Kalugasalamoorthy Temple
| Kalugasalamoorthy Temple | |
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 Kalugasalamoorthy Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 9°08′58″N 77°42′11″E / 9.14944°N 77.70306°ECoordinates: 9°08′58″N 77°42′11″E / 9.14944°N 77.70306°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Thoothukudi |
| Location | Kalugumalai |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Kalugasalamoorthy (Murugan) |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture, Rock cut |
| History and governance | |
| Website | kalugumalaitemple |
Kalugasalamoorthy Temple (or Kalugumalai Murugan temple) in Kalugumalai, a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been expanded during the 18th century with the images excavated from Kalugumalai. The core temple has a rock-cut architecture exemplary of early Pandyan Art. The other portions of Kalugumalai houses the 8th century Kalugumalai Jain Beds and Vettuvan Koil, an unfinished Shiva temple.
The temple has a gateway leading to a pillared hall and the sanctum. The temple is open from 5:30 am – 12:30 pm and 6 - 9 pm. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the ten-day Vaikasi Visagam, 13-day Kanthasasti festival, ten-day Thaipoosam festival and the 13-day Panguni Uthiram festival being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
As per Hindu legend, the temple is associated with the period of Ramayana. Ravana, the demon king, while abducting Sita, the consort of Rama, killed Jatayu, the eagle. Rama did the final rites for Jatayu, who informed Rama about the abduction before his life ended. Jatayu's brother Sambathi, who was also called Kazhugumahamunivar, was worried about the repercussions of him not doing his karma, the final rites of his brother. Rama advised him to do his penance at Gajamukaparvatham and taking holy dip in the tank. Ages passed by and the time arrived when Muruga was pursuing to slay Surapadman, another demon. Tharukasuran, the brother of Surapadman, was troubling the sages in the region. Murugan slayed Tharukasuran and was resting at Kazhugumalai. Sambathi was assisting Murugan and he also indicated the hideout of Surapadman, whom Murugan slayed subsequently. Pleased with his devotion, Murugan gave salvation. The place came to be known as Kazhugumalai since the sage Kazhugumahamunivar resided here.
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