Kalayar Koil ( Arulmugi Swarnakaleeshwarar )

 

Many times, the God will make us to visit to the temple (though it's not in our itinerary) I had that oppourtunity to visit this giagantic temple at Kalayar Koil.  Its not a planned visit and i never know about this temple. One of my friend Mr. Hanife from Madurai travelling to his sisters house at Thamaraki a village near Devakottail. Fortunately i was also with him. While travelling he told so many interesting things about Karaikudi, Devekottai, etc.. during the discussion, he told about Kalayar temple and while retrun from his sister house, he took me to this temple. Ah...... After seeing the front Gopuram... astonished ... huge gopuram... tall, gigantic temple gopuram, is visible even as we enter the small hamlet.

The Swarna Kaleeswarar temple was built by Muthu Vaduga Thevar who died in the patriotic war against the British at this very place, Kalaiyar Kovil. His generals were the famous Maruthu Brothers who also died then. The temple lives on in their memory. A huge sprawling campus it epitomizes, everything that South Indian Temples stand for i. e. Wisdom, Strength and Beauty. The Wisdom of the Kings who built them, The strength of the structures themselves which have stood the test of time and lastly the beauty of the carvings and intricate detail that has been brought out in the wall frescoes and pillar decorations.

The Theppa Kulam at Kalaiyarkovil is huge and full of water!

One only wishes that these symbols of our ancient glory were preserved well instead of being allowed to become dust through sheer neglect and insensitivity!
En route to Kalaiyar Kovil is Nattarasankottai where the author of the Tamil version of Ramayan, Kambar was laid to rest. The Kannathal temple is also at Nattarasankottai.