SRI KUMARASWAMY TEMPLE PANPOZHI

The temple was built by king Pandala. It is noteworthy that temples of Lord Aiyappa importance as Ariyangavu, Achankoil, Kulathpuzhai are around this place.

Sri Tirumalai Kumaraswami Temple, Panmozhi – 627 807,

Sengottai, Tirunelveli district.

Phone: +91 4633- 237 131, 237 343, 94435 08082, 94430 87005

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Step festival on the first of Chithirai falling mostly on April 14, Vaikasi Visakam in May–June, Skanda Sashti in October–November, Karthikai float festival in November–December and Thai Poosam in January-February are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Once there was only Vel – the weapon of Lord Muruga, in the temple. The priest of the Temple, Poovan Pattar was performing pujas for the Vel. While he was relaxing under a tamarind tree after the puja one day, Lord Muruga appeared in his dream and said that the hill belonged to Him and that He was in the form of an idol at Kottaithiradu, a little away from the place. Lord asked the priest to go to the place where ants would be moving in a line and that He was there. The priest informed the king. The idol was taken from the pit and installed. The temple was built by the Pandala king.

It is believed that Pithrus (departed ancestors) live on the steps of the hill. Hence, performing Tarpans to them at this place would greatly benefit the following generations. The devotion of Sivakami Ammayar with steadfastness and determination carrying the stones for building the temple is a thrilling story behind this temple.

Elephants were used to carry stone pillars and beams to the top of the hill while building the temple. Those were the days when strong ropes were not available, they used ropes made of palm fibres and sometimes they gave in resulting in their rolling down. When they were cut off and rolled down, it is said that an ascetic women, Sivakami Ammaiyar dared her life and stopped the stone with her head, crying Muruga, Muruga. Till the stones were pulled above, she would be holding them by the head with the power granted to her by Lord Muruga. She also carried bricks on plantain stem strips. There is an idol of Sivakami Ammaiyar in the temple.

Poovan Pattar, the priest of this temple went to a place called Kottai Thiradu and dug a place pointed by Lord Muruga. While digging, the crow bar touched the nose of the idol and slightly damaged it which also added beauty to the idol. Seeing this, the people of the place called the Lord Mookkan. Mookku in Tamil means nose.

One Sivakami Ammal was living in this place with her husband Gangaimuthu Thevar. They had no children. Deciding to erect a stone mandap in the hill temple, the woman carried bricks and stones to the temple with such determination and faith seeking child boon. Yet, she could not realize her wish. One Varadar Masthan, a saint of the place advised her to adopt Lord Muruga Himself as her son. The lady readily accepted and willed all her assets to Lord Muruga. She also sued against some in illegal possession of properties belonging to the Lord in Puliarai village in the Tiruvananthapuram court producing epigraphic evidences and recovered them. As the lady spent all her life in the service of Lord Muruga, she was called Sivakami Pardesi.

There are 625 steps to reach the temple at the hill top. This is also called Tirikoodamalai. At the entrance of the hill, there is a shrine for Lord Vallabha Vinayaka. There are two Padukas – Foot Symbol. There is another Vinayaka shrine in the middle of the hill path followed by one to Idumban. The sacred spring at the top of the hill is called Ashta Padmakulam. It is presently called Poonjunai. A flower called Kuvalai mentioned in Tamil literatures blossomed here. Only one flower would blossom a day. The seven virgins (Saptha Kannikas) worshipped Muruga. While the idols of Saptha Kannikas are found only in Lord Shiva temple, they are installed on the banks of the spring in this temple too. The seven powers of Mother Parvathi are called Saptha Kannikas.

Those born of Visaka star should visit this temple at least once in their life time. Three herbal plants grew in this hill named Odavalli and Nalamoolika representing the powers of the stars Visaka, Kruthika and Uthara related to Lord Muruga worship. It is believed that the roots of these herbals were used and worshipped along with a Dhanakarshana Yantra for acquiring wealth. Though these herbals could not be identified now, it is certain that a positive change in the life of those visiting this temple is evident. The V in Visagam means supremacy and Sagam means light. Visagam star has three lights in it called Vimala Sagam, Vibhava Sagam and Vipula Sagam. As all these three lights exist in this hill temple, Siddhas had said that Viskam star natives should worship in this temple for great benefits.

There are 16 steps to Lord Vinayaka Temple praised as Shodasa Vinayaka. Shodasa in Sanskrit means 16. The number represents 16 wealth such as education, courage, success, material wealth etc.