Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thanthoni Malai Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy

8th Century AD Rock cut Cave Temple bears similarity in Architecture to the Narasimha temple at Namakkal
Prarthana Sthalam for the unmarried and the Childless

Located 4kms from Karur on the Dindigul highway is the 8th Century AD historical Rock cut Cave temple of Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy in Thanthoni Malai where the 10feet Swayambu Lord is seen in a majestic standing posture facing the West. The temple tower has been constructed right at the top of the huge rock.
The wide sanctum of Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy has been carved along the cave out of the rock.
The Maha Mandapa and other Sannidhis at the temple were a later time additions possibly in the 12-13th Century AD.


Similar to Thanjai Maa Mani Narasimha Sanctum
Inside the sanctum, that reminds one of Thanjai Maa Mani Narasimha Divya Desam both in terms of the huge size of the Moolavar Lord as well as the big sized Sanctum, there are 16 specially carved sculptures each of whom is seen playing a musical instrument.

Piece of Rock falls at Thanthoni Malai
When a fight broke out between the Serpant King Adhisesha and the Wind God Vayu as to whowas more stronger and who played a more important role, Lord Vishnu asked Adhisesha to hold on to the Tirumala Hills and Vayu to try and remove the hills from the clutches of the Serpant Lord.

An angry Vayu who could not remove from Adhisesha’s hold turned into a cyclone. Pieces of the rock from the hills fell in different places. One such piece is the rock we find here at Thanthoni Malai in Karur where Venkatachalapathy provides darshan as Kalyana Venkatramana perumal.

Another story goes that Susarma who did not have a child invoked the blessings of Lord Vishnu. He was asked to come to the rock here.  Pleased with his prayers, Lord Vishnu provided darshan as Kalyana Venkatramana Perumal and blessed him with a child.

Construction
Chola King Muchukunda, a Saivite devotee, was cursed to have the face of a monkey.  To liberate himself from the curse, he built several Vishnu temples including the two perumal temples of Karur- this one at Thanthonimalai and the Abhaya Pradhana Ranganatha temple in the city of Karur.

Later on, Thirumalai Nayak of Madurai contributed to the temple.

Historical Cave temple
The Cave Temple here at Thanthoni Malai was excavated in the 8th Century AD. There is a similarity of this rock and the cave structure with the architecture seen at the Narasimha temple at Namakkal about 45kms from here though the Thanthoni Malai rock cave is a little bigger than the one at the Narasimha temple in Namakkal.

Prarthana Sthalam 
Those who offer their sincere prayers and present this slipper as suggested by Kalyana Venkatramana Perumal have their wedding wishes fulfilled.

Thiru Kalyana Utsavam is a special feature at this temple. On Shravanam Star every month, there is a special abhisheka performed for childless couples. There is a daily Thirumanjanam at this temple every day at 1130am for the Moolavar deity.
Festivals 
Two Brahmotsavams- One in Maasi and One in Puratasi
Pavitrotsavam in Avani
Navarathri Utsavam

On the third day after Maasi, Theppotsavam is celebrated in a grand manner at this temple.
There is a big temple tank on the Western side of the temple.

Chariot Festival on the Thiruvonam day in Puratasi and Magam day in Maasi
Puratasi 3rd Saturday is a special occasion at this temple

Quick Facts

Moolavar: Venkatramana Swamy in a West Facing Standing Posture
Thaayar  : No Separate thaayar ( Mahalakshmi is seen on the chest of the Lord)
Utsavar   : Srinivasa Perumal

Time       : 6am-1pm, 3pm-7pm
Contact   : Harish Bhattar @ 98940 17928

How to reach
Chennai Egmore- Mangalore Express via Tiruchirapalli reaches Karur @ 630am
Direct Trains to Karur from Coimbatore, Mysore, Bangalore

From Karur Station, auto will cost Rs.70 to the temple
From Karur Bus Stand, auto will cost Rs. 50/-

Local buses and mini buses to Thanthoni malai both from Railway Station and Bus Stand

PS: This story has been edited, subsequently.

20 comments:

Anuradha Shankar said...

lovely post!! thandoni malai is my mom's family's kula deivam and i have visited the temple often, and love going there.. enjoyed reading about it on your blog!

PRabhu S said...

Madam,

Thank You for reading and the kind words.

Prabhu

K.Gopalakrishna Rao said...

Sir,
Iam 75 years old and Lord Kalyanavenkataramanaswamy is our family diety.My father and grand father were from south street Karur.I am visiting the temple since my childhood.But I have never heard repeat never heard of offering one foot wear any time.Can you kindly inform on which basis this information is written in your blog.
There is ,however tha practice of chislling the foot marks of every child born in our family on the foot steps leading to the darshan of the Lord
K.Gopalakrishna Rao

PRabhu S said...

Sir,

Thanks for reading and the message.

This information is from appropriate authority at the temple.

I will post relevant photographs of this shortly/in due course.

Prabhu

janaki said...

Respected sir
Iam visiting this temple from my childhood.one ofmy recent visit,its almost closing time in evening we unable to pray properly,so my humble request is if the clossing time postponded one hour ifits 8pm means will be helpful the devotiees like me travelling from long distance.please can you consider this request sir.

janaki said...

Respected sir
Iam visiting this temple from my child hood.thanthoni malai is our kula deivam,recently one ofmy visit is almost clossing time inthe evening,we are unable to pray god proberly ,so my humble request ifthe clossing time postponded to one hour ifits 8pm,will be helpful tothe devoties like me travelling from long distance.please can my request will be considerabe sir.

nityakalyani said...

wow Had the pleasure to visit the temple todat. This is our kulla deivam - thanks met also Harish Bhattar

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Is there a way to send money to this kovil without having KVB account. We are overseas and want to perform pooja on a regular basis to our kuladeivam Perumal. Please advise on how to send money and get Prasadam.
Many thanks!

sarangopi said...


Pl visit the below site. There is a link for E donation. You can make
online transfers.
http://www.thanthoniperumal.tnhrce.in/

Anonymous said...

hi this thanthondri kalyanavenkataramana is my husband kula deivam.There is always a female kula devivam normally a kaval deivam.Anybody know about the goddess in GUNDUKKAL near salem area.The devotees always visit that temple next to thanthondrimalai.Please reply with the temple name and location

Ramu Ranganathan said...

Sir, I am 40yrs old & been regular in paying my obeisance since my childhood till date as Shri Thantondri Kalayana Venkataramana is my family deity. Thanks for such an informative post. However, I have never ever come across any such practice as offerings of any kind of footwear to the deity. Can you please clarify as to the authenticity of such an information? I will be grateful to you. Regards.

k.gopalakrishna rao said...

It is essential to authenticate the information based on reliable records than basing on hearsay

k.g.rao

Unknown said...

Same deity is my kula deivam. Happy to hear people still visit there often for blessings. Tradition still prevails.

Unknown said...

Sir here the sandal means the sandalwood offering

Babu1940 said...

How many steps have to be climbed?

Babu1940 said...

How many steps have to be climbed?

Unknown said...

What is the telephone number.045224255531 no response

PRabhu S said...

Mobile number is provided in the story. That works.

Prabhu

Venkatesh Ranganathan said...

Thank you and very informative. Most important is the mobile number you have provided in the story.

Anonymous said...

What is the kaval deivam of this temple anyone known abt this?pls reply