Mallikarjunaswamy Vellar

Mallikarjunaswamy, Vellar

Saivite Temples - Salem District

God

Mallikarjunaswamy, facing east

Goddess

Maragadhavalli, facing east

Other Deities

Karpaga Vinayaka, Surya, Vinayaka, Naagar, Naalvar, Sapthamaadhar, Rajaganapathi, Muruga with consorts, Kalabhairava, Navagraha, Chandran. Sanctum Niches – Narthana Ganapathi, Dakshinamurthy, Lingotnavar, Brahma, Siva Durga, Chandikeswara

Mallikarjunaswamy Vellar is an east-facing temple with an entrance through a large and old gateway mandapam in the east. A single Prakaram houses all the shrines and the sanctum sanctorum. The Prakaram is beautifully paved and cleanly maintained. The temple has been renovated in recent times. Outside the entraqnce mandapam is Karpaga Vinayaka. In the Prakaram are several beautiful Naaga idols including an old carving of Adhisesha. The shrine for Muruga and his consorts houses large idols and is situated in between the Lord and his consort in a Somaskanda formation. The Goddess shrine is separate and is seen facing east on the north side of the sanctum sanctorum. The idols of the main deity and goddess are both about 4 feet tall. There is a hill in the east on the opposite side of the entrance where an ancient temple is seen. This is said to have been the original Mallikarjunaswamy Vellar temple. A pathway leads to the top of the hill. Below this hill is a huge and beautiful Anjaneya carving on a stone panel. The Thoppaiyar River flows on the west side behind the temple.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Thoppaiyar River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)

History

Mallikarjunaswamy Vellar on the hill top is considered a Thirumurai Vaippu Sthalam having been mentioned in the Thirupaattu Hymns (7-38-4) of Sundarar (8th Century CE). Mallikarjunaswamy Vellar is an ancient temple that has been reconstructed in recent times. Historical information is not available as of now. The original main deity is said to have been housed in the temple on top of the hill and later moved to its present location because of the difficulty in reaching the top of the hill for regular worship. As the present location had water bodies all around the temple was built on a slightly higher platform. But over time the surrounding ground increased in height due to people settling down. Mallikarjunaswamy Vellar has been rebuilt in recent times on a further raised platform.

Legend

Mallikarjunaswamy Vellar is believed to have been built on the top of the hill by a king who ruled these parts. Since the people complained about the difficulty in reaching the temple he decided to shift it to its present location.

Directions

Mallikarjunaswamy Vellar is about 9 kilometers north of Mecheri on the road going towards Dharmapuri. Mecheri is about 30 kilometers northwest of Salem via Omalur.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest for food and stay would be Salem.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples