Kodumbu Subramaniya Swamy Temple is one of the oldest Murugan temple in Kerala region. It is located in the village of
Kodumba
Kodumba ( ml, കൊടുമ്പ) is a village and gram panchayat in Palakkad district in the state of Kerala, India.
Demographics
India census, Kodumba had a population of 19,138 with 9,382 males and 9,756 females.
Temples
Kodumbu Subra ...
in
Palakkad district
Palakkad District () is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. It was carved out from the southeastern region of the former Malabar District on 1 January 1957. It is located at the centre of Kerala. It is the largest district i ...
, southeast of
Palakkad
Palakkad (), formerly known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery is a city and municipality in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the Palakkad District. Palakkad is most densely populated municipal ...
and southwest of
Coimbatore
Coimbatore, also spelt as Koyamputhur (), sometimes shortened as Kovai (), is one of the major metropolitan cities in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Noyyal River and surrounded by the Western Ghats. Coimbato ...
in the valley of the Soka Nasini river,
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. Kodumbu temple is considered as half of Palani Murugan.Devotees believe that if a devotee takes bath in the Soka Nasini river, all his sorrows would fly away.
History
During
Vijayanagara Period heavy tax imposed on Tamil weavers so some of the family members of
Sengunthar
Sengunthar (), also known as the Kaikolar and Senguntha Mudaliyar is a Tamil caste commonly found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and also in some other parts of South India and the neighboring country Sri Lanka. They were traditional weavers ...
Kaikola Mudaliyar had moved from Kanchipuram to Kodumbu near Palakkad and started the weaving industry. They load the weaving clothes in cow carriages and sell their textile products at Avinasi town near
Coimbatore
Coimbatore, also spelt as Koyamputhur (), sometimes shortened as Kovai (), is one of the major metropolitan cities in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Noyyal River and surrounded by the Western Ghats. Coimbato ...
, then return to the town to buy the texts needed for weaving.
One time when they left
Avinashi
Avinashi () (previously known as ''Thirupukkoliyur'') is a Special Grade Town Panchayat in Tiruppur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Avinashi is one among the nine taluks of the district. It is one of the popular pilgrim destination ...
and returned to the town, they heard a voice saying, "I am coming, I am coming." Sengunthars went down and listened to the voice and looked around. There was no one there. Then, Sengunthars got ready to board the car again but the cow carriage stopped from there. They, with all their efforts, refused to go ahead with the cow. Then again, the voice of "I am coming, I am coming" was clearly heard. Sengunthars looked in the direction the voice came from. In the bushes there was a stone shining brightly. Surprised by the light, they took the stone and secured it in one of their bundles. The next minute, the cow began to move forward. After returning to Kodumbu, this people set up a unique shrine in the Shiva temple, placed a stone with it, and started worshiping as Subramanya Swamy which is Kuladevta for Senguntha Kaikolar community.
After some years Arundhan Namboodiri, a Kurur land who performed pujas in the Shivaberuman temple, said that he would perform the poojas for Subramanya Swamy but the Senguntha
Kaikolar
Sengunthar (), also known as the Kaikolar and Senguntha Mudaliyar is a Tamil caste commonly found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and also in some other parts of South India and the neighboring country Sri Lanka. They were traditional weavers ...
family did not accept it, saying that the Tamil-style pooja should be done for their who hails from Tamil Nadu. Namboodiri did not agree to that. The Namboodiri appealed to the king of Palakkad.
Then king of
Palakkad
Palakkad (), formerly known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery is a city and municipality in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the Palakkad District. Palakkad is most densely populated municipal ...
came there and made peace on both sides. When both are unacceptable, both factions should place kumbha on the north gate of the temple. The Palakkad king ordered that whoever takes the throne should be worshiping Lord Sumbramaniya Murugan regularly.
On behalf of Senguntha Kaikolar, genealogy of
Manikkavasagar
Manikkavacakar, or Maanikkavaasagar ''(Tamil: மாணிக்கவாசகர், "One whose words are like gems")'', was a 9th-century Tamil saint and poet who wrote ''Tiruvasakam'', a book of Shaiva hymns. Speculated to have been a minis ...
was brought to Kodumbu from Madurai. He sang in Tamil and placed a mob. Namboodiri put up a mob with some magic. Namboothiri could not take the family of the boy. But the genealogy of Manikkavasagar has taken away the infidelity. Finally king saw this and ordered to worship in Tamil regularly.
The unsuccessful Namboodiri donated a portion of his land to the Subramanya Swami temple. In exchange for his donation, the eminent capitalists approached the Kurur mansion of Akshadhan Nambudiri, Swami Swami's Thirumajana Kalam, four times a year, on the day of Lord Murugappurman's establishment and Navratri in the temple. Thus the history of the temple and its worship is told.
Architecture
The tower, chariots and chambers of the temple are constructed as per Dravidan style. In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, Subramanya Swami, standing with his two wives Valli and Deivanai. The complex of the temple is also dedicated to Lord
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
, Umadevi, Lord Parasurama, Lord Krishna, Shasta, Bhairavas. This temple also have statue of Senguntha Navaveerargal and
Veerabahu who were the ancestors of Senguntha
Kaikolar
Sengunthar (), also known as the Kaikolar and Senguntha Mudaliyar is a Tamil caste commonly found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and also in some other parts of South India and the neighboring country Sri Lanka. They were traditional weavers ...
. Cenotaph tree is the temple flower.
Worship and Festivals
Special rituals are performed on all special days of Lord Muruga. The
Thaipoosam
Thaipusam or Thaipoosam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம், ''taippūcam'' ?), is a festival celebrated by the Hindu Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of ''Thai'' (January/February), usually coinciding with Pushya star, kno ...
festival is celebrated for ten days starting from the month of Parani star day. Similarly, on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Ipasi to Kandasasthi, the
Sura Samhaaram
Sooranporu or Soorasamharam part of Kandha Sashti Vratham festival is a ritual folk performance that recreates the killing of Asuras by Lord Murugan. It is performed in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Sri Lanka and the district of Palakkad in Ke ...
takes place well. The month of Sashti, Krittika days, Kartikhi Deepam, Panguni Uthram, etc. Chariot festival are also held in the temple.
During ''Sura Samharam'' festival according to traditional ritual where the Sengunthar Kaikolar dress as the
Navaveerargal lieutenants of
Murugan
Kartikeya ( sa, कार्त्तिकेय, Kārttikeya), also known as Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha (), and Murugan ( ta, முருகன்), is the Hindu god of war. He is the son of Parvati and Shiva, the brother of Ganesha ...
and re-enact the killing of the demon Suran.
The statues of Lord Subramanya Swamy and Valli in the sanctum sanctorum are carved into the same statue. The Lord is thus called Lord Swamy Nimala. Devotees believe that if there is disagreement among married couples, praying to Lord Murugan to come to the temple, their grief will go away and a happy family life.
The river that flows near the temple is called the Tragedy River. It is said that all the tragedies of those who worship Lord Muruga in the country will be gone. The Mahamaghat festival is held every twelve years on this river. The Mahamaghat festival is also held on the same day as the Mahamaga day in
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum) or Kudanthai is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the headq ...
.
The temple is open daily to the devotees from 5.30 am to 12 noon and from 4.30 pm to 8 pm.
Significance
This temple Raja Gopura is the second tallest among all temples in Kerala.
It is one of the oldest Murugan temple in
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
.
It is one of the temple which follows Tamil rituals and Tamil Sengunthar priest in Kerala.
References
{{Murugan temples
Hindu temples in Palakkad district
Murugan temples in Kerala
Kaumaram