Oothumalai Sri Balasubramaniar Temple, Salem

Address

Oothumalai Sri Balasubramaniar Temple, Oothumalai, Seelanaickenpatti, Salem district – 636201.

Diety

Sri Balasubramaniar

Introduction

The Balasubramaniar Temple, located in Seelanaickenpatti, Oothumalai, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Lord Murugan, also known as Balasubramaniar. This temple is of historical and spiritual significance and is worth visiting for its unique features and serene hilltop location. It is a hilltop temple with an excellent view of Salem town from its vantage point.

Puranic Significance

The temple is believed to be around 1000 years old and holds a rich historical and spiritual heritage.
Sage Agastya, an eminent sage and scholar, is associated with this place. It is believed that he wrote the Tamil Grammar Agathiyam from this location.

Special Features

Spiritual Significance:

According to the temple’s Sthalapuranam (history of the place), seven rishis (Saptha Rishis) used to take a ritual bath in a spring near the temple, particularly during the dawn of the New Moon day and performed pujas to Lord Sadhasiva.
Kanjamalai Siddha, Karadi Siddha, Palani Bogar, and Shiva Siddha are believed to have lived in this region.
The temple holds significance for the worship of Lord Muruga and Tamil language, and it is associated with the presence of Sage Agasthya.
Lord Balasubramaniar, depicted in child form, stands with his beloved peacock, holding the peacock’s neck. This unique posture is not commonly seen in other temples.

Deities and Other Features:

In addition to Lord Balasubramaniar, the temple houses other deities, including Lord Vinayaka and Lord Shiva with Nandi (Bull vehicle).
Srichakra Devi, with Yantras having 43 triangles (a diagrammatic representation of the Alogical SivaShakti), is installed in the temple.
There is a hermitage near the temple with a Rishipatni (wife of a sage).
The area has caves that indicate the presence of Jains in the past, as well as the visit of Sage Agasthya.
The temple has separate shrines for deities like Swarna Vinayakar, Agastheeshwarar, Sadasivar, and the Navagrahas (nine planets).

Worship and Prayers:

Devotees visit this temple to seek relief from negative aspects and to lead a blessed and bright life.
They offer their prayers to Lord Balasubramaniar, Devi Bala Tripurasundari, and Chakradevi.

Festivals

Panguni Uthiram in March-April, Tirukarthikai in November-December, Vaikasi Visakam in May-June and Skanda Sashti in Iyppasi – October-November are the festivals celebrated in the temple.