History
SIVANMALAI – the pride of Kangeyam and the gem of Tamil Nadu
Temples and sacred sites have been part of our culture from time immemorial. His importance is seen even in ancient literature like the Tamil epic Silappadikaram. He is seen by millions of devotees as the epitome of wisdom, youth, valour, and beauty. Often his shrines are placed on a mountain or on top of a hill. There are many
myths to support Murugan’s fondness for hills. One of them is his child - like disappointment at not receiving the gift of a ripe mango from his parents. In a playful test, he and his brother Ganesha were asked to compete for the fruit in a race round the universe. He lost the contest, renounced everything and went and stood on a hill, refusing even his mother Parvathi’s appeasements. Thus, for the Tamil people Murugan shrines should largely be built on a hill. Kangeyam:
The people of Kongu Nadu have identified 24 sub-regions in their landscape. Pride of place among these is held by Kangeyam at the very centre.The traditional inhabitants of Kangeyam are known as Gangaikula Vellalar. This pride and joy is the fact that Lord Muruga is known as Kangeyan and Kangeya Nathan. He is the deity of Sivamalai, which is the most important place of pilgrimage in Kangeyam. Even the saint Avvayar has sung of Sivamalai Murugan, referring to the deity as Kangeyan in several of her songs. The modern composer Papanasam Sivan has immortalized this deity in his Todi Raga kriti: “Karthikeya Kangeya Gowri thanaya”. There are fourteen “Urugal” or hamlets in Kangeyam Nadu. They are Kangeyam, Valliarachal, Kadayur, Pattali, Keeranur, Parpathi ( Pappini), Paranchervazhi, Kaarayur, Maruthurai, Muthur, Kannapuram, Vellakovil, Aaruthozhuvu, and Alambadi. Pattali is very special because it is said that Sivamalai itself is supposed to be in this “ Uru”. Its famous temple of Pal Vennieeswarar is well chronicled. The consort or Devi here is known as Nallamangal Amman. Sivamalai Murugan is also known as Palvannar Balan (the son of Shiva of this shrine). Sivamalai:
The Sivamalai of today is also known as Sivamamalai, Sivachalam, Sivathri, Sivasailam, Sivagiri, and Shakthi Sivamalai. The deity is so powerful because it is supposed to be an integrated embodiment of Siva, Vishnu, Brahama, Murugan, Vinayaka and Indra. In each “yuga” ( the Hindu term to mean eon) Sivamalai has been referred to with special names. Vellimalai, Sembumalai, and now in the Kali yuga as Kamarupa Jothigiri. Such is the antiquity of this sacred mountain. The names of the deity:
Devotion to the deity manifests in many ways. One of them is giving the Lord new names in each era. Perhaps this is a sign of people’s love of the deity. It is also likely that poets and thinkers came up with new names as days went by, and found many ways to re-kindle the Bhakti of pilgrims. Here are the various names by which Sivamalai Murugan is known as :
Kandaswami, Kangeyan, Guhan, Kumarar, Guruswami, Shanmukhan, Sivathrinathan, Saravanan, Sravanabavan, Sivasubramanaian, Sivachalan, Sivachalapathi, Sevalavan, Duraiswami, Maragathamayuran, Murugan, Murugayyan, Muthayyan, Vadivelan, Vallimanalan, Veluswami, Visakar, Velayudhan, Velan, and Kalyanasubramaniar. Origin of Sivamalai:
One of the well known myths associated with Siva is his conquest of Tripuram – the three celestial cities which the Asuras (demons) had taken over, and wreaked havoc over them. The Devas ( celestial gods) appealed to Siva for help and asked him to save them from the demons. Siva made mount Meru his bow, and Vasuki the serpent his bow-string and prepared to wage war against the Asuras. The very tip of Siva’s bow ( Mount Meru) fell on earth and that became Sivamalai according to legend. It is also known as Sakthimalai because Parvathi the goddess did penance once on this hill. The sage Agastya came to this mountain and performed penance in order to gain knowledge about the Agamas. He also created a natural spring on this mountain from the waters of the Ganga which he brought in his Kamandalam. It is said this miracle took place on Karthigai Pournami day ( full moon in the month of Karthigai) and thus it is venerated by devotees as a special day. Hanuman too prayed here after being directed to Sivamalai by the sage Vyasa. He was accorded as much power and strength as Vishnu-Narasimha after his penance in Sivamalai. Hanuman, it is believed, even carried flowers from the banks of the Ganga to worship at Sivamalai. Many miracles are said to have taken place in Sivamalai involving celestial beings like Indra whose kingdom was restored to him after a battle with the Asuras. Cursed by Agasthya, king Nakutan became a snake. Sage Dhurvasa asked him to pray to Sivamalai Murugan who restored his original form. Murugan is said to have gone to Vallimalai on the advice of Narada and married Valli there and brought her to Sivamalai to make it their beloved abode. Like Parvathi in Kancipuram, Valli also did penance in Sivamalai, which included thirty two sacred duties. Later Murugan went to Tiruthani and brought his consort Devayanai also to reside with him in Sivamalai. Innumerable Tamil Scholars have immortalized Sivamalai with their songs of praise. Sivamalai is featured in the Tiruppugazh, Sivamalai Puranam, Sivamalai Pillai Tamizh, Sivamalai Mayil Vidu Thoothu, Siva Thangaratha Sadakam and Thanipadal
The “theerthas” (holy waters) of Sivamalai:
Once upon a time the Chola king Muchukunda was afflicted by leprosy. He heard from the sage Gautama that he would be cured if he took a dip in the holy theertha(waters) of Sivamalai. He did so and was miraculously cured, giving credence to the sanctity of Sivamalai. The various theerthas are : Agasthya, Anuma, Indra, Brahmananda, Mangala and Veera theertha. Beautiful landscapes and seasons have always inspired great Tamil poetry and songs. One of the ancient forms of dramatic poetry is the Kuravanji Natakam. The Sivamalai Kuravanji describes the beauty of this place. It says that it is a mountain covered with medicinal and curative herbs and other fauna. Thus it is not surprising that it attracts important visitors like Nadi and Siddha medicine men (Vaidhiyars). They have found medicinal herbs for conceiving children, and also making the aged young. Many incurable wounds, and scars left by weapons have been cured by these herbal remedies. Some creepers grown here are even used to tame wild animals. There is a special type of grass called “jothi pullu” which lights up in the dark. Remedies are also found for prolonging one’s youthfulness, and fertility. Saint Arunagirinathar:
Arinagirinathar, was the greatest Murugabhaktar of Tamil Nadu. He lived in the 15th century when the best part of Tamilnadu was under the Nayak dynasty king Prabhudadeva Maharayar. This dynasty had its origins in Vijayanagar. Arunagirinathar visited many Murugan temples and sang his inimitable songs of praise about each deity. Collectively known as “ Thiruppugazh” these songs are hymns dear to the hearts of all Tamil people. What is more, Murugan temples which dot the landscape of Tamil Nadu are often regarded with greater esteem by people if they have been visited by Arunagirinathar, and if he has composed songs about that particular deity. He is believed to have visited Kongu Nadu three times and sung his “ thiruppugazh” in praise of sthalas of this region. The phrase which identifies Kongu Nadu in the songs is “ Kundru thoradal”. The two songs he sang in Sivamalai open with the words “ Karutha Kuzhaiani” and “ Kurumbai malachalam”. They end with the phrase “ Sivamalai kanda Perumale” and “ Sivamalai maruviya Perumale”. Although these songs have been published as part of the anthology of songs in praise of Pazhani ( 187, 188) the phrase “ Inai ili pulinagar valanda” establishes the geographical spot “ pulikkal medu” on the way to Sivamalai. Saintly Women:
The Tamil country can boast of innumerable women devotees who were regarded as saints. Some of more renowned are Mangayakarasi, Karaikkal Ammayar, Tilakavathi and Isaignani. Sivamalai too can boast of a woman saint. She was appropriately named Valli. A true devotee of Muruga. She grew her hair in long matted locks and lived in the temple. She served pilgrims, built wells and resting places for them, fed and stood for long hours in penance in front of the sanctum. She once pleaded with the Lord, "I am coming to Kailasa to get a darshan of you". The Lord heard her and told her to remain where she was at Sivamalai. He said “ Amma Sadaichi, we will come to Sivamalai to appear in a vision to you”! Thereafter, she disappeared. In due course people heard her voice which told them that she had become one with God. Devotees later made a statue of her and placed it at the foot of the altar. Her praise is sung in the Sivamalai Kuravanji. Role of Gounders
It is believed that the Tamil people would never choose to live in a place that has no temple. It is also true that temples grew wherever the good and the devout lived. Apart from the six famous temples of Murugan (Arupadai Veedu) Tamil Nadu is dotted by countless old and new Murugan temples. Certain regions and communities are so attached to their own Murugan temple that their life revolves around that shrine and its activities. One such instance is the devotion of a community known as Gounders, who belong to a long line of farmers and cattle breeders. Their old farms were homesteads of wealth and prosperity and continue to be so today. The family trees of the prominent Gounders can boast of eminent men, involved in public life, charity, philanthropy and religious commitment. Among the more prominent Gounders are the Sarkarai Mandradiars, who are also devoted to Lord Murugan in Sivamalai. This sacred mountain nestles in Kangeyam, which is their ancient homeland. Kangeya Nadu
The people of Kongu Nadu have identified 24 sub-regions in their landscape. Pride of place among these is held by Kangeyam at the very centre. The traditional inhabitants of Kangeyam are known as Gangaikula Vellalar. Their pride and joy is the fact that Lord Muruga is known as Kangeyan and Kangeya Nathan. The modern composer Papanasam Sivan has immortalised this deity in his Todi Raga kriti : “Karthikeya Kangeya Gowri thanaya”. There are fourteen “Urs” or towns in Kangeyam. They are Kangeyam, Valliarachal, Kadayam, Pattali, Keeranur, Parpathi, Paranchervazhi, Karayur, Maruthurai, Muthur, Kannapuram, Vellaikovil, Aaruthozhu, and Alambadi. Pattali is very special because of its association with Murugan. Its famous temple of Palvenniswarar is well chronicled. The consort or Devi here is known as Nallamangai Amman. The Sivamalai Murugan is known as Palvannar Balan (the son of Shiva of this shrine).
