
Miruthanka Dhakshinamurthy
Narasimha
Brahma
Vishnu
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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