Town Profile
- Kalugumalai Town Panchayat Located 21.00 K.M distance from Thoothukudi District.
- Nearest Railway Station Name : KOVILPATTI , This Railway Station Located 14.00 k.m Distance from kalugumalai
- Nearest Airport Located in : MADURAI
- Bus Route Details : : KOVILPATTI
- Sri Kalugasalamoorthi Temple1 - Ward No : 13 - Street Name - Peria Kovil Vasal Street, Kalugumalai
- Lady of Lourdes Church - Ward No : 1 - Street Name - Vethakovil Street , Kalugumalai
- Mosque - Ward No : 9 - Street Name - Akilanda Poigai Street
- Ananthamman Kovil - Ward No : 1 - Street Name - Ananthamman Kovil Street
- Mariamman Kovil - Ward No : 15 - Street Name - Giripirahara Veethi
- Petchiamman Kovil Street - Ward No : 12 - Street Name - Petchiamman Kovil Street
- Perumal Kovil - Ward No : 14 - Street Name - Giripirahara Keela Ratha Veethi
Festival Name | How many Days Celebrated | Which Month Celebrated | No of Peoples Participated | Notified/Non Notified |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thai Poosam | 1 | JAN | 15000 | NON-NOTIFIED |
Masi Thirivizha | 1 | FEB | 5000 | NON-NOTIFIED |
Panguni Uthiram | 1 | APR | 15000 | NON-NOTIFIED |
Vaigasi Visakam | 1 | JUN | 20000 | NON-NOTIFIED |
Kantha Sasti | 1 | OCT | 12000 | NON-NOTIFIED |
Thirukarthigai | 1 | DEC | 5000 | NON-NOTIFIED |
Ananthamman Kovil Festival | 1 | MAY | 2000 | NON-NOTIFIED |
Nearest City Name | Direction | Distance from Town Panchayat |
---|---|---|
KOVILPATTI | East | 21.00 K.m |
SANKARANKOVIL | West | 20.00 K.m |
SIVAKASI | North | 25.00 K.m |
KAYATHAR | South | 23.00 K.m |
THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT
KALUGUMALAI TOWN PANCHAYAT
PROFILE
1. Introduction :
Kalugumalai is a Selection grade Town panchayat in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state
of Tamil Nadu in Kovilpatti Assembly Constituancy . .Kalugumalai is located in
between Kovilpatti and Sankarankoil. This small beautiful town has great
historic background and religious value. It has an average elevation of about
105 metres (344 feet). The main occupation of this area is only agriculture and
match industries . People on tourism as well as on pilgrimage reasons coming to
this area in lakhs every year regularly.
2. Demographics
As
of 2001 India census, Kalugumalai had a
population of 14,088. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%.
Kalugumalai has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national
average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 63%. In
Kalugumalai , 9% of the population is under 6 years of age . Present population
of this Panchayat is about 14738.
3. Historical Significance of the Town and Temple
In 1557, Kazhugumalai was under the rule of the King
Thirumalai Nayakar who ruled Madurai Kingdom. At that time, King of Ettayapuram
assisted King Thirumalai Nayakar in his war against the King of Kerala in
Kerala. The King of Ettayapuram had gained Victory. When he returned to his
Kingdom, he was killed cunningly by his enemies at lranial. Showing his
gratitude to the Kng of Ettayapuram, King Thirumalai Nayakar offered
Kazhugumalai and its surrounding Villages to the family of the King of
Ettayapuram. Subsequently, Kazhugumalai and other places came under the rule of
King of Ettayapuram. The Kings of Ettayapuram later developed the place and
donated a Chariot for Lord Muruga and also developed a Pond.
According to muthology, the place derived its namd
Kazhugumalai, meaning Eagle Mountain. Sampathy, an eagle-saint, and Jatayu’s
blood brother, worshipped on a mountain at this place, after obtaining the
blessings of Lord Rama and hence the name Kazhugumalai. A Mountain is also
located in the center of the town.
Another story says that the King of Pallankottai,
the nearby Village of Kazhugumalai, heard a bell sound emerging from a cave. Noticing
a statue in the cave, the King built a Cave (Vettuvan) Temple, which is
popularly known as “South Ellora”. The temple curved with beautiful carvings in
three layers, depicts the architecture of the time, with a length and width of
40 ft. each and a height of 20 ft. and is nonolithic in character. It is
currently under the control of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment
Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.
The cave temple comprises of the Statues of
Lord Dakshinamoorthy, Lord Muruga, Lord Brahma and Goddess Umamaheswari in the
form of carvings and the sculptures of Musicians playing instruments by their
side. Excellent Rock carvings of “Theerthakaras” are also making the place an
important destination for Jains. This Jain cave temple belongs to 8th Century
A.D. and is visited by Jains from all over the Country.
According to another mythology, when the Saint
Agasthair went towards Podhigai mountain, Lord Muruga appeared before him and
gave his blessings. This temple belongs to 8th Century A.D.
At the bottom of the Hill, there is another
cave Temple dedicated to Lord Muruga. This Temple is a monolithic structure,
which has Sancturm (Karuvarai), Pond, Tower and beautiful Mandapam (resting
place).
4.
Temples
There are
Three main Temples in Kalugumalai.
4.1 Jaina Abode
There are many relief sculptures dating to the
8th-9th century A.D. in the area, including the rock cut image of Bhagawan
Parshwanatha flanked by two Yaksha, as well as many other rock cut images of
other tirthankaras.The area is known for the Jain cave temple and
architecture.The main deity of the hill was called Araimalai Alwar. The other
figures were caused to be made by the followers of Jain faith from a number of
villages nearby. The sculptures were caused to be made in memory of the
departed souls. There are approximately one hundred and fifty relief
sculptures.The sculptures and the epigraphs are to be assigned to the reign of
Pandya, Parantaka Nedunjadaiya (A.D768-800).
4.2 Vettuvan Kovil
Vettuvan Koil (English: a Sculptor\\\\\\\'s paradise) is a Hindu temple built between the 8th and 9th century. Kalugumalai is a priceless unfinished Pandyan monolith cave temple, part of the iconographic richness that helped chronicle the burgeoning richness of the Tamil culture, traditions, and sacred centres containing religious art.
About 7.5 meter of the mountain is excavated in a rectangular fashion and in the middle the temple is sculpted from a single piece of rock. The carvings reflect the southern temple style of the Pandya era. Only the top portion of the temple is completed. The temple has an entrance and centre hall for the main deity. In the later days Ganesha\\\\\\\'s idol is kept and worshipped. At the top of the temple beautiful sculpture of Uma Maheswarar,Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu and Brahma can be found. This temple is of same style of Kailasnath temple in Ellora, structural shrines at Pattadakal in Bijapur, monolithic temples of Pallavas at Mamallapuram showing the close political relationship between Pallavas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas. There are around 122 sculptures in the rock cut temple. The intricately carved statues are from fine granite.
4.3 Kalugasalamoorthi Temple
The main deity of this temple is Murugan. The main deity hall and entrance hall is excavated inside the foot hills of kalugumalai in the south western corner of the hill and with external structural additions. The temple has many aesthetic sculptures.The temple dates to 18th century. The main deity is Lord Murugan with his wife Deivanai.
The temple complex also has shrines of Shiva, Akilandeswari, Vinayakar and many lesser deities. Other than these temples there is Vinayaga temple at the top of the Kalugumalai hill and Ayyanar temple on the way to Jaina Abode.
5. Festivals of the Temple
at Kazhugumalai
Festivals are conducted at Kazhugumalai temple
mostly throught out the year – The important ones being follows: -
Name of the Festival |
Duration |
Month |
Thai Poosam |
10 days |
Jan – Feb |
Panguni |
13 days |
Mar – Apr |
Vaikasi Visakam |
|