Balasubramaniyaswamy Temple

Last updated

Balasubramaniyaswamy Temple
Balasubramania swamy temple vennamalai.JPG
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
District Karur
Deity Balasubramaniyaswamy (Murugan)
Location
Location Vennaimalai
State Tamil Nadu
Country India
India Tamil Nadu location map.svg
Om symbol.svg
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates 10°59′30″N78°04′24″E / 10.99167°N 78.07333°E / 10.99167; 78.07333
Architecture
Type Dravidian architecture

Balasubramaniyaswamy temple (also called Vennaimalai Murugan temple) in Vennaimalai, a village in the outskirts of Karur in Karur district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is located in the Karur - Pugalur Road. The legend of the temple is associated with Kamadhenu taking up the duties of Hindu god of creation Brahma and creating the hill of butter named Vennaimalai.

Contents

The temple has an elevated structure, a three-tiered gateway tower, the gopuram, leading to the sanctum. The temple is open from 6:30 am – 12:00 pm and 5 - 8:30 pm. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which Panguni Uthiram festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March - April), Thai Poosam during Thai (January - February) and Karthikai during November - December being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Legend

As per Hindu legend, Brahma, the Hindu god of creation was very proud about his profession and Shiva wanted to teach him a lesson. Brahma was overloaded at one point and could not continue his profession. He realised his mistake and prayed to Shiva seeking relief. Shiva directed him to Vanjimalai to perform penance praying to Muruga. Kamadenu, the divine cow, took up the role of Brahma to create beings in earth. It is believed that the cow created a hill made of butter (called vennai in Tamil and the sacred tank with its milk. A sage named Bhagvan was doing penance on the hill. He suddenly got the view of Muruga and informed the ruling king of Karur. The king immediately built a temple for Muruga, placed a Shamugha yantra and installed the images of Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi. [1]

Architecture

The temple is located in Vennaimalai, in the outskirts of Karur in Karur district in Tamil Nadu on the road from Karur to Vennaimalai. [2] The temple has an elevated structure climbed through a flight of steps. There is a three-tiered raja gopuram , the gateway tower leading to the sanctum. At the bottom of the hill there is a tall granite pillar which is axial to the sanctum. The sanctum houses the image of Balasubramaniyaswamy. In the north west shrine facing the sanctum, the images of Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi, the parents of Balasubramaniyaswamy are housed. There is a shrine of Vinayaga facing east in the foothills. The temple tank, Thenu theertham is located outside the temple [3] In modern times, the Karur district administration has identified the temple as one of the prominent tourist attractions in the district. [4]

Festival and religious practices

The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Kalasandhi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikala poojai at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., and Arthajama Pooja at 8:15 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for the presiding deities. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple is open from 6:00 am – 12:00 pm and 5 - 8:30 pm on all days except during festive occasions when it has extended timings. The major festivals of the temple include the Panguni Uthiram festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (March - April), Thai Poosam during Thai (January - February) and Karthikai during November - December. [1] The temple also offers Annadanam scheme from 2006, where lunch is served to the devotees everyday with the arrangements made by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vayalur Murugan Temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

The Vayalur Murugan Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Muruga, son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, located in the village of Kumaravayalur in Tiruchirapalli district, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is believed to have been initiated during the period of Medieval Cholas during the 9th century. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Though the presiding deity is Shiva, the temple is known for the Murugan shrine. The temple is associated with Hindu savant, Kirupanandha Variyar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram</span> Hindu temple of the god Murugan in Thiruparankundram, India

Arulmigu Murugan Temple, Thiruparankundram is a Tamil temple dedicated to the god Murugan at Thiruparankundram, Tamilnadu, India. It is regarded as one of the "six Abodes of Murugan". The temple is built in rock-cut architecture and believed to have been built by the Pandyas during the 6th century. According to the legend. it is where Murugan slayed the demon Surapadman and married Devasena also known as Deivayanai, the daughter of the king of heavens, Indra. Also, Murugan is said to have worshipped his father Shiva here as Parangirinathar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swaminatha Swamy Temple</span> Temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Swaminatha Swamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to god Murugan. It is located in Swamimalai, 5 km from Kumbakonam, on the banks of a tributary of river Kaveri in Thanjavur District, 250 km from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is fourth abode of Murugan among six (Arupadaiveedugal). The shrine of the presiding deity, Swaminathaswamy is located atop a 60 ft (18 m) hillock and the shrine of his mother Meenakshi (Parvathi) and father Shiva (Sundareswarar) is located downhill. The temple has three gopuram, three precincts and sixty steps and each one is named after the sixty Tamil years. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and three yearly festivals on its calendar. The annual Vaikasi Visagam festival is attended by thousands of devotees from far and near.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suryanar Kovil</span> Navagraha temple in Tamil Nadu

Suryanar Kovil is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Hindu Sun-God, located in Suryanar Kovil, a village near the South Indian town of Kumbakonam Thanjavur District in Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Suriyanar, the Sun and his consorts Ushadevi and Pratyusha Devi. The temple also has separate shrines for the other eight planetary deities. The temple is considered one of the nine Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu. The temple is one of the few historic temples dedicated to Sun god and is also the only temple in Tamil Nadu which has shrines for all the planetary deities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vilwaneswarar temple</span> Hindu temple in Thiruvaikavur, Tamil Nadu, India

Vilwaneswarar temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thiruvaikavur, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is located 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Kumbakonam, on the southern bank of Kollidam. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during the Cholas period in the 7th century. Shiva is worshipped as Vilwaneswarar and his consort Parvati as Valaikai Nayagi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiruppukkozhiyur</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Tiruppukkozhiyur is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Avinasi, a panchayat town in Tiruppur district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Shiva is worshipped as Avinasiappar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Karunambigai. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someswaran Temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Someswaran Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Someswaran, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Somasundari. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. Here, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar, and His consort Parvati is depicted as Visalakshi. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uthirakosamangai</span> Temple in India

Uthirakosamangai, also known as Mangalanatha Swamy temple, is a Shaiva temple situated near Ramanathapuram in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. The temple is much older and the structure as it exists today is believed to be built by the Pandya kings, Achutappa Nayak, Muthuveerappar and other kings of Ramanthapuram at various times. The temple has been glorified by the hymns of 9th-century saint Manickavasagar and 15th-century saint Arunagirinathar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pachaimalai Subramanya Swamy Temple</span> Temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Pachaimalai Arulmigu Subramanya Swamy Temple, also known as the Pachaimalai Balamurugan Temple, is one of the two major hill temples located in Gobichettipalayam, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is dedicated to the Lord Murugan. The temple is constructed in the Tamil style of architecture and is located on top of a small hillock in the outskirts of the town of Gobichettipalayam near Pudupalayam, Tamil Nadu. Here, Kartikeya is venerated as Balamurugan or Subramanya Swamy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kottaiyur Kodeeswarar Temple</span> Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Kottaiyur Kodeeswarar Temple(Tamil: :கொட்டையூர் கோடீஸ்வரர் கோயில்) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Kottaiyur, a village in the outskirts of Kumbakonam, in Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Koteeswarar and His consort Parvathi as Pandhadu Nayaki. Lord Koteeswarar is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical and greatest work, Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, the 275 temples revered in the canon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Sivakasi</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Sivakasi, a town in Virudhunagar district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built by Pandyan ruler Harikesari Parakkirama Pandian during the 16th century, with later additions from Madurai Nayaks. Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar and his consort Parvathi as Visalakshi. The temple was the scene of temple entry movement in 1899, followed by Sivakasi riots when 22 people were killed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalugasalamoorthy temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Kalugasalamoorthy Temple in Kalugumalai, a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been expanded during the 18th century with the images excavated from Kalugumalai. The core temple has a rock-cut architecture exemplary of early Pandyan Art. The other portions of Kalugumalai houses the 8th century Kalugumalai Jain Beds and Vettuvan Koil, an unfinished Shiva temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thiruporur Kandaswamy temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Thiruporur Kandaswamy temple in Thiruporur, a panchayat town in Chengalpattu district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been expanded during the 18th century with the images excavated from Thiruporur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kolanjiappar temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Kolanjiappar temple in Manavalanallur, a village on the outskirts of Virudhachalam in Cuddalore district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Constructed in the Dravidian architecture, the temple is located in the Virudhachalam - Manavalanallur Road. The legend of the temple is associated with Saivite saint Sundarar and the Vriddhagiriswarar temple ad Virudhachalam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narasimhaswamy Temple, Namakkal</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

The Narasimhaswamy temple in Namakkal, a town in Namakkal district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture and Rock-cut architecture, the temple is located in the Salem–Namakkal–Trichy Road. The legend of the temple is associated with Narasimha, an avatar of Hindu god Vishnu appearing for Lakshmi, his consort, and Hanuman. Based on the architectural features, historians believe that the temple was built during the 8th century by the Adiyamans also called Satyaputras as evident from the inscription mentioning the temple as 'Adiyendra Vishnu Gruham' or 'The house of Vishnu of the Adiyaman kings'. The temple does not find a mention in Nalayira Divya Prabhandams, and thus is not listed in Divya Desam group of 108 temples. But it is classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanthaswamy temple, Cheyyur</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Kanthaswamy Temple in Cheyyur, in Chengalpattu district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple was constructed during the Cholas during the 10th century. Murugan is worshipped as Kanthaswamy along with his consorts Valli and Deivasena. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shanmughanathar Temple, Kunnakudi</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Kunnakudi Shanmughanathar temple in Kundrakudi, a village in the outskirts of Karaikudi in Sivaganga district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Constructed in the Hindu style of architecture, the temple is located in the Tirupattur - Karaikudi Road, around 14 km (14,000 m) from Karaikudi. There are three caves located on the western side of the lower rock, that has rock-cut shrines from the Pandyan Empire from the 8th century. The caves have the earliest sculptural representation of Dvarapalas, the guardian deities, for any South Indian temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kripapureeswarar Temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Kripapureeswarar Temple in Thiruvennainallur, a panchayat town in Villupuram district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple is closely associated with Sundarar, the saivite saint of the 8th century, who started composing his Tirumurai starting with "Pitha Piraisudi" verse in this temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Tenkasi</span> Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Tenkasi, a city in Tenkasi district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Constructed in the Tamil style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built by Pandyan ruler Parakrama Pandyan during the 13th century, with later additions from Madurai Nayaks. Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar and his consort Parvathi as Ulagamman.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sri Balasubramaniyaswamy temple". Dinamalar. 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  2. India. Office of the Registrar General (1965). Census of India, 1961: Madras Volume 9, Issue 1 of Census of India, 1961, India. Office of the Registrar General. Manager of Publications.
  3. "Vennaimalai Murugan temple". Malaaimalar. 6 July 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  4. "Tourist places". Karur district administration, Government of Tamil Nadu. 2011. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  5. "Govt. extends annadhanam scheme to 18 more temples". The Hindu. 14 January 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2015.