Name : Arulmigu Subramanyaswamy Temple
Location :
Sivanmalai is located in the Tiruppur District, Tamilnadu. It is 5 kms away from Kangeyam town towards Tiruppur. This Sivanmalai is located in 25 Kms away from Tiruppur and 76 Kms away from Coimbatore.
Legend :
One of the well known myths associated with Siva is his conquest of Tripuram – the three celestial cities which the Asuras (demons) had taken over, and wreaked havoc over them. The Devas ( celestial gods) appealed to Siva for help and asked him to save them from the demons. Siva made mount Meru his bow, and Vasuki the serpent his bow-string and prepared to wage war against the Asuras. The very tip of Siva’s bow ( Mount Meru) fell on earth and that became Sivamalai according to legend. It is also known as Sakthimalai because Parvathi the goddess did penance once on this hill.
The sage Agastya came to this mountain and performed penance in order to gain knowledge about the Agamas. He also created a natural spring on this mountain from the waters of the Ganga which he brought in his Kamandalam. It is said this miracle took place on Karthigai Pournami day ( full moon in the month of Karthigai) and thus it is venerated by devotees as a special day.
Hanuman too prayed here after being directed to Sivamalai by the sage Vyasa. He was accorded as much power and strength as Vishnu-Narasimha after his penance in Sivamalai. Hanuman, it is believed, even carried flowers from the banks of the Ganga to worship at Sivamalai. Many miracles are said to have taken place in Sivamalai involving celestial beings like Indra whose kingdom was restored to him after a battle with the Asuras. Cursed by Agasthya, king Nakutan became a snake. Sage Dhurvasa asked him to pray to Sivamalai Murugan who restored his original form.
Murugan is said to have gone to Vallimalai on the advice of Narada and married Valli there and brought her to Sivamalai to make it their beloved abode. Like Parvathi in Kancipuram, Valli also did penance in Sivamalai, which included thirty two sacred duties. Later Murugan went to Tiruthani and brought his consort Devayanai also to reside with him in Sivamalai.
Innumerable Tamil Scholars have immortalized Sivamalai with their songs of praise. Sivamalai is featured in the Tiruppugazh, Sivamalai Puranam, Sivamalai Pillai Tamizh, Sivamalai Mayil Vidu Thoothu, Siva Thangaratha Sadakam and Thanipadal.
Description :
The other names of Sivanmalai are Sivachalam, Sivathri, Shakthi Sivamalai. This town Kangeyam is famous for business coconut products like oil, nutshell charcoal products etc. The main deity of the Sivanmalai is Lord Subramanya Swamy it is the another name of Lord Murugan. The favorite deity of the Tamil people is undoubtedly Murugan, the son of Siva and Parvathi. This temple was build by Sivavakkiyar a famous Sidhhar. It is believed that this temple may be constructed in 12th century.
The presiding deity in the sivanmalai is Lord Murugan,Valli and Deivayanai. This murugan temple located in a hill top which can be reached by 450 footsteps or by 2 Kms hill road. This temple premises is calm and clean, which provides soothing serenity to the mind and body. Sri Arunagirinathar a famous Tamil poet has sung the song about this Sivanmalai in his Tiruppugazh.
God’s order box is placed before entering mulavar sanctum. Devotees coming to the temple needs to check what object is placed in the order box. After checking this devotees needs to enter the main sanctum. Lord Muruga is appearing to the devotees dream and ask them to place one object in the order box. (Those objects may be Water, Cloth, Sand, Soil and Gold) That person will bring that object to the temple. To find out that information true or false, they will place the flower in Mulavar sannadhi. Once it is confirmed, that object will be placed inside the God’s order box until the arrival of next object. Pooja’s will be performed to that object on daily basis. This procedure is followed for several hundred years.
The “Theerthas” (holy waters) of Sivamalai :
Once upon a time the Chola king Muchukunda was afflicted by leprosy. He heard from the sage Gautama that he would be cured if he took a dip in the holy theertha(waters) of Sivamalai. He did so and was miraculously cured, giving credence to the sanctity of Sivamalai. The various theerthas are : Agasthya, Anuma, Indra, Brahmananda, Mangala and Veera theertha.
Beautiful landscapes and seasons have always inspired great Tamil poetry and songs. One of the ancient forms of dramatic poetry is the Kuravanji Natakam. The Sivamalai Kuravanji describes the beauty of this place. It says that it is a mountain covered with medicinal and curative herbs and other fauna. Thus it is not surprising that it attracts important visitors like Nadi and Siddha medicine men (Vaidhiyars). They have found medicinal herbs for conceiving children, and also making the aged young. Many incurable wounds, and scars left by weapons have been cured by these herbal remedies. Some creepers grown here are even used to tame wild animals. There is a special type of grass called “jothi pullu” which lights up in the dark. Remedies are also found for prolonging one’s youthfulness, and fertility.
Sivanmalai Temple Timings and Festivals
This temple is opened for dharshan from morning 6am to 11am and in evening 4pm to 8pm. Kartikai asterism and new moon days in each month are considered to be of significance at Sivanmalai. Skandasashti is celebrated in great splendour as in other Murugan temples. Other festivals here include Thai Poosam, Aadi Kritikai and Pankuni Uthiram.
Website :
http://www.sivanmalaimurugan.tnhrce.in
http://www.anupamablog.com/sivanmalai-murugan-temple/
