Thiru Gnana Sambanadhar praises the Lord of Kaanapper as one who provides peace of mind and happiness to true devotees
The 155 feet Raja Gopuram is one of the tallest in the region
The 200th Thevaram Sthalam at Kaalayar Koil, praised by Thiru Gnana Sambandhar, Appar and Sundarar, is unique in that there are three temples for Lord Shiva and Ambal inside the temple complex. It is one of the biggest managed by Sivagangai Rani. The temple tank – Gaja Pushkarani - too is huge and is associated with a legendary tale relating to Indra’s elephant.
Raja Gopuram
While the historical entry to the temple was through the 90 feet Raja Gopuram for Kaleeswarar built by Maara Varma Sundara Pandyan in the 7th Century AD, the current entry point to the temple is through a more recent 155 feet Raja Gopuram South of the old Gopuram for Someswarar built by Maruthu Pandyan, in the 18th Century. This again is one of the tallest in the region.
While Kaleeswarar was the original temple at Kalayar Koil, the Sundareswarar temple and the 100 pillared mandapam were later additions and built by Varaguna Pandya. It is at this mandapam that alankaram for the deities, music and dance events and sacred discourses take place.
Gaja Pushkarani and the Float Festival
Legend has it that Airavatham, the famous elephant of Indra, flung a flower garland presented by a rishi, as a result of which he was cursed by which a man’s eyes were not to fall on the elephant. When the elephant came here to Kalayar Koil for liberation from the curse, a man looked at the elephant instantly sending the latter down below in the earth. In the thundering force of breaking through the earth, water gushed out and turned up as ‘Gaja-Theertham’ (referred to popularly as ‘Yaanai- Madu’) at this temple.
The float festival is celebrated in Vaikasi at this Pushkarani. There was a period in the previous century when devotees used to go by boat to have darshan of the Lord and Ambal in the middle of the tank. However, there has been no water in the Pushkarani for over a decade now.
Special Path laid for Sundarar
When Saint Poet Sundarar reached the entry point of this temple town after having had darshan of Thiru Meni Nathar at Thiru Chuzhi, he visualised the path leading to the temple as filled with Shiva lingams and wondered as to how he could place his feet on the Lord. Pleased with the devotion, it is believed that the Lord sent his sacred cow (Kaalai) and created the path for Sundarar to make his way to the temple. An invisible voice asked him to walk along the path specially made for him by the cow to reach the temple. In memory of this episode, the temple came to be referred as Kaalayar Koil.
In memory of this episode, every morning, a flower garland initially presented to the Lord at the Golden Palliyarai is then handed to Sundarar.
In his praise of the Lord of Kaanapper, Thiru Gnana Sambandhar says that those who invoke the blessings of the Lord offering their sincere prayers will find peace and happiness in life. Historically, this place was referred to as Thiru Kaanapper as is seen from the verses of the Saint Poet.
In the first of its kind battle against the British in this region, the then leader of the Sivagangai Samasthanam Muthu Vaduka Naatha Periya Udaya Devar, who ruled here for 22 years between 1750 and 1772 fought out a heroic battle at Kaalayar Koil before being struck down by the bullets of the hidden soldiers. In memory of this battle, the stone sculpture of the brave warrior is seen at the entrance of the temple.
In the century gone by, there was a popular Vedantham Mutt near the temple. Several scholars graduated from here. This was one of the most vibrant locations for Vedic Education in the state.
50 Vaishnavite families lived in harmony with 200 Dikshithar familes in the first half of the 20thCentury in Kalayar Koil. There were around 60 service personnel to take care of the different functions at this huge temple but this has come down dramatically to just a few in the last few decades.
Three Grand Festivals
Annual Festivals are celebrated in a grand way for each of the three deities with the Chariot Festival on Thai Poosam for Swarna Kaleeswarar, on Vaikasi Visakam for Someswarar and on Aadi Pooram for Swarna Valli Amman.
The temple is open from 6.30am- 12.30pm and 5.30pm - 7.30pm. Contact Rathna Kaleeswaran @ 70945 12412 / 04575 232516.