Kalayar Kovil
| Kalayar Kovil | |
|---|---|
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 Kalayar Kovil
Location in Tamil Nadu
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| Name | |
| Other names | Kaleeswarar Temple |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 9°50′51″N 78°37′41″E / 9.84750°N 78.62806°ECoordinates: 9°50′51″N 78°37′41″E / 9.84750°N 78.62806°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Sivaganga |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Kaleeswarar (Shiva) |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture |
Kalaiyar Kovil (காளையார்கோயில்) is a historic location in Sivaganga District, Kalayarkovil Taluk, Tamil Nadu, India which was ruled by the Maruthu Pandiyar. There is a very large Shiva temple. Kalaiyar Kovil is owned by the family of the Rajah of Sivaganga. It is run by their devasthanam, and a trust of the zamindar family of Devakottai. Kalayarkovil is very important city Sivagangai district.There are NO wine shops, poor people...
The temple Kalaiyar Kovil is in Sivaganga District, 18 km (11 mi) east of Sivagangai.
Kalaiyar Kovil derived its name from the Kaleeswarar temple of the place. Kalaiyar is a corruption of the word Kaleeswaran. During the Sangam period, this place was known as Kaanapair as is seen from the 21st verse in the purananooru sung by Iyur moolakizhar, a poet of the Sangam period. In the 9th Century A.D. Saint Sundara moorthy nayanar described the presiding deity in his devotional songs as Kaalai. Since then the deity was known as Kalaiyar, with the Tamil sufix yar added to it denoting respect. The temple came to be known as Kalaiyar Kovil and this was later adapted to the place also.
A lofty Rajagopuram (150 feet) and an imposing Teppakkulam tank (with a mandapam) named Aanai madu adorn this shrine. Airavatam the elephant of Indra is said to have created this tank. There are three shrines in this temple associated with the three functions of creation, preservation and completion. The presiding deity lord shiva is called as Kaaleeswarar, Someswarar, Sundareswarar and the Ambal his consort mother Parvathy is called as Swarnambikai, Soundara Nayagi, Meenakshi. Additional to that there are 3 separate shrines for both the male and female deities of famous Shiva temples in a mandapam outside the shrine.
Kalaiyarkoil was the seat of the kings from very early days. King Vengai Marban ruled over this area during Sangam period. It was the stronghold of rulers of Sivangangai. It was also the seat of the freedom fighters like Muthu Vaduga Natha Thevar and Maruthu brothers.
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