Kumaran Ilanji

Kumaran, Ilanji

Other Temples - Tirunelveli

God

Ilanjikumaran (also called Kumaraswamy and Varadaraja Peruman), facing east

Goddess

Valli and Devayanai with Muruga, facing east

Other Deities

Iruvaluga Easwarar (main deity), Iruvaluga Easarkinayal, Suryan, 63 Nayanmar, Saptha Maadhar, Varahi, Juradevar, Kanni Vinayakar, Venugopala, Vinayaka, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Sage Agastya, Kutralanathar with consort, Ayyanar, Naga Kanni, Twin Vinayaka, Vasuki, Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi, Muruga with consorts, Saneeswara, Chandikeswara, Vishnu Durgai, Bhairava. Outer Prakaram – Ambala Vinayaka, Subramanya, Shenbaga Vinayaka

Kumaran Ilanji is a large east facing Shiva Temple where Muruga has become popular over time and is called Ilanji Kumaran Temple. The temple is situated in the backdrop of the Kutralam hills and is entered through a small entrance gopuram. The outer Prakaram is large and beautiful with flowering plants and trees all around. The inner prakaram is entered through a 3 tiered Gopuram before which is a large Mantapam. After this is the Mahamantapam which is common to the sanctums of Shiva and Murugan. The inner prakaram is covered and runs around the sanctum. The Bhairava idol here is large.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Chithar River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Mahizham (Mimusops elengi)

History

Kumaran Ilanji is an ancient temple which has been renovated by Maravarman Kulasekhara Pandyan in the 14th Century CE. The outer walls are said to have been constructed by one of the Chokkampatti Zamindars around 16th Century CE. Saint Arunagirinathar (15th Century CE) has rendered Tirupugazh hymns for Lord Muruga here at Kumaran Ilanji. In his hymn, he mentions Lord Muruga as ‘Varatha Muruga Mayilvahanane’, and hence he is also called Varatharaja Peruman.

Legend

Kumaran Ilanji is where Lord Muruga is believed to have clarified the doubts of Sages Kapila, Durvasa, and Kashyapa and told them that he himself is the real Paramporul (Supreme Lord). As per the request of the sages Lord Muruga is believed to bless his devotees with knowledge here at Kumaran Ilanji. Sage Agastya is believed to have created the Shiva Lingam out of white sand from around here and installed it in this place. White sand is also called Iruvalugam and hence the lord and his consort’s names are so. This legend also says that the Kutralanathar Temple in Kutralam was a Vishnu Temple in the ancient days and Sage Agastya was denied entry. With the blessings of Lord Shiva from here he went back to transform it into a Shiva Temple.

Directions

Kumaran Ilanji is about 4 kilometers southwest of Tenkasi off the road going to Kutralam. Kumaran Ilanji is about 2.5 kilometers north of Kutralam, off the road going to Rajapalayam and Madurai.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest are Kutralam and Tenkasi. Vinayaka Mess in Melagaram on the road to Tenkasi serves very good food.

Other Temples

Tamilnadu Temples