Mangaladevi Temple is a 1000-year-old temple inside the dense forests of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Made of huge pieces of granite. The temple construction is in line with that of Pandyan architecture though there are no definite records of the time of its construction. The locals believe that it was the Chera king, Chenkuttuvan, who created the temple. The idol installation ceremony was believed to have been attended by many prominent personalities including the Lankan king, Gajabahu. Gajabahu also known as Gajabahuka Gamani (c.114 - 136 CE) was renowned for his religious benefactions and for his involvement in south Indian politics. Though now in a dilapidated condition, the boundary walls and the steps leading to the temple still have huge stones which stand in testimony to its earlier days of glory. When considering the location of the temple, one can imagine the enormity of the effort that would have been involved in bringing the huge stones and granite pieces up to the mountain.
Four stone structures constitute the temple complex which houses other idols apart from that of Mangala Devi. There are sculptures carved on the stone walls. The first idol you see on entering the complex is that of KaruppaSwamy. On the left side, there is a dilapidated temple of Lord Shiva. There is also a Sanctorum created for Lord Ganapathy.
As the temple of Mangala Devi is in ruins, the idol that is worshipped during the temple festival on the day of Chithra Pournami is usually brought from Kambam. It is made of panchaloha (five metals).
There had been an underground passage below the temple which, according to the local people, went all the way to the temple town of Mathura. Some believe that the secret pathway led to the famed Meenakshi temple while others say that it led to the palace of the Pandya king. The temple, on a hillock on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border (http://www.keralatourism.org/
Comments
Post a Comment