Palaniappan Belukurichi

Palaniappan, Belukurichi

Other Temples - Namakkal District

God

Pazhaniappan, facing west

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Navagraha, Perumal, Aadhiseshan

Palaniappan Belukurichi is a west-facing temple on the western foothills of the Kolli Hills. There is a footpath and road going to the temple which is at an elevation of about 350 meters in a hillock called Koogai Malai. On the way up is an ancient Mandapam, a Vinayaka shrine, and a small pond with a new statue of an elephant on top. The backdrop of the Kolli Hills is beautiful. The entire area is very peaceful and the drive or walk to the Palaniappan Belukurichi temple can be invigorating. On top is the temple situated in a single prakaram. The lord is in the form of Hunter with a string of Laburnum (Kondrai flowers) carved on knotted hair, a string of flowers and a dagger hung on the waist, a lance that is taller than the idol on the right hand and a rooster slung in the left hand resting on the waist. On the ceiling of the Ardha Mandapam are carvings of 2 snakes swallowing the moon, depicting the legendary eclipse concept. It is said that, on clear days and ideal conditions, the Thiruchengode temple can be seen from the eye level of the Peacock mount in the Maha Mandapam here at Palaniappan Belukurichi. A shrine for Vinayaka faces east. The shrine for Lord Vishnu is east facing. The shrines of Saneeswara and Navagraha are on the northeastern side facing the west. The temple is being renovated as in 2021 and shrines for Shiva and Parvati are also being constructed on the west side. An idol of King Val Vil Ori is seen near the entrance.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Rock Ponds on the hill

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Palaniappan Belukurichi is said to be an old temple originally built by King Val Vil Ori (c. 200 CE). Historical information is not available as of now.

Legend

Bhoga Sidhdhar is believed to have created this idol using nine poisonous ingredients (Nava Pashanam) before he created the Muruga idol at Pazhani. Thus the name of the deity later came to be known as Pazhani Appa. The original name of the place was Velavan Kurichi (Vel is the weapon of Lord Muruga), and later transformed into Belukurichi. The name of the lord here as Velavan was due to the fact that unlike anywhere else the weapon is taller than the deity and believed to incorporate the powers of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Valvil Ori is believed to have built the temple. Avvaiyar is believed to have worshiped the lord here at Palaniappan Belukurichi.

Directions

Palaniappan Belukurichi is 15 kilometers southeast of Rasipuram and about 28 kilometers northeast of Namakkal via Senthamangalam.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest is Namakkal and Salem depending on your travel plans.

Other Temples

Tamilnadu Temples