Shozhanganallur Gopalakrishnan Temple, Solanganallur

Address

Shozhanganallur Gopalakrishnan Temple, Ootha kadai, kuruvampatti, Solanganallur, Tamil Nadu 621213

Diety

Gopalakrishnan

Introduction

The Centuries old Gopalakrishnan Temple in Shozhanganallur, 5kms North of Sirugambur near Mukkombu is reminiscent of the State of many of the ancient temples in Tamil Nadu. Restoration starting from the 1990s, this one remains completely ignored with the HR & CE paying no attention to the ravaged state of the temple. There was a sacred well too inside the temple complex but that too has remained untouched for decades with plants growing thick around the inner walls. The temple is currently in a badly damaged condition now. The path leading to the temple is full of thorns. The roof is in danger of falling any time. The outer wall is broken. The entrance to the temple is bereft of any wall- it is already gone. Snakes and Bats welcome him inside the dark temple but his devotion has led him to fearlessly perform Pooja. Growth of trees around the Vimana has led to the ancient stone structure falling off.

Puranic Significance

84 year old Sethurama Iyengar stays in Killiyanallur (on the Trichy – Namakkal highway) about 10 kms from the temple. His forefathers had performed pooja at this temple for many years in the 20th century. His grandfather walked all the way bare footed from Killiyanallur in the hot sun to perform pooja at this temple. There was a Madapalli too in those decades that was fully functional. ‘Amuthu Parai’ stands as proof. In the later part of the 20th Century, the temple found no takers and remained in a locked condition for several years till finally the Villagers joined hands and approached Sethurama Iyengar to take care of the temple. Over two decades ago, he re-opened the temple and has been performing pooja every day since. Notwithstanding his old age, he starts his TVS XL motor cycle and rides through the pit filled road via Sirugambur to reach the temple every morning to light the lamp. His daily route includes lighting the lamp and presenting an arathi to Lord Gopalakrishnan. If there are devotees coming the way of the temple, he stays back to help them with the darshan of the Moolavar Lord and the Azhvaars.