Thirumohoor Sri Kalamegaperumal Temple, Madurai

Address

Thirumohoor Shri Kalameghaperumal Temple Thirumohoor, Tamil Nadu 625107

Diety

Kalamegaperumal (Vishnu) Amman: Mohanavalli Thayar (Lakshmi)

Introduction

Thirumohoor Kalamegaperumal Temple (also known as Thirumohoor or Tirumogoor temple) is a hindu temple near Melur, Madurai district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Neelamegha Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Tirukannapura Nayagi. As per Hindu legend, the presiding deity is believed to have appeared as a female Mohini to lure the asuras to support Devas, the celestial deities. The temple is also known as Mohanapuram and Mohanakshetram. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and three of its four bodies of water. The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram, the temple’s gateway tower and a huge temple tank in front of it. The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandyas, with later additions from the Madurai Nayaks. Sacred Tree: Bael Tirtha: talatamarai Pushkarni

Puranic Significance

Sangam literature details about this place being prosperous during the time. The documentation from Ptolemy (c. AD 100 – c. 170) also makes reference to this place. Inscription from the temple – South Outer wall’s inside – Archaeological report on Epigraphy – 330 of 1918 – and Tamil Nadu State Archaeology’s Madurai District Inscriptions – Vol. I – page no. 229 – Sl. no. 141 of 2003 – identifies the builder of the temple as sri Kaala Maegam alias Kaangaeyan during the reign of Sadaiya Varman Sundhara Pandiyan (Later Pandiya king) in his regnal year 7 + 1 (i.e. after the 7th year was over and the eighth year was in progress) which is identified as AD 1259. This inscription besides identifying the above speaks of an endowment of ponds and adjoining areas duly specifying the boundaries of the land. The current structure is believed to have been built by the Madurai Nayaks. During the later part, there were additions made by the Marudu brothers, whose images are also housed in the temple. Thirumohur was an impregnable fort during the period of British. During the Carnatic Wars, there was an attempt made by a Muslim general, but it was repulsed by the local devotees. The inscriptions from the period of Nayaks have been recorded by the Archaeological survey. During Carnatic Wars in 1755, British general colonel heron looted the idols and treasures from this temple. When he was moving away with all treasures with camels, british force was attacked by Kallars, who took back the idols and temple treasures. In memory of this event, even today god in this temple used to come like a Kallar man. Also the rights for pulling temple car given to Kallars of Tirumokur, Poolampatti, Kodikkulam, Chittampatti, Vovaal Thottam and Aalinangarai

Beliefs

Here we can pray for the salvation of the ancestors and for the success of their deeds. They anoint the Swami, perform the Sarkaraipongal Naivetyam and fulfill the Nerthikadan.

Special Features

There is an ancient Chakratahlwar shrine at Italam. There are 154 mantras engraved on his idol and 48 deities engraved on the Moolavar idol. Armed with sixteen arms, he is seen running with a crown of fire. This is the 94th Divya Desam out of the 108 Divya Desams that received the Mangalasasana of Perumal. Motsadeepa worship is special here. There is an ancient Chakratahlwar shrine at Italam. There are 154 mantras engraved on his idol and 48 deities engraved on the Moolavar idol. He is armed with sixteen arms, with a crown of fire, and is seen running.